Phase Lead

Shape the educational journey of students in Years 8-10 at Hamilton School by providing strategic and operational leadership across a critical stage of their development. As Phase Lead, you will drive academic progress, oversee transition, assessment and careers education, and ensure students with social, emotional and mental health needs receive the support they need to achieve positive educational, personal and aspirational outcomes. Working closely with teaching, pastoral and support staff, you will lead systems that promote engagement, attendance, achievement and wellbeing, while developing colleagues and contributing to whole-school improvement. Based within Hamilton School's specialist SEMH provision, this role combines leadership, inclusion, curriculum support and student advocacy to deliver meaningful outcomes for young people.,

• Lead educational provision across Years 8-10, ensuring students make strong academic, personal and social progress from their individual starting points.
• Develop and maintain robust systems to monitor attendance, behaviour, engagement, achievement and progress, using data effectively to identify needs and implement timely interventions.
• Lead assessment information informs planning, target-setting and support strategies.
• Oversee transition, personalised learning programmes, part-time timetables and phased reintegration arrangements, ensuring statutory compliance and positive outcomes for students.
• Promote positive behaviour, wellbeing and inclusion through trauma-informed and therapeutic approaches that support resilience, emotional regulation and readiness to learn.
• Lead careers education, employability learning and preparation for adulthood across the phase, supporting students to understand future pathways and aspirations.
• Line manage and develop designated support staff through coaching, mentoring and professional development, promoting consistency of practice and improved student outcomes.
• Build effective partnerships with parents, carers, external agencies and multidisciplinary professionals to remove barriers to learning and support student success.
• Contribute to safeguarding, attendance, school improvement and wider leadership priorities, ensuring compliance with Trust policies, health and safety requirements and child protection responsibilities.
  
  Holds Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or an equivalent teaching qualification and a degree-level qualification.
• Has successful experience of teaching and securing positive outcomes for students at Key Stage 3 and/or Key Stage 4
• Has experience supporting students with SEMH, SEND or additional barriers to learning and demonstrates a strong understanding of trauma-informed and relational practice.
• Can analyse assessment and progress data, identify barriers to learning and lead effective interventions that improve engagement and achievement.
• Demonstrates strong organisational skills, including coordinating transition programmes, personalised support plans, reintegration arrangements and complex student information.
• Communicates effectively with students, families, colleagues and external agencies and is confident producing reports and managing sensitive conversations professionally.
• Has experience of supporting, coaching or mentoring colleagues and can provide empathetic leadership that promotes professional growth and collaboration.
• Understands careers education, preparation for adulthood and progression pathways, with a commitment to raising aspirations and supporting positive futures for young people.
• Demonstrates resilience, integrity, adaptability and a commitment to inclusive practice, continuous improvement and safeguarding.
  
  Hamilton School in Reading is a place of opportunity, belonging and growth for young people aged 11-16. As a special school within Maiden Erlegh Trust, it provides a highly supportive environment for students who benefit from smaller classes, strong relationships and personalised approaches that help them learn, develop confidence and succeed in life.
Every day at Hamilton is different. Staff work closely as a team to spark curiosity, celebrate progress and help students build the skills they need for the future. The school moved into its purpose-built home on Bulmershe Road in 2022, a modern and welcoming space designed around the needs of its learners. Hamilton supports students with social, emotional and mental health needs and is recognised for its expertise, teamwork and impact, including a Pride of Reading Award nomination from parents., Maiden Erlegh Trust is a growing community of schools across Berkshire and Oxfordshire, working together to deliver the best possible education for every child and young person. With around 800 staff and 5000 students across nine schools, including primary, secondary, special, and alternative provision, we are proud of the diversity that shapes our expertise. We Aim High, Be Inclusive, and Work Together. These values drive our focus on high-quality education for all, through collaboration, inclusion, and continuous improvement. Through the Maiden Erlegh Institute, colleagues access high-quality professional learning at every stage of their career, supported by mentoring, leadership opportunities, and our annual MET Staff Conference-a day that unites our whole team in sharing best practice and learning. Joining our Trust means being part of a community that invests in people and values expertise; it is about playing a direct role in shaping the lives and outcomes of young people. You can learn more about working with us and hear from colleagues across our Trust by clicking here to visit our website.

Staff wellbeing and professional development are central to how we work. Colleagues benefit from a wide range of opportunities and schemes, including:
• Pension Scheme - Generous employer contributions through the Teachers' Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme
• Annual Leave - Generous entitlement, increasing with length of service
• ME Day - One additional day's leave each year for a significant personal event
• Professional Development - Extensive CPD through the Maiden Erlegh Institute, annual Trust Conference and apprenticeship opportunities
• Hybrid Working - Flexible working arrangements for eligible roles
• Perkbox - Discounts, wellbeing resources and monthly perk points
• Wellbeing and Health - Free flu vaccinations and eye tests (where eligible)
• Employee Assistance Programme - 24/7 support and discount schemes
• Mental Health First Aid Support
• Recognition and Community - Celebrating achievements and milestones across #TeamMET
• Employee Referral Scheme