Deputy Headteacher Mountjoy School

Posted on 13 February 2026
Applications close on 05 March 2026

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All Locations:

Beaminster

Salary Details:

£73,105 - £80,655

Vacancy Type:

Permanent

Function:

Teaching

Employer:

Dorset Council - Mountjoy School

Job Working Pattern:

Full time

Closing time of advert

Not Specified

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Deputy Headteacher Mountjoy School

About the role

Deputy Head Teacher – Full Time

All‑Through Special School | Rural Dorset

Due to forthcoming retirement, our thriving, all‑through special school, set in the heart of rural Dorset, is seeking an exceptional Deputy Head Teacher to join our senior leadership team, from September 2026.

This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future of a school that is both deeply rooted in its community and ambitiously looking ahead. We are situated close to the beautiful Jurassic Coast, surrounded by stunning countryside.

About Us

We support children and young people aged 4–19 with a wide range of complex needs. Most of our pupils have Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD) and around 70% have Autism (ASC). Our beautiful countryside setting gives us the space and freedom to think creatively, build strong relationships, and offer a truly personalised approach to learning.

Demand for places continues to grow, and we are proud to be an oversubscribed school with an excellent reputation for care, expertise, innovation and a strong therapeutic offer. Over the next few years, we hope to expand onto a new farm‑school site, creating even more opportunities for outdoor learning, vocational pathways, and developmental play. You would be joining us at a pivotal and exciting moment in our development.

The Role

As Deputy Head Teacher, you will:

Lead on teaching, learning, and curriculum development across all phases
Support, coach, and inspire staff to deliver high‑quality, inclusive practice
Champion pupil progress, wellbeing, and safeguarding
Strengthen partnerships with families, external agencies, and the wider community
Play a key role in whole‑school improvement and strategic planning, including future expansion work

This role calls for a leader with vision, resilience, and a deep commitment to education for all.

About You

We are looking for someone who:

Has proven experience in special education and a strong understanding of SEND
Communicates with clarity, empathy, and confidence
Brings creativity, curiosity, and a solution‑focused approach
Thrives in a collaborative environment and inspires trust in others
Is excited by the opportunity to help shape a growing, evolving school

Further Information

Visits

Please contact us to arrange an informal visit via email to [email protected].

We welcome the opportunity to show you what makes our school so special so are scheduling visits for 9.30am Wednesday 25th & 1.30pm Thursday 26th February.

Mountjoy school values the diversity of our workforce and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.

Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people; this is a commitment which we expect all staff and volunteers to share. The successful candidate will be required to have a Disclosure and Barring Service check in line with the Governments safer recruitment guidelines.

This role is UK based and your Right to Work will need to be established as part of the appointment process.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (2013 and 2020)) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. The MOJ’s guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.

Keeping Children Safe in Education

Our school will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This check will be part of a safeguarding check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. All aspects of social media and internet searches will be conducted. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination, a person who will not on the appointment panel will conduct the searches and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.

About Us

What We Offer

A supportive, forward‑thinking leadership team
Enthusiastic pupils who inspire us every day
A committed staff team who value teamwork and professional growth
Space to innovate, including future involvement in our farm‑school development
A stunning rural setting with strong community connections

Pay Scale

Leadership range from 15-19, with room for negotiation, for the right candidate based on experience.

How to Apply

If you are inspired by the chance to help lead a popular, growing school with bold ambitions for the future, we would love to hear from you.

All applications must be submitted via the Dorset Council Jobs section, please note CVs will not be accepted.

Closing date is 5.00pm on Thursday 5^th March, and the assessment day will be on 18^th March.

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