Exciting opportunity!
This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join our wonderful Bright Futures Team to play a key role in the development of our brand-new school in Salford and an opportunity for you to:
* Be at the forefront of shaping a new specialist school in the North West.
* Join a wider leadership team with the opportunity to influence the strategic direction of current and future schools.
* Work in a supportive, collaborative environment where staff development and wellbeing are valued.
* Competitive salary with a Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP).
Bright Futures currently has two highly successful, non-associated, independent specialist schools in St Helens and Lymm, and is looking to expand its educational offer in the North West.
We are committed to providing high-quality education for all, where children feel safe, valued, and have a sense of belonging. Our educational vision is to “awaken the potential” of every child and young person.
We are seeking a passionate and dynamic Headteacher to lead our next school. This is a fantastic opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our students and supporting young people aged 5-18 with autism, moderate to severe learning difficulties, and complex needs. Your leadership should express our core educational values and moral purpose.
Reporting to the Executive Lead for Education, you will provide strategic direction and management of the school, ensuring excellence in all aspects of education and outstanding outcomes for all students.
This role is ideal for someone with strong leadership experience and a passion and commitment to improving outcomes for all students.
The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection checks appropriate to the post and stage of recruitment, including social media, and communication with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). All posts are subject to satisfactory statutory employment checks and referencing.
As the Headteacher you will:
* Ensure there is a commitment to safeguarding, equality and diversity.
* Uphold high and ambitious expectations for all and promote an inclusive culture that enables all students to access the curriculum.
* Ensure that the school effectively and efficiently operates within the required regulatory frameworks and meets all statutory duties.
* Lead and manage members of the school senior management team in line with their roles and responsibilities.
* Oversee the daily operations of the school to ensure it is well-managed, organised and aligned with strategic goals.
* Ensure the school’s policies, practices, and procedures are fully understood by all staff to reduce risk and ensure consistency of practice.
* Drive continuous improvement through a robust school development plan, quality assurance procedures, including supervision and appraisal.
* Identify barriers to school effectiveness and develop strategies for school improvement that are realistic, timely and suited to the school’s context.
* Promote a culture of collaboration across the school and other Bright Futures schools.
* Have a strategic overview of referrals and admissions, liaising with local authorities to promote the school’s values and growth.
* Ensure a culture of staff professionalism and professional development for all.
Please note that this is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the role as outlined above. These are outlined in the Headteacher Job Description.
The postholder may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to the level of the role and any other reasonable responsibilities.
Requirements
Qualifications and experience
* Qualified teacher status or equivalent
* Degree or equivalent
* National professional qualification for headship (NPQH) (preferred)
* Minimum of 3 years of successful leadership and management experience in a school
* Experience of Autism/LD is desirable
Additional requirements
* A track record of getting the best outcomes for all students and promoting the ethos and values of the school
* Commitment to safeguarding, equality and diversity
* A high level of integrity and able to maintain confidentiality in handling sensitive financial and personal information
* Effective ICT skills
* Experienced in school self-evaluation and development planning
* Demonstrable experience of successful line management and staff development
* Data analysis skills and the ability to use data to set targets and identify improvements
* Understanding of high-quality teaching based on evidence, with the ability to model this for others and support others to improve
* Experience of curriculum development
* Effective communication and interpersonal skills to build and maintain good working relationships with children, staff, parents and external agencies
* Commitment to uphold the 7 principles of public life (the Nolan Principles) at all times
* Able to work under pressure and prioritise effectively
* Proactive and self-motivated
* High-level understanding of implications of education policy in the context of quality assurance and enhancement policies and procedures
* Up-to-date knowledge of regulations and compliance requirements in the education sector
* Strong ethical standards and a role model for the Organisation’s values and behaviours
* Flexibility to cover business needs
The Headship salary scale for this school is £50,000 - £57,500 plus a Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP).
Due to our growth plan, we are interested in candidates who have the experience and skills to set-up and lead an additional satellite school. The salary scale for this would be £70,000 to £80,000, plus an LTIP.
Closing Date: 14th October 2025
Interview Date: 17th October 2025
Start Date: January or April 2026
Ready to take the next step in your leadership journey? For more details or to apply today,
Visits to one of our schools and a meeting with the Executive Lead for Education are encouraged.