Head of Alternative Provision

Aspire People; Northampton; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Aspire People Limited is seeking an experienced Head of Alternative Provision in Northampton to lead a specialist provision that combines education, wellbeing and equestrian-based learning. The role focuses on strategic leadership, high-quality personalised education and strong partnerships with local authorities to improve outcomes for disengaged learners.

The successful candidate will oversee curriculum planning, safeguarding, and staff development, driving improvements while creating a

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience within a school.
• Experience working with local authorities, ideally involving partnership working or support for vulnerable learners.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding, inclusion, behaviour management and the needs of young people.
• Ability to lead curriculum development, monitor educational outcomes and drive improvements in teaching and learning.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to work effectively with staff, families, schools and external agencies.
• Strong organisational, strategic planning and decision-making skills.
• Genuine commitment to personalised learning, pupil wellbeing and helping every young person achieve their potential.

Responsibilities

• Strategic leadership: Provide clear, effective leadership, setting high expectations and establishing a culture of ambition, inclusion and continuous improvement.
• Quality of education: Oversee curriculum planning, teaching, learning and assessment, ensuring programmes are engaging and appropriately differentiated.
• Safeguarding and welfare: Ensure robust safeguarding practices and promote safety and wellbeing of all learners, staff and visitors.
• Learner progress: Monitor attendance, engagement, behaviour and achievement, using evidence to measure progress and inform targeted support.
• Team development: Lead, support and develop staff, fostering a collaborative, reflective and high-performing team.
• Partnership working: Build and maintain effective relationships with local authorities, commissioning teams, mainstream schools, families and other professionals.
• Provision development: Drive continued development of the provision, identify opportunities to improve services and strengthen partnerships.
• Equestrian-based learning: Champion practical equestrian activities and life skills; previous equestrian experience is not required.
• Compliance and improvement: Ensure provisions meet regulatory requirements and drive continuous improvement across all aspects.

Skills

Senior leadership

Education partnerships

Strategic planning

Safeguarding

Curriculum development

Team development

Partnerships

Job description

Head of Alternative Provision

Location: Northampton, Northamptonshire

Salary: £42,123-£54,927 per annum

Contract: Full-time, Permanent

Start Date: January 2027 or sooner

Are you an experienced school leader who is passionate about improving outcomes for young people and believes every learner deserves the opportunity to succeed?

We are seeking an ambitious, compassionate and forward-thinking Head of Alternative Provision to lead our specialist provision in Northampton. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced senior education professional to shape the future of a setting where education, personal development and equestrian-based learning come together to transform the lives of young people.

You do not need equestrian experience to apply. We are looking for an individual with strong school senior leadership experience, a proven ability to drive improvement and, ideally, experience of working in partnership with local authorities. You will bring the educational expertise, leadership skills and vision needed to help our provision thrive.

Working in partnership with schools and local authorities, our equestrian-based programmes support young people to re-engage with education, develop essential life skills and achieve measurable personal progress. As a British Horse Society (BHS) Approved Centre, we deliver structured, nationally recognised programmes that combine education, wellbeing and practical achievement in a unique and supportive environment.

About the Role

As Head of Alternative Provision, you will provide strategic leadership and day-to-day management of the provision, ensuring that every learner receives a high-quality, personalised educational experience. You will lead a dedicated team, drive standards and create a positive culture in which young people feel safe, valued, supported and motivated to achieve their potential.

You will play a pivotal role in developing the provision, strengthening partnerships with schools and local authorities, and ensuring that our approach delivers meaningful educational and personal outcomes.

This is an opportunity to lead a distinctive provision where success is measured not only through academic progress, but also through improved engagement, confidence, resilience, independence and readiness for the next stage of life.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic leadership: Provide clear, effective leadership, setting high expectations and establishing a culture of ambition, inclusion and continuous improvement.
• Quality of education: Oversee curriculum planning, teaching, learning and assessment, ensuring programmes are engaging, appropriately differentiated and responsive to individual needs.
• Safeguarding and welfare: Ensure robust safeguarding practices and promote the safety, welfare and wellbeing of all learners, staff and visitors.
• Learner progress: Monitor attendance, engagement, behaviour and achievement, using evidence to measure progress and inform targeted support.
• Team development: Lead, support and develop staff, fostering a collaborative, reflective and high-performing team.
• Partnership working: Build and maintain effective relationships with local authorities, commissioning teams, mainstream schools, families and other professionals to support successful learner outcomes.
• Provision development: Drive the continued development of the provision, identifying opportunities to improve services, strengthen partnerships and enhance the learner experience.
• Equestrian-based learning: Champion the benefits of practical and equestrian-based activities in developing responsibility, communication, confidence, resilience and essential life skills. Previous equestrian experience is not required.
• Compliance and improvement: Ensure the provision meets relevant statutory requirements and applicable regulatory expectations, while driving continuous improvement across all aspects of the provision.

About You

The ideal candidate will be an experienced school leader who is ready to take on an exciting leadership opportunity within alternative provision. You will understand the challenges faced by young people who struggle to engage with mainstream education and be committed to creating opportunities for them to succeed.

We are particularly interested in candidates who have:

• Senior leadership experience within a school, with a track record of leading teams, improving standards and achieving positive outcomes for pupils.
• Experience working with local authorities, ideally involving partnership working, alternative provision, commissioning arrangements or support for vulnerable learners.
• A strong understanding of safeguarding, inclusion, behaviour management and the needs of young people who have experienced barriers to education.
• The ability to lead curriculum development, monitor educational outcomes and drive improvements in teaching and learning.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to work effectively with staff, families, schools and external agencies.
• Strong organisational, strategic planning and decision-making skills.
• A flexible, solution-focused approach and the ability to inspire, motivate and develop others.
• A genuine commitment to personalised learning, pupil wellbeing and helping every young person achieve their potential.

Equestrian experience is not essential. You do not need to be a rider or have worked within an equestrian setting. What matters most is your ability to provide outstanding educational leadership, build effective partnerships and embrace an innovative approach to supporting young people.

Why Join Us

This is more than a traditional school leadership role. It is an opportunity to lead a specialist provision that uses an engaging, practical environment to help young people rediscover their confidence, develop new skills and reconnect with learning.

You do not need equestrian experience to succeed in this role. We are looking for a strong educational leader with the vision, determination and compassion to help young people overcome barriers and build brighter futures.

The position is full-time and permanent, with a January 2027 start or sooner for the right candidate.

Aspire People Limited provides services as an Education Agency and an Education Employment Business. Aspire People is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and expects every candidate to share this commitment. Placements are subject, to appropriate Child Protection screening, including checks with former employers and the Disclosure and Barring Checks.