Woodlands School
Shropshire
£51,773 - £57,137 per year
Salary:
L1 - L5
Job type:
Full Time, Permanent
Start date:
04 January 2026
Apply by:
29 September 2025
Job overview
Science Lead (Associate Senior Leader)
Do you have what it takes to provide high quality teaching and learning for our children and young people?
Would you class yourself as a compassionate, collaborative, and ambitious practitioner with the determination to make a difference?
Woodlands School is seeking a highly motivated and experienced senior leader with a background as a Science / STEM specialist. The successful candidate will bring their passion for this key curriculum area. Teaching Science across KS2, KS3 and KS4, the successful candidate will have operational and strategic responsibility for the development of the Science curriculum and will lead our school's approach to Science / STEM.
This cross-phase role is central to our commitment to creating an inclusive, learner-cantered culture where all learners feel they belong and can achieve. Through both curriculum leadership and the integration of educational technology, the post holder will drive excellence and equity in Science and STEM, supporting learners across all phases to find an understanding of the world through the eyes of a scientist. You may be from a primary, secondary or specialist background.
This is an exciting time for us as we progress our quality of education to "good" matching all other judgements of "good" in our recent inspection. We are proud of the distance travelled and we want you to join us for the next phase of our journey.
You will be unflappable, have a sense of humour, and be utterly committed to the children in your care. Woodlands is an amazing place to work, and our learners need someone who is not afraid to have high expectations of what they can achieve academically and socially and will never let that standard drop. You will have a strong sense of fairness and know that you are a catalyst to change children's lives.
Leadership Pay Scale L1 – L5
1.0 FTE
Permanent
To start January 2026 or as soon as possible
To be successful, you will:
* Have considerable experience of leading Science/STEM at primary or secondary.
* Be an inspirational leader with passion, drive, and a commitment to consistently lead and deliver outstanding teaching in Science
* Have the ability to develop and lead the school's Science / STEM strategy.
* Be able to lead and build teachers' confidence to engage our young people with the curriculum
* Help guide teachers to ensure our young people develop the stamina and resilience that comes from engaging them in challenging tasks
* Have the patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
* Be flexible and open to change.
* Be able to develop a flexible range of teaching strategies with our team of teachers
* Understand that students take individual and multiple pathways in their learning
Why this leadership role above others?
Come and make a difference to the life chances of our young people.
Woodlands is a special school for pupils who have social, emotional and mental health needs. We are proud of the high expectations and aspirations we set for every child and young person, providing an inspiring environment where everyone can learn and achieve.
We provide ambitious and exciting opportunities through well-designed and individualised curriculum packages.
You will be part of a highly effective, supportive team who readily share best practice amongst the team.
You will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with individual children, young people and their parents. You will find each day rewarding, making the difference, and providing support and nurture for children and parents alike.
You will join us in celebrating success and encouraging all our young people to develop broader life skills, investing in them as a whole child.
We are incredibly proud of the achievements of all our pupils and trust that you will feel the same as we work together to ensure the successful future for them.
We offer:
* Excellent professional learning and support at every stage in your career, with opportunity for continued personal development through our Talent Pathway
* Career development opportunities including funded NPQs
* Excellent resources and facilities
* Significant leadership time on your timetable.
* A core belief in staff wellbeing and work life balance for all, evidenced in policy and practice
* Benefits including funded counselling, physiotherapy and GP and other medical support
* As a school in the Marches Academy Trust teachers have opportunities to engage with staff across the Trust to support and collaborate with peers and colleagues in sharing the expertise across our family of 11 schools.
If you are interested in this post and would like the opportunity to visit the school, or if you have any queries, please contact Lisa Dugmore (Business Manager) on / .
Lisa will be more than happy to help
To apply for the post, please visit our online recruitment site via
(Please note we do not accept CVs).
Closing date for applications: Monday 29th September 2025
Interview Date: Week commencing: 29th September 2025
The Marches Academy Trust values each person equally. We are building a diverse team and embedding a welcoming, inclusive culture that encourages diversity and authenticity. We believe this will encourage creative ways of thinking – ensuring we collaborate more effectively and achieve better outcomes.
We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in our care and expect all staff to embrace this. Shortlisted applicants will be asked to declare any criminal convictions and will be subject to online checks. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.
We positively welcome applicants from all qualified candidates who share our ethos.
Recruiter contact:
Email us
Call us
About Woodlands School
Woodlands School
Tilley Green, Wem, Shrewsbury
Shropshire
SY4 5PJ
United Kingdom
Woodlands is a specialist provision catering for children and young people aged nine to sixteen who have Special Educational Needs (SEN), specifically Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs (SEMH). We provide education for up to 84 children and young people with EHC plans on a non-residential basis.
"This is a happy school where staff and pupils get along well and staff want the very best outcomes for pupils." This is what Ofsted found when they recently inspected us and we are so proud that our report reflects our commitment to our children and young people, and to their families.
There is a thread that runs through our history of being a school that supports vulnerable pupils who have often experienced trauma in their backgrounds, be that adverse childhood experiences or educational trauma before they found their way to us.
We believe in this approach, where high expectations are combined with high support and a "we know you can, and we will help you" attitude, will help our children and young people achieve what we know they are capable of. As a result, Ofsted judged our Behaviour and Attitudes as "good" as well as our Personal development, testament to the bespoke support we give to each of our children and young people who consequently feel understood and valued by the adults who support them.
Our curriculum is broad, balanced and ambitious. We provide a strong academic curriculum to GCSE / Level 2 and additionally a bespoke approach through our 'Oaks' provision, which includes elements of the academic curriculum and also vocational learning both in school and off-site. The curriculum is centred around the needs of the child or young person set out in their Education, Health and Care Plan and is reviewed frequently.
The Marches Academy Trust values each person equally. We are committed to building a diverse team and embedding a welcoming, inclusive culture that encourages diversity and authenticity. We believe this will encourage creative ways of thinking – ensuring we collaborate more effectively and achieve better outcomes.
Achievement through caring drives our Trust, and our values are shared throughout our family of schools; we work together on embedding them in everything we do.
Headteacher
Julia Taylor
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