Secondary Teacher SEMH

About The Role

Final date to receive applications: 16/10/26

Are you a Life Changer? Do you want to lean in and transform the life of a child?

Compass Community puts children first through our therapeutic, innovative approach.

Integrity, Courage and Care shape how we work. We listen deeply, challenge each other and fix what needs fixing, together.

This is the work. And we’d like you to be part of it.

Compass Community School Willow Dean is an independent specialist school providing high-quality, therapeutic and child-centred education to boys and girls from 6 to 17 years of age in Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire.

Our children come from a wide range of backgrounds and present with a wide range of needs, including, Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs (SEMH) as well as other Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) such as Autism, ADHD, and communication difficulties.

The work we do is both varied and challenging and, as a trauma and attachment informed organisation, all staff are provided with extensive therapeutic training and support.

Our closely triangulated approach places the child at the centre of decision making, ensuring that education and therapy professionals, parents/carers, local authority teams and, most importantly, our students can work together to secure outstanding outcomes for all.

We are all primarily teachers of children before teachers of subjects. Central to this role is knowing the child, building professional, nurturing and positive relationships and motivating students.

Compass Community School teachers inspire children, creating a sense of awe and wonder and making subjects and lessons real and relevant to them. They plan exciting and engaging learning opportunities which challenge and push students, whether they are working on the very basics or they have a special talent or passion for the subject. With that in mind, we are looking for the perfect teacher, rather than being specific about experience in teaching a certain subject – we will incorporate your interests, experience and passion for teaching into our school.

Our children require very special teachers who are able to manage some complex and challenging behaviours. They will know that our children require lots of attention, the right sort of communication, consistency and flexibility in equal measure, and a non-judgemental approach.

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or Post Graduate Education Certificate ( PGCE )

• A proven record of good or outstanding teaching practice.

• An excellent, efficient and emotionally intelligent communicator.

• The ability/willing to teach a subject specialism to GCSE or equivalent vocational level.

• A strong desire to work inclusively within an emotionally literate environment, supporting children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

• Experience of crisis-management/managing challenging behaviours and working with children with SEMH difficulties.

• Proven experience of implementing a creative and academically engaging curriculum which meets the needs of individual pupils, whilst maintaining high standards of education

• Experience of effective working with hard-to-reach or disengaged families.

• Staff laptop and mobile phone

• Competitive salary

• Extensive training and professional qualification opportunities

• Small class sizes with specialist TA support

• The chance to be part of an expanding, national organisation that recognises skill, effort and potential and grows its own leadership teams

• Enhanced occupational sickness scheme

• Flexible pension

• Regular therapeutic and supportive supervision

• Employee benefit service with access to wellbeing services, salary sacrifice schemes, high street vouchers, money off eating-out and…