HEAD OF ALTERNATIVE PROVISION
Pathways Academy Zone - Stoke-on-Trent
Salary: £40,000 - £50,000 per annum (dependent on experience)
Contract: Full-time
Location: Burslem Centre, Duncalf Street, Stoke-on-Trent
Reports to: CEO / Advisory Board

A rare opportunity to build something meaningful from the ground up

Pathway Group has been transforming lives through skills, training, and employability for over 24 years. We are now launching Pathways Academy Zone, our new Alternative Education Provision (AP) designed to support young people at Key Stage 3 and 4 who are struggling to thrive in mainstream education. This is bold, purpose-driven work—supporting students who need a different approach and a different pace to succeed.

We are now seeking an exceptional leader to become our Head of Alternative Provision, based at our newly developed Burslem Centre. This is a pivotal, hands-on leadership role that will shape the culture, operations, and strategic direction of our new provision from its earliest stages.

If you are a values-led educational leader with a proven track record in Alternative Provision, SEND or inclusion, and if you want to build a high-impact service from foundation stage to full maturity—this is your opportunity.

Your role

You will drive both strategy and delivery, leading the establishment of a high-quality AP service and developing a trauma-informed, vocationally focussed model. You will build partnerships with schools, commissioners, families, and community partners—ensuring that every young person receives personalised support and meaningful progress towards positive outcomes.

Key responsibilities include:

* Leading the development and delivery of high-quality Alternative Provision.

* Establishing a trauma-informed, relational approach tailored to students with diverse and complex needs.

* Designing and embedding vocational and contextualised learning models for KS3 and KS4 learners.

* Directly leading operations and delivery in the early stages, shaping the provision as it grows.

* Driving quality assurance, outcomes, and consistency across provision.

* Building strong partnerships with schools, commissioners, local authorities and families.

* Recruiting, leading and developing a high-performing team.

* Balancing strategic planning with resource, financial and operational oversight.

* Ensuring safeguarding is central to culture, practice and decision-making.

About you

You will bring deep knowledge of inclusion and Alternative Provision and the leadership ability to shape and grow a service with confidence and clarity. You will be resilient, committed, and driven by a belief that every young person deserves a chance to succeed.

Essential skills & experience

* Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

* Experienced leader within AP, SEND, SEMH, mainstream, or specialist environments.

* Proven success supporting young people with complex emotional, behavioural, and social needs.

* Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building credibility with school leaders and commissioners.

* Ability to lead, motivate and develop teams.

* Experience in strategic planning and resource / financial management.

* Deep understanding of safeguarding.

* IT confident and operationally strong.

Desirable

* Postgraduate or further professional study in education or leadership.

* Experience developing curriculum or alternative learning pathways.

* Knowledge of national policy, AP legislation, and school improvement practice.

Safeguarding

Pathways Academy Zone is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

Why join us?

* The chance to build and shape a new provision with purpose and autonomy.

* A supportive leadership environment with direct access to CEO and Advisory Board.

* A values-led organisation committed to meaningful outcomes, not volume.

* Genuine opportunity for innovation, growth and impact