Headteacher – Woodlands Secondary School, Luton

📍 Location: Luton LU3 3SP
🏫 School type: Community special school for pupils aged 11–18 with severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties (SLD/PMLD)
⭐ Ofsted: Outstanding – May 2024
💰 Salary: L33-L39 (£113,646 - £131,578), with potential to increase as school grows
📅 Start date: September 2026
⏰ Closing date: December 1^st at 9am (shortlisting December 3^rd)
💬 Interviews: Tuesday 9^th December
🌐 Website: www.woodlands.luton.sch.uk | Facebook: www.facebook.com/woodlandsluton

Woodlands is an Outstanding (Ofsted 2024) community special school with a proud history of delivering exceptional education and care for young people with complex needs. We are now seeking an experienced and inspiring Headteacher to lead our school of 265 students into its next exciting phase.

At Woodlands we believe that learning is a life-long journey and we aim to inspire and support our children and young people to achieve their full potential. Woodlands School provides a vibrant, fun and inclusive educational  community where all members, students, their families and staff, are continuously learning together. Our classes are small (6-12 students per group, and we enjoy excellent facilities such as a hydrotherapy pool, a dance and drama studio, a soft play room, a gym, a café and tuck shop (run by the students), a rebound therapy room with a sunken trampoline and a horticulture area. 

We believe that children and young people learn best when they are happy, and the emotional well-being of both students and staff has a high priority at Woodlands Secondary School.

About the role

The new Headteacher will:

• Lead a committed team to sustain our outstanding quality of education and care
• Oversee the development of a second school site, expanding local SEND capacity
• Strengthen relationships with families, professionals and the wider community
• Maintain a safe, aspirational environment where students can flourish
• Drive continued improvement and staff development

About you

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has substantial experience in senior leadership within a special school
• Deeply understands the complexities of SLD/PMLD and post-16 SEND provision
• Communicates clearly and builds strong partnerships
• Champions high-quality teaching and learning
• Inspires others to be the best they can be
• Is resilient, compassionate and strategic
• Has high levels of professionalism and integrity

We offer

• A thriving, harmonious community rated Outstanding by Ofsted (May 2024)
• A well-resourced, purpose-built learning environment
• A stable and expert team of staff and governors
• The opportunity to lead the expansion of a highly regarded school
• Access to high-quality CPD so that you can continue to develop your skills and knowledge, as well as those of others

Please contact Alpha Parish from Academicis (our retained recruitment partner) for a confidential initial discussion prior to submitting an application.
Tel: 07436 971517 | Email: aparish@academicis.co.uk

Please refer to the candidate pack attached

Safeguarding:

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment.

Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

This post meets the definition of ‘Regulated Activity’ as defined in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (as amended).

Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for an enhanced DBS check to be undertaken. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and convictions; and also any adult cautions (simple or conditional), and spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). A person’s criminal record will not in itself prevent a person from being appointed to this post. Applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying. However in the event of the employment being taken up, any failure to disclose such offence, as detailed above, will result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority.

IT IS AN OFFENCE TO APPLY FOR A ROLE WORKING IN REGULATED ACTIVITY IF YOU ARE BARRED FROM WORKING WITH CHILDREN

PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHED POLICIES :

Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy