Headteacher - Stonegate School

Job Summary

Job title: Headteacher
School: Stonegate School – part of Hexagon Care Services
Location: Low Bentham, LA2
Salary: £47,000 – £53,000 (dependent on experience)
Start date: November 2026 or dependent on successful candidates notice period.

Stonegate School is seeking an inspirational and committed Headteacher to lead our unique 12-place specialist school, currently rated as GOOD with Outstanding features by Ofsted, in Low Bentham.

On the Lancashire and Yorkshire border, this school is accessible within 15 miles of Lancaster, Carnforth, Morecambe, Silverdale, Kirkby Lonsdale & Settle.

This is a rare opportunity to build on the strong foundations laid by our current Headteacher, who is retiring after 12 years of dedicated and successful service. They leave behind a nurturing, well-led school with a clear moral purpose and a strong culture of care, respect and ambition for every pupil.

About Stonegate School

Stonegate School provides high-quality education for pupils with complex needs, offering a calm, structured and supportive environment where young people are supported to re-engage with learning and make meaningful progress academically, socially and emotionally.

As a small school, Stonegate offers the successful candidate the chance to be highly visible, hands-on and impactful, working closely with pupils, staff, families and external professionals to get the best possible outcomes for our students. The timetable is delivered Monday through to Friday noon, with Friday afternoon as PPA, CPD and used for staff meetings etc.

The current staff team consists of: Headteacher, 2x teachers, and 2x Teaching Assistants.

The Role of Headteacher at Stonegate School

As Headteacher, you will have overall responsibility for the educational leadership, management and strategic development of the school. You will:

• Lead and deliver a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum that meets the needs of all pupils
• Promote outstanding teaching, learning, behaviour and attendance
• Ensure the highest standards of safeguarding and child protection
• Drive improvement through effective assessment, monitoring and accountability
• Develop, inspire and manage a dedicated staff team
• Build strong relationships with parents, carers, care staff and external agencies
• Lead whole-school evaluation, improvement planning and inspection readiness
• Manage the school’s human, financial and physical resources effectively
• You will work closely with the Deputy Head of Education and wider colleagues to ensure statutory compliance, continual improvement and best outcomes for pupils.

Criteria (essential unless otherwise stated):

• Qualified Teacher Status
• Outstanding classroom practitioner with a background of teaching English would be desirable
• Has experience working with pupils with complex needs
• Demonstrates successful leadership experience at senior or middle leadership level (desirable)
• Has a proven track record of raising standards and improving pupil progress
• Understands assessment, target-setting and performance management
• Leads with integrity, warmth and high expectations
• Can build strong, professional relationships with pupils and adults
• Shows energy, sound judgement and the ability to remain calm in complex situations
• Experience of working with looked-after children and multi-agency professionals (desirable)
• A driving licence is essential for the role

Paragraph lifted from our Ofsted inspection, September 2025, full report available online:

“The school provides exceptionally well for pupils’ personal development. Pupils benefit from a highly personalised offer that reflects their individual needs, which includes a vast range of experiences beyond the classroom. The school prioritises pupils’ social and emotional development. It supports them to develop important skills, such as self-confidence, self-esteem and forming relationships. As a result of this positive work, pupils develop remarkably well from their differing starting points.”

Please note, Hexagon Care Services does not hold a sponsorship licence and as such we are unable to support any candidates who do not already have right to work. If you are applying to a permanent position, if you have right to work but with an expiry date, we are more than welcome to receive your application but please note you would only be eligible for an interim contract linked to your RTW expiry.

All hiring managers at Hexagon Care Services are trained by safer recruitment consortium accredited trainers, and all positions in regulated activity with children will be required to undergo safer recruitment and onboarding checks prior to commencement. This will include an enhanced DBS and/or children’s barred list check.

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