Headteacher

Headteacher – Aurora Peartree 

Location: Great Malvern, Worcestershire

Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent

Hours: 40 hours per week

Salary: £84,699 - £93,424 (L21 – L25)

Start Date: April 2026

Closing Date: 12noon Friday 9^th January 2026

Aurora Peartree is opening its doors in Autumn 2026, and we’re looking for an exceptional Headteacher to help lead and develop this exciting new provision. This is a rare opportunity to be part of something truly transformative.

Aurora Peartree will be a nurturing, inclusive and ambitious school for children and young people aged 5–19 with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. With a capacity of 120 students, our vision is to create a safe, enriching and aspirational environment where every learner can thrive.

The role:

As Headteacher, you’ll work closely with the Operations Director to assist in the development of Aurora Peartree in accordance with its shared values and school development plans. You’ll play a key role in shaping the school’s ethos, culture and strategic direction from the ground up. You’ll be responsible for:

• Leading operational excellence and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of pupils, staff and visitors.
• Driving pupil attendance, progress and achievement.
• Building a resilient, skilled and positive staff team.
• Ensuring compliance with Independent School Standards and Aurora’s high expectations.
• Championing a culture of enrichment, inclusion and high standards of behaviour.

Please note that duties will vary and you will be expected to contribute to the overall aims of the school when required. Please see the link below for our full job description:

Job Description - Headteacher  

Experience:

We’re looking for a passionate, experienced and visionary leader who:

• Has a strong track record in school leadership, ideally within specialist education.
• Is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
• Can inspire and lead a team with empathy, clarity and purpose.
• Understands the unique needs of students with ASD/SEMH and is driven to deliver outstanding outcomes.
• Is confident in managing school improvement strategies, curriculum development and quality assurance. 

To achieve in this role you will be someone who inspires creativity and collaboration, a strong leader and a passionate advocate for your students, finding ways to deliver educational outcomes that make a real difference to them.  

It is an exciting time to be part of Aurora and this is a unique career opportunity to make your mark on our growing services.

For further information or to arrange an informal chat with our Operations Director; please email our Recruitment Partner: liz.hudson@theauroragroup.co.uk

What’s on Offer at Aurora?

We believe in supporting you as much as we support the children and young people in our care. Here’s a snapshot of the fantastic benefits waiting for you:

Grow with Us – Training & Development

Learning never stops at Aurora! We offer a wide range of training programmes and career development opportunities to help you build your skills and reach your goals.

Save Money on Everyday Essentials

With the rising cost of living, our Perkbox app helps you stretch your money further:

• Discounts on groceries, phone plans, internet, dining out, gym memberships & more
• Access to our Cycle to Work and Car Scheme

Access Wagestream – a financial wellbeing app that helps you track earnings, save, get expert money advice, and even access part of your pay early when needed

Competitive Pay & Reward

We regularly benchmark our pay and benefits to stay ahead of the curve. You’ll enjoy:

• Enhanced Annual Leave
• Company Sick Pay
• Enhanced Pension
• Life Assurance

24/7 GP Access – For You & Your Household

Need a doctor? No problem. Book a phone or video appointment anytime, day or night. This service covers everyone in your household.

UK Health Cash Plan

Cover everyday healthcare costs like dental and optician bills. You and your children are included in the scheme, and you can upgrade to add your partner too!

Employee Assistance Programme

Your wellbeing matters. Get confidential support on a wide range of issues, including:

• Freephone counselling (available 24/7)
• Online tools and resources

Refer a Friend – Earn £1,000!

Know someone who’d be a great fit? Refer them and get rewarded!
(*Terms apply)

How to Apply: 

You can apply online by completing our online application form.  For more information on this position please contact liz.hudson@theauroragroup.co.uk 

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

The Aurora Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer.

This advert could be taken down at any point in time without prior notice if the position is filled. 

Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search