Vacancies

Vacancies at Running Deer School.

Working for Running Deer School gives you a fantastic opportunity to grow and develop.

We are committed to helping you reach your full potential through comprehensive training and ongoing opportunities for professional development at every stage of your career. In addition, you’ll be based in one of the most beautiful parts of Devon, working on the edge of the stunning Dartmoor National Park - an inspiring place to build both your career and your lifestyle.

Current Vacancies

For an application pack please email recruitment@runningdeer.org.uk

Or you can download our application pack here:

English/Literacy Teacher

TERM TIME ONLY.

35 hours per week. Academic year is 38 weeks plus 1 week INSET.

Pay: £33,000 pa (actual) including holiday pay. This includes paid 30-minute break.

Start Date: Summer Term 2026 (April 2026)

This role is 35 hours per week including PPA time, term time only. We do not expect our staff to work outside of their contracted TTO weekly hours.

Our English/Literacy Teacher will be responsible for delivering a bespoke individualised academic English timetable for our students covering KS2-KS4 including ASDAN, Open and Gateway awards and project-based learning as well as for formal GCSEs and functional skills awards.

You will be working with our students in small groups and occasionally 1:1 to enable our students to reach their full potential, whilst supporting their special needs.

Your duties will include:

developing programmes of learning activities
planning, preparing and researching lessons
preparing and adapting teaching materials
making use of special facilities and/or equipment
teaching students on an individual, class or small group basis
checking and assessing students' work and giving feedback
encouraging personal development
attending meetings and reviews
working with our SENCo and deputy SENCo to liaise with parents/carers, external agencies and a range of other professionals, such as speech and language therapists, and educational psychologists
writing reports
coordinating the academic work for our case workers
ensure that our tracking systems are kept up date so that we can monitor the progress of students

Role Requirements

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS or QTLS)
Experience of working with KS2-KS4 across the curriculum, with an English specialism
Must enjoy the outdoors
An understanding and empathy for children with SEN.
Bags of patience
An Enhanced DBS check and references will be undertaken for this role.
Desirable: current First Aid at Work Certificate
Desirable: experience of delivering ASDAN awards

A qualified teacher, you will have experience of working across all the Key Stages, in particular KS2- KS4, in a variety of subjects, but in particular English. You will have wide-ranging experience of working with children with SEN, including ASC and attachment and trauma.

You will be passionate about helping young people achieve the very best that they can, be thick skinned and have a good sense of humour. You will enjoy being outdoors and woodland environment, and in our classroom that is based on site.

You will need to be organised, clear-sighted and able to work with students, and carers. Approachable and committed, you’ll set high expectations.

You will need to be able to deal with extreme weathers, mud and rain, be comfortable working in a woodland setting. Ideally you will love dogs (and horses) who work within our team providing animal assisted interventions.

You will work closely with our Head of School and Senior Leadership team to ensure that EHCP’s, assessments and progress reviews are up to date and accurate.

Above all, you’ll love seeing those in your care achieve their true potential.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

This role requires an Enhanced DBS disclosure and satisfactory references.
You will be required to provide proof of Right to Work at interview stage.
All shortlisted applicants will be subject to an online search

Due to the unique nature of our school, we warmly welcome visits from potential applicants prior to the closing date. To arrange a visit please in the first instance email recruitment@runningdeer.org.uk

Closing date: 12 noon Tuesday 10th February 2026

Please contact us for a full job description/person specification and application pack. Only a fully completed Running Deer Application Pack will be accepted. Do not send a CV or covering letter. Applications which include a CV or covering letter will be discarded.

To apply for this job please email recruitment@runningdeer.org.uk for an application pack.

School Administrator

This is a part time role - 1200hrs to 1500hrs Monday to Friday (15 hours per week), term time only (40 weeks per year plus accrued holiday).

Rate: £15.00 per hour

We are seeking to appoint a friendly, efficient and enthusiastic person to join our team at Running Deer School as the School Administrator. This is a job share role working alongside our experienced School administrator

You will be the first point of contact for visitors and general enquires to the school and will be required to perform a varied range of administrative tasks, as well as supporting the school leadership in the execution of their roles.

Safeguarding

Due to the nature of our school and vulnerability of our students, successful applicants will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, which will include a check against the Children’s Barred List. References will be taken up.

Job requirements

We are looking for someone who has the following skills and qualities to join our team:

Relevant and recent office experience, preferably in a school
ICT skills including Microsoft Office, especially Word and Excel. Some knowledge or experiences of wider ICT applications is desirable.
Experience of using school systems such as CPOMS.
Ability to work under pressure, prioritise a busy workload and meet deadlines.
Excellent communication skills and ability to interact with parents, staff, visitors and children.
Flexible and adaptable approach to work.
Ability to work on own initiative or as part of a team and be a good team player- Professional, calm and friendly approach with a good sense of humour-strong sense of emotional resilience and be willingness to work both in and outdoors when needed.
Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.

