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Headteacher - Full-time

Portal House School, Dover

  • Ref:KCC886-7067-169L
  • Posted:07/07/2026
  • Pay:L14-L20 (£71,330 - £82,654)
  • Start Date:January 2027
  • App Close Date:07/09/2026 at 12:00
  • Interviews:24th and 25th September 2026

Advert

Are you an inspiring, values-led leader ready to make a lasting difference?

We are seeking an exceptional Headteacher to lead Portal House School: someone with the vision, compassion and resilience to shape a truly inclusive, high-performing environment for pupils with diverse and complex needs. This is a rare opportunity to lead a school where relationships, understanding and ambition transform lives.

The Role

As Headteacher, you will provide both strategic and operational leadership, ensuring a high-quality, ambitious and inclusive education for every pupil. You will cultivate a calm, purposeful and nurturing culture where:

  • Pupils feel safe, understood and able to succeed
  • Staff are empowered, supported and developed
  • Safeguarding is embedded in everything we do

You will drive improvement across all areas of the Education Inspection Framework, with particular focus on:

  • A coherent, ambitious curriculum meeting academic and emotional needs
  • Trauma-informed, relational approaches to behaviour and wellbeing
  • Robust systems for safeguarding, attendance and engagement
  • High-quality teaching and professional development
  • Strong partnerships with families, agencies and governors

What You’ll Bring

  • Proven leadership experience (minimum 3 years as Assistant or Deputy Headteacher)
  • Understanding of, or experience within, SEMH/SEN provision
  • Strong knowledge of statutory frameworks, EHCP processes, PEPs and Annual Reviews
  • Ability to analyse progress data and translate insight into meaningful outcomes
  • Excellent communication and relationship-building skills

Above all, you will demonstrate:

  • A deep commitment to inclusion, equity and pupil potential
  • Insight into the impact of trauma and mental health on learning
  • Leadership grounded in clarity, emotional intelligence and compassion
  • The ability to balance high expectations with care and consistency

Why Join Us?

This is more than a leadership role; it’s a chance to make a profound difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable children and young people. You will be supported by a dedicated staff team, a committed governing body, and a strong network of specialist school leaders within Ksent (the group with which Portal House is affiliated).

At Portal House, our aim is to bring out the best in everyone, and our wish is for every student to have a happy, healthy and successful education. We welcome anyone who shares this aim to make an application or come and visit our school.

Tour dates: Friday 17th July and Friday 4th September

Information about the school

At Portal House School, we envision a future where every student—regardless of their challenges—feels valued, empowered, and inspired to succeed. We are committed to nurturing confident, resilient learners who are equipped with the academic qualifications, life skills, and self-belief to thrive in further education, employment, and beyond. Through compassion, structure, and opportunity, we aim to transform lives and open doors to brighter futures.

Our school consists of up to 80 secondary-aged students with significant Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs and acts as a fresh start to their educational experience. Our mission is to reverse negative experiences of education and help every student rediscover a love for learning.

We offer a nurturing, inclusive environment in modern, purpose-built facilities where students are supported to thrive both academically and personally. Our students typically have broadly average or above-average academic potential, and we tailor our curriculum to help them achieve meaningful qualifications and life skills. We offer a broad and balanced curriculum as well as bespoke learning pathways for students who need a more tailored approach due to their individual circumstances.

Our small class sizes (typically 4–7 students) ensure that each learner receives focused support from qualified teachers and dedicated teaching assistants. This personalised approach enables our students to leave us with an average of 8–9 accreditations (GCSEs, BTECs, and Entry Levels), ready to progress into sixth form, college, apprenticeships, or employment.

Job Contact Information

Documents

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We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our students. You are advised that this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and therefore this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Please be aware that schools are also required to undertake online recruitment checks on shortlisted candidates under changes to Keeping Children Safe in Education.