Principal

Edwin People; North East; On-site; GBP 84,699 - 98,106; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional learning opportunities

Job summary

Horizons Specialist Academy Trust is seeking a Principal for The Woodlands Academy, a specialist provision with 165+ pupils aged 2–16. The role offers significant leadership opportunity within a trusted multi‑academy setting.

You will lead strategic development alongside the Executive Principal and Chief Executive, shaping the next stage of the academy’s growth and ensuring high standards of inclusion and pupil outcomes.

Qualifications

• Significant experience of working with students with special educational needs.
• Outstanding leadership and practitioner qualities.
• Ability to raise standards of attainment and achievement.
• Collaborative leadership across Academy and Trust.
• Motivating staff to engage fully in excellence across the Academy.

Responsibilities

• Lead The Woodlands Academy and shape its strategic development with the Executive Principal and Chief Executive.
• Provide strong, visible leadership to staff and pupils to raise attainment.
• Build on strengths of the Academy and Trust through collaborative practice and partnerships.
• Drive safeguarding, inclusion, and high-quality teaching to secure excellent pupil outcomes.

Skills

SEN expertise

Leadership

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Horizons Specialist Academy Trust

Principal

Role overview

Post: Principal

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours of work: Full Time

Salary: £84,699 to £98,106 (L21-L27)

Location: Tees Valley, Durham and North Yorkshire

Closing date: Noon, Monday 14th September 2026

Interviews will be held: Friday 25th September 2026

Contact name: Edwin People

Contact email: [e-mail]

Who we are

Horizons Specialist Academy Trust (HSAT) is a specialist multi‑academy trust, underpinned by a single organisational and financial structure led by a Chief Executive.

The Trust comprises Abbey Hill Academy (including Abbey Hill Sixth Form), Archway Academy, Green Gates Academy, Hollis Academy, The Meadows Academy, Mo Mowlam Academy, Westlands Academy and Woodlands Academy.

Together, these eight provisions support 1000 children and young people with a range of special educational needs.

Our mission & values

Our vision of ‘Providing infinite opportunities, ensuring the best education for our children and young people’ is a bold one. Our aim ‘to do more and to do it better’ at every level for our pupils, their families and the wider Trust community is key and is underpinned by our values of providing:

• Opportunities for all
• Opportunities to care
• Opportunities together, and
• Opportunities for life

We are a caring, inclusive organisation dedicated to working in partnership as a family of schools where we champion all children and young people, as well as the staff that support them. Working in collaboration with stakeholders and the wider professional and local community demonstrates our commitment to our civic duty and is evidence of our moral purpose.

We have high aspirations for ourselves and others. Our belief that a child’s future should be defined by their talents and aspirations, not limited by the challenges that they face, is a key driver in seeking to improve the life chances of all our pupils.

We recognise that ensuring our pupils are safe, receive a high quality and inclusive education, and are confident and prepared to play an active role in society is only possible when we have an effective and strong multi‑academy trust.

The shared core values of our Trust remain constant and relevant at all levels and our governance framework helps to drive excellence in all that we do.

Our approach

Our academies provide high quality educational and learning experiences which aim to develop:

• confident individuals who are positive about who they are and what they can achieve
• successful, enthusiastic and motivated learners
• positive participants in their local and wider communities

We have close working relationships with local schools which enable our students to form relationships and links with other children and young people around them. Established partnerships with post 16 education and vocational learning providers help to prepare our students for adulthood.

We value our close partnership with parents and carers and we actively seek to realise the hopes and aspirations they have for their children and young people.

Each academy has its own website which I would encourage you to visit where you will hear more from the Principals about what they do and what their students achieve.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people with special education needs and disabilities and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

About the role

The Woodlands Academy is a specialist provision supporting more than 165 pupils aged 2–16 with a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities. All pupils have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), and the academy works closely with a range of specialist professionals and agencies to ensure that individual needs are fully understood and effectively met.

Recently relocated to a purpose‑built facility, the academy benefits from an exceptional learning environment that supports a carefully designed and ambitious curriculum, alongside a wide range of enrichment, therapeutic and personal development opportunities. The academy combines high expectations with a deep understanding of the individual needs of every pupil.

At The Woodlands Academy, we are committed to ensuring that every child can access education successfully, achieve meaningful outcomes and be well prepared for adulthood. Central to this commitment is a nurturing pastoral approach built upon strong relationships between pupils and our highly skilled, experienced and caring staff team.

Pupils are encouraged to engage fully in learning, develop their strengths and achieve success in a variety of ways. Through a culture that promotes empathy, respect and resilience, we support young people to become confident, responsible citizens who are equipped for the next stage of their lives and able to make a positive contribution to their communities.

The Woodlands Academy is entering an exciting stage of its development following its move into a purpose‑built facility. The Principal will have the opportunity to build on the academy's many strengths, leading a highly skilled staff team and working alongside the Executive Principal and Chief Executive to shape the next stage of its strategic development.

Who we are looking for

The successful candidate will:

• Have significant experience of working with students with special educational needs.
• Be an outstanding and experienced leader and practitioner.
• Provide effective leadership in raising standards of attainment and achievement.
• Work collegiately to build on the strengths of the Academy and Trust.
• Be able to motivate staff that are fully engaged in the goal of achieving excellence in all areas of the Academy both personally and professionally.

The Trust can offer:

• An ambitious and forward‑thinking Chief Executive Officer and Board of Trustees.
• A highly collaborative and supportive Executive Leadership Team.
• A committed and skilled Central Team across Finance, HR, Estates, IT and Operations.
• Well‑established systems, processes and infrastructure.
• Extensive and varied professional learning opportunities.

If you have the vision, expertise and drive to lead The Woodlands Academy in the next stage of our journey, we would very much like to hear from you. Please apply by downloading the application form from our website www.horizonstrust.org.uk. Completed application forms should be emailed to [e-mail].