Meadow Wood School
Hertfordshire
£69,964 - £77,051 per year
Salary:
L14-L18
Job type:
Full Time, Permanent
Start date:
01 January 2026
Apply by:
17 September 2025
Job overview
Job Title: Head of School
Location: The Sunflower Federation, Meadow Wood School
Salary: L14 - 18
Contract: Permanent
Start: January 2026
Interview Date: 29th September 2025
A unique and exciting opportunity has arisen to become the Head of School for Meadow Wood School in the Sunflower Federation, with the potential to access quick career progression, for the right candidate.
About the Role
The Sunflower Federation is a unique school community of two different schools. We strongly believe that synergy and co-operation within the wider school community and with all our stakeholders brings the best outcome for everyone but especially for our students.
This post is available due to our expansion plans. The Sunflower Federation has two separate provisions; Meadow Wood School, that caters for children with physical and neurological difficulties and Breakspeare School, that caters for children and young people with severe and profound learning difficulties. Breakspeare School operates on three different sites (Abbots Langey, Bushey and West Watford); Meadow Wood School is located in Bushey.
We are looking for an experienced and highly effective Head of School for Meadow Wood School with the energy, enthusiasm and ambition to join the dedicated Senior Leadership Team of the Sunflower Federation.
This role offers a motivating opportunity for a highly organised and multi-skilled professional who is able to be creative and think outside of the box, to contribute fully to the professional development for themselves and the wider leadership of the Sunflower Federation.
The postholder's key accountability will be to provide Meadow Wood School with daily inspirational leadership with a passion and vision to achieve the best outcomes for the students.
We can offer:
* A rewarding post which will make a real difference to the lives of our vulnerable children and young people
* An opportunity to join the Federation at an exciting stage of its future development
* A highly performing, skilled and supportive team who work collaboratively
* A commitment to your personal and professional development
* A supportive governing board
* Staff reward and wellbeing package
You are:
* always keeping the students' best interest at the heart of their working practice
* motivated to support the positive wellbeing of others
* a practitioner who inspires others
* a creative leader, with experience at a senior level
* excited to offer children an exceptional learning experience making a real impact on their progress and life opportunities
* able to build strong positive relationships with students, staff and external professionals
* exceptional communicator with interpersonal skills and a 'can do' attitude
* able to enhance the 'Outstanding' and 'Good' performance and development of our schools
* innovative and strategic in your thinking
* willing to undertake CPD and training relevant to the post and the development of the organisation
* committed to become an advocate for the ethos of The Sunflower Federation in the wider community
If you have the passion, enthusiasm and commitment to take on the lead strategic role in driving The Sunflower Federation forward, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Please contact us commencing 3rd September 2025 for further enquiries and to organise a school visit.
* contact Merja Paakkonen on or
* email
CVs alone or CVs submitted via agencies will not be accepted. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
The Sunflower Federation is committed to safeguarding the welfare of young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post will be subject to full employment checks, including an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service
Recruiter contact:
Email us
Call us
About Meadow Wood School
Meadow Wood School
Coldharbour Lane, Bushey
Hertfordshire
WD23 4NN
United Kingdom
Meadow Wood is a primary special school for 32 children with physical and neurological impairments. It is a multiprofessional setting in which a range of education and health professionals work together to meet the individual learning, developmental, health, care and other personal needs of children attending the school. The school itself is purpose-built and situated in attractive grounds in Bushey, near Watford. Meadow Wood was judged to be an outstanding school by Ofsted in its most recent inspection (February 2010).
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