Headteacher

North Star 240°; West of England; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Leadership coaching

Career progression

Staff wellbeing

Work-life balance

Job summary

North Star Academy Trust is seeking a Headteacher to provide strategic direction and daily leadership across four specialist provisions. You will nurture a culture where pupils belong, families feel listened to, and staff are supported to be their best.

Working with the Executive Leadership Team, you will drive school improvement and ensure every child receives the care, support and education they deserve within a SEND-focused environment.

Qualifications

• Experience of leadership and school improvement.
• Experience of developing and motivating high-performing teams.
• Strong understanding of SEND legislation and inclusive practice.
• Resilience and adaptability to lead within a specialist setting.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to build positive relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead with kindness, integrity and ambition in a school context.
• Build strong relationships with pupils, families and staff.
• Drive improvements in attendance, engagement, behaviour and outcomes.
• Champion inclusion and ensure decisions serve children’s best interests.
• Collaborate with parents, carers and external partners to support pupils.

Skills

Leadership

SEND knowledge

Inclusive practice

Coaching

Communication

Job description

At North Star Academy Trust, we believe every child deserves to feel safe, understood, valued and successful. Our vision is simple: to provide exceptional specialist education that enables children and young people with SEND to thrive both academically and personally.

We are a small but ambitious family of schools, currently comprising four specialist provisions across primary, secondary and alternative education. Everything we do is driven by our commitment to improving the life chances of the young people we serve and ensuring that every pupil receives an education tailored to their individual strengths, needs and aspirations.

As our Trust continues to grow, we are seeking an experienced and compassionate leader to join us asHeadteacher. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who believes in the power of relationships, is passionate about inclusive education and is committed to creating positive futures for children and young people.

About the Role

As Headteacher, you will be at the heart of our school community, providing both strategic direction and day-to-day leadership. You will help create a nurturing environment where pupils feel they belong, families feel listened to, and staff feel valued and supported to be their very best.

Working alongside our Executive Leadership Team, you will lead school improvement whilst maintaining a relentless focus on what matters most: ensuring every child receives the care, support and education they deserve.

We Are Looking for Someone Who Will:

• Lead with kindness, integrity and ambition.
• Build strong, trusting relationships with pupils, families and staff.
• Create a culture where every child is known, valued and encouraged to achieve their potential.
• Inspire and support staff through coaching, professional development and collaborative working.
• Drive improvements in attendance, engagement, behaviour and educational outcomes.
• Champion inclusion and ensure that every decision is made with the best interests of children at its heart.
• Work closely with parents, carers and external partners to secure the very best support for our pupils.
• Contribute to the continued growth and success of North Star Academy Trust.

About You

You will be an experienced school leader with a strong understanding of SEND and, ideally, Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

More importantly, you will be someone who genuinely believes in the potential of every child. You will understand that successful schools are built on strong relationships, high expectations and a culture where people care deeply about one another.

You will bring:

• A successful track record of leadership and school improvement.
• Experience of developing and motivating high-performing teams.
• A strong understanding of SEND legislation and inclusive practice.
• The resilience and adaptability required to lead within a specialist setting.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build positive relationships with all stakeholders.
• A commitment to ensuring that every child and family feels valued, respected and supported.

Why Join North Star Academy Trust?

When you join North Star, you become part of a Trust that values people, relationships and collaboration.

We offer:

• A supportive and approachable Executive Leadership Team.
• Access to leadership coaching and professional development.
• A strong commitment to staff wellbeing and work-life balance.
• Opportunities for career progression within a growing Trust.
• The chance to make a lasting difference to the lives of children, young people and their families.
• A welcoming and values-led community that puts children first.

If you are a compassionate and ambitious leader who believes that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, we would love to hear from you.