School Principal

Olive Recruit; Billingshurst; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Programme

Health and wellbeing support

Leadership training

Job summary

Olive Recruit is seeking an experienced School Principal for Ingfield Manor School, Five Oaks, West Sussex. This role leads a growing multi-site educational provision, delivering strategic leadership while upholding safeguarding and educational excellence.

You will oversee operations, finances, staffing, and regulatory compliance, working with Governors, parents and external partners to promote outstanding outcomes for children with additional needs.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in specialist education or SEND settings across multiple provisions.
• Management qualification and relevant educational qualifications.
• Strong knowledge of OFSTED, safeguarding, SEND legislation.

Responsibilities

• Lead across multiple educational provisions ensuring high educational, safeguarding and regulatory standards.
• Oversee operational performance, financial management, staffing, safeguarding, health and safety.
• Develop partnerships with parents, governors, commissioners and stakeholders and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Communication

Team leadership

Bids & tenders

Education

Level 5 management qualification (NPQH optional)

Master's in Education (advantageous)

Job description

School Principal

Job Types: Full time, Permanent

Hours: 40 hours per week

Salary: Leadership Scale L17–L20

Location: Ingfield Manor School, Five Oaks, West Sussex

Job Scope:

We are looking to recruit an experienced Principal for Ingfield Manor School, a specialist education setting within a well-established care and education provider. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a growing multi-site educational provision, delivering strategic leadership while maintaining the highest standards of education, safeguarding, and operational excellence.

As Principal, you will provide leadership across multiple educational provisions, ensuring each service maintains its unique identity while working collaboratively to achieve shared strategic objectives. You will oversee the school's operational performance, financial management, staffing, safeguarding, health and safety, and regulatory compliance, while driving continuous improvement and supporting future growth.

Working closely with the Regional Divisional Director, Governors, parents, commissioners, and multidisciplinary teams, you will develop strong partnerships, promote outstanding educational outcomes, and contribute to the long-term strategic development of the campus. You will also play a key role in supporting occupancy, developing new services, and ensuring the provision remains a first choice for students, families, and local authorities.

This role requires an inspirational leader with extensive experience in specialist education, strong commercial awareness, and a proven ability to lead large multidisciplinary teams through change while delivering exceptional outcomes for children and young people with additional needs.

Do you have?

• Proven leadership experience within specialist education or SEND settings, ideally across multiple educational provisions.
• A recognised management qualification (Level 5 or equivalent minimum) and relevant educational qualifications (NPQH or a Master's in Education would be advantageous).
• Extensive knowledge of OFSTED requirements, safeguarding, SEND legislation, and specialist education frameworks.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams, managing budgets, and driving organisational improvement.
• Strong commercial awareness with experience in strategic planning, business development, bids, tenders, or service growth.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage effectively with parents, governors, commissioners, regulators, and external stakeholders.
• A proven track record of developing high-performing teams, managing change, and creating a positive culture focused on continuous improvement.

Benefits:

• Excellent opportunities for professional development and career progression.
• Supportive leadership structure within a growing education and care organisation.
• Opportunity to lead an established specialist school with excellent facilities.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Health and wellbeing support.
• Ongoing leadership training and development.
• Competitive Leadership Scale salary.
• The opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of children and young people with additional needs.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. All colleagues are expected to share this commitment and participate fully in safeguarding training and processes.

The successful applicant will undergo a free enhanced disclosure from the disclosure barring service & other compliance checks required.