Willow Vale School are seeking to appoint a permanent Pastoral Lead to be based at our Cossington primary site - Grade 11 actual annual gross salary £31,469 - £35,104 

37 hours per week, term time plus INSETs plus 4 weeks holiday working* 

Hours of work: Monday 8.30 am – 4.30 pm for 4 days per week and 8.30 am – 4.00 pm 1 day per week* 

*The additional 4 weeks per year is paid to recognise that the role will involve working outside of contracted hours as determined by the needs of the service, as well as checking the Safeguarding email address on a rota basis during school holiday periods, and checking/updating My Concern. 

Willow Vale School is a newly established and forward‑thinking provision created from the former Bridge School Sedgemoor and Taunton Deane Partnership College (Taunton Deane Partnership College).  Spread across 6 specialist sites in the Bridgwater and Taunton areas, we provide flexible, personalised education for children and young people with a wide range of needs. 

Our work is guided by three core values that shape everything we do:  Be Safe, Be Kind, Belong 

These values underpin our culture and ensure every learner feels supported, respected and part of a community where they can thrive. 

Students join Willow Vale through several pathways.  Our main remit is to work with and support young people who are not able to access mainstream schools, for a variety of reasons. Whatever the route, our aim is to provide high‑quality, highly personalised programmes that rebuild confidence, re‑engage learners and prepare them for their next steps.

 We are looking for a Pastoral Lead to join our Cossington primary school site although some work may occasionally be required at our other sites.  This role is key in being the link between home and school for our children, in supporting them to access education and in building positive relationships with families to support engagement and progress of children.  You will be a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (training will be provided if you are not currently within a safeguarding team).  You will represent the school in multi-agency meetings, respond to and action a school response to safeguarding concerns for children in the Centre and work closely with the wider Willow Vale safeguarding team under the direction of the Designated Safeguarding Lead.  You will work closely with the site Senior Lead to run the provision day to day including in the Line Management of support staff. 

You will be expected to demonstrate: 

• A thorough awareness of safeguarding young people (although full training will be provided)
• An ability to respond calmly in challenging situations
• An ability to lead others in their work
• An ability to build positive relationships with students, staff, families and multi-agency teams
• Good literacy, numeracy and ICT skills 

In return we can offer ongoing CPD opportunities, promotional opportunities and a very supportive and skilled team. Willow Vale works as a part of a wider team within a formal partnership with both Polden Bower and Avalon Schools.  

If you feel you have what it takes to work with us to achieve the very best for our students, we would very much like to hear from you. 

Enquiries and visits are welcomed please call Jo Stamford, Assistant HR Manager, on 01278 496386 or email HR@Poldenbower.org.uk. 

Willow Vale School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  All posts require a criminal background check via the Disclosure procedure, medical clearance proof of the right to work in the UK and satisfactory references. 

Following the acceptance of your interview, an online check will be carried out  as detailed in the latest Keeping Children Safe in Education guidelines