Job description and person specification

This is a part time, term time only position. We are seeking to appoint a friendly, efficient and enthusiastic person to join our team at Running Deer School as the School Administrator.
You will be the first point of contact for visitors and general enquires to the school and will be required to perform a varied range of administrative tasks, as well as supporting the school leadership in the execution of their roles.
To be an ambassador for the school when meeting parents and other visitors and to act as first point of reference.
To provide general administrative support to the School under the instruction of Senior Staff and to assist in the efficient running of the School.
To contribute to the overall vision and ethos of the school ensuring the best standards possible for pupils and staff.
Assist the leadership team with minute‑taking for leadership meetings, including preparing agendas, recording key points and action items, tracking follow‑up tasks, and maintaining an organised archive of meeting documentation.
Coordinate and schedule student and staff activities by working closely with senior leaders to understand priorities, staffing needs, and operational requirements. Ensure timetables are accurate, feasible, and communicated promptly to all parties.
To be aware of and support differences and to ensure equal opportunities for all.
Providing a warm welcome to all. Dealing with telephone and face to face enquiries in an efficient and professional manner.
Ensuring that all messages are dealt with in a timely and accurate fashion and, where relevant, relayed to colleagues promptly.
Dealing with incoming and outgoing post.
To maintain the security and safeguarding of the school by controlling access and ensuring the completion of relevant procedures i.e signing in, issuing of identification badges.
Providing information and support to other staff members as required.
Providing hospitality for visitors.
Ensure that all information is treated confidentially and to have absolute discretion at all times, complying with the school’s data protection procedures.
Updating manual and computerised records/management information systems.
Placing orders, checking goods and monitoring paperwork
Updating and distributing communications which may include but is not limited to the school’s website, social media, school noticeboards, newsletters and other communication with parents, colleagues and the community.
Maintaining the school diary.
General administrative duties such as photocopying, filing, emailing and completion of routine forms.
The post holder may be requested to undertake any but not necessarily all of the following duties. Duties required will be directed by the Senior school staff, according to the school’s needs.

To apply please email recruitment@runningdeer.org.uk and request an application pack. CV’s will not be accepted.

Closing Date: 24th February 2026

Learning Facilitator

Term Time Only, 35 hours per week. 38 weeks per year plus 1 week INSET.

Experienced candidates: £23,445 pa (£15 per hour), (FTE: £29,250) This includes paid 30 minute break.

About Running Deer

Running Deer School provides small, specialist, high-support education provision for local education authorities. Firmly grounded in outdoor education and rural skills, and with a strong focus on core academic achievement, we work with children and young people between 8 and 16 with a range of special educational needs.

Job Description

This is a term time only position.

Working alongside other Learning Facilitators and our teachers you will work in small groups or occasionally 1:1 with our users delivering therapeutic activities, and supporting them with their learning.

The majority of your time will be outdoors in our woodland and surrounding areas working on projects and activities that will stimulate our users, enabling them to grow both emotionally and academically.

Learning Facilitators

Support students with project-based learning as part of our students’ individualised educational learning plan
support student with therapeutic activities and learning such as traditional and rural skills, bushcraft, working with horses and so on.
help to develop our user’s individualised learning plans,
support teachers with learning activities which fit in with the national curriculum and other award bodies such as ASDAN, Gateway and Open Awards
report daily on our user’s individualised learning plans,
guide the personal development of our students,
understand their role in safeguarding our students and staff and work with one another, our safeguarding officers, and external agencies to safeguard children and young people,
act as a key worker for one or more of our users, and collate information from other Learning Facilitators,
work cooperatively with other staff and senior leaders.

Person Specification

You will:

have experience in youth work or working within a school environment,
for entry level candidates have a passion to develop a career in this sector and have some experience of being employed in a working environment (not necessarily education),
be able to enthuse and stimulate children and young people with additional physical, emotional, developmental or mental health needs to enable them to reach their full potential,
be adaptable, display initiative, and be able to work independently; we value creativity and unique thinking,
demonstrate your ability to work and plan cooperatively,
demonstrate your ability to develop and deliver project-based learning as part of an individualised education plan,
have excellent verbal and written communication skills,
be committed to continuing professional development,
be comfortable working with children and young people with additional physical, emotional, developmental, or mental health needs,
be able to approach your role empathetically and without prejudice while maintaining professional distance and neutrality.
be comfortable working outdoors in inclement weather.

Requirements Essential skills and qualifications:

Experience in youth work, education, or community development in a sector with a focus on children and young people with special educational needs.
Excellent core skills (Maths and English)
Level 3 or higher qualifications (A-level or equivalent).
A demonstrable understanding of information technology, including online reporting systems
Be able to commute to our site, which is a remote location on the edge of Dartmoor

Desirable skills and qualifications:

Experience working in an outdoor environment.
De-escalation and restraint training (e.g., TeamTeach), although this training will be provided.
Emergency First Aid at Work qualification, although this training will be provided.

Successful applicants will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, which will include a check against the Children’s Barred List. References will be taken up

Things to consider

The majority of the work associated with this role will be outdoors, and you will work in inclement weather. This role can be physically demanding, and includes walking and hiking on inclined and slippery ground, heavy lifting and carrying, and the use of hand tools.

Learning Facilitators will need to be able to work with children and young people who may display aggressive or non-compliant behaviour in a sensitive but firm way, while at all times ensuring that they are kept safe and well.

To apply for this job please email recruitment@runningdeer.org.uk for an application pack.

Recruitment Process

You will be required to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK.

Applicants who qualify will be invited for an informal meeting with our Senior Management team at our Butterdon Wood site, near Moretonhampstead.

Working for Running Deer doesn’t suit everyone, so this is an opportunity to meet the team, discuss your previous experience and any qualifications, have a look around, get a feel for the work that we do, and ask any questions you might have.

This interview will consist of a question and answer session, which will be scored against a predetermined set of questions.

Subject to a current DBS check including Children’s Barred List, and references, we will then make a formal offer of employment.