Virtual Headteacher
Responsible to: South Lanarkshire Education Resources under the overall direction of the Executive Director of Education Resources.
Role of the Headteacher
To provide effective, dynamic and inspirational leadership to ensure that every child is able to fulfil their true potential.
Key responsibilities
- Lead with vision: strategically manage and develop the Virtual School model, advocating for care experienced pupils and learners with additional support needs at the highest levels.
- Connect and collaborate: build and maintain strong relationships with and between education providers, social care, health services, and families to support a holistic approach to learner wellbeing.
- Drive impact: monitor and report on data including attendance, attainment and exclusions ensuring the educational progress of care experienced learners and those with additional support needs is monitored, understood and celebrated.
- Empower growth: lead and build capacity in others to deliver professional learning to support educators, carers, and families to meet complex additional support needs and foster nurturing trauma informed environments.
- Lead Education Resources’ response to “The Promise” and build capacity in staff to deliver this.
- Promote an inclusive culture across establishments in South Lanarkshire.
- Strategically lead the development, coordination, and delivery of a high quality education Outreach Support Service focused on providing bespoke, creative and impactful interventions for learners with additional support needs and those who are care experienced.
- Lead innovative approaches to inclusive curriculum that effectively meet the needs of pupils and develop a clear strategy to build capacity in others to deliver this.
- Track and monitor referrals for Stage 4 provision and joint funded placements.
- Lead development of a SLC Stage 4 provision which better meets needs of pupils with complex needs.
- Lead development of enhanced transitions for pupils with additional support needs and those who are care experienced across all stages.
- Liaison with relevant agencies and provision of advice, support and guidance for Hospital Education.
- Lead Officer for Home Education, Gypsy Traveller Education Group and Armed Forces Children.
What we’re looking for
Qualifications: GTCS Registration or equivalent, Into Headship qualification (completed or pending) and a willingness to pursue advanced leadership qualifications.
Experience: a background in both strategic leadership and operational management, particularly in supporting children with additional support needs, trauma-informed practice, and multi-agency collaboration.
Values: a commitment to doing what parents do. You should be persistent, resourceful, solution-focused, and dedicated to making a difference.
Make your impact
Transform lives: ensure care experienced learners are supported through their educational journey, from early years, through school and on to further and higher education and onto employment.
Lead change: influence policy and practice at local and national levels, contributing to the fulfilment of The Promise and other key initiatives.
Inspire others: be a beacon of hope and support for care experienced learners and pupils with additional support needs, their families, and the professionals who work with them.
Other duties
The Headteacher will undertake other reasonable duties which may from time to time be assigned by the Executive Director, Education Resources.