Assistant Headteacher

Salary Range: L5 – L9

Location: The Bridge School, 36 Coppice View Rd, The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, B73 6UE

Contract: Full time, Fixed Term until 31/12/2026

Start Date: 1st September 2026

Job Overview:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for Assistant Headteacher to join The Bridge School.

 The Bridge School is a special school for primary age children with complex special educational needs that is part of Forward Education Trust. Many of our children have profound and multiple learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties or present on the autistic spectrum and have communication difficulties. 

All of the children who attend The Bridge School have an Education and Health Care Plan. Our school educates 90 children with complex and multiple needs. Children may have Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD), Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) or a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Some children have additional needs including visual impairment and hearing impairment and behaviour difficulties.

Children attending our school will usually require augmented and modified curriculum opportunities including an overarching mobility curriculum and a sensory experiential curriculum for our more profound learners.

The Bridge School underpins all its curriculum delivery through continually developing its communication work so that pupils may access their learning in a way personalised to their needs.

We are passionate about meeting the needs of those children with the most complex needs. Our staff provide a caring and safe learning environment and work in partnership with our parents and carers to ensure that all our children can reach their full potential

The role of Assistant Headteacher is integral in our journey of continual school improvement. It is an exciting time to join our committed, talented team and support our Senior Leadership Team to achieve our ambitious aims and objectives.

 The successful candidate will have :

• Proven leadership experience in a primary or junior school setting, with a strong record of whole-school improvement. 

•  Expertise in curriculum, teaching, and assessment, with a data-informed approach to raising attainment. 

• Outstanding communication and collaboration skills  as well as being able to inspire and motivate staff and pupils alike. 

• Commitment to inclusive education and ensuring every child achieves their potential. 

• Readiness to take a hands-on role in shaping the school’s next stage of development. 

•  A QTS accreditation

Candidates are encouraged to visit the school and/or call to have an informal conversation with the headteacher, Andrew Seager. 

T: 0121 464 8265

E: enquiry@bridge.fet.ac

Competitive benefits:

Forward Education Trust is committed to recruiting and retaining the highest quality staff. To do this, we have an Employee Value Proposition offering a range of benefits to help our staff on a personal and professional level, which includes:

·        Teacher Pension Scheme

·        FET HUB – information all in one place, access to a range of benefits

·        Paid for Health Cash Plan – employee and dependent children benefit – option to add partner

·        Staff voice - consultation with staff on a range of issues and ideas

·        Comprehensive induction and probation support and supportive appraisal system

·        Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme – free  confidential advice, with face-to-face consultations

·        Learning and development – including online learning and other resources

·        Access to discounts and offers from Reward Gateway and My Perks

·        Mental Health First Aiders

·        Wellbeing package and family friendly polices

·        Our well-being support for Assistant Headteachers focuses on managing accountability, workload, and emotional intelligence through professional supervision, peer mentoring, and a supportive organisational culture

          Rewards and awards in line with Trust behaviour and values.

·        A commitment to develop new ideas to show we really value what you do for our children

Closing Date for Applications: Monday, 22 June 2026

Shortlisting: Tuesday 23rd June 2026

Interview Date: Friday, 26 June 2026

The Trust may review applications upon receipt and may call applicants for interview prior to the advert closing date.  Therefore, you are encouraged to make an early application for this role and we reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date.  

Please note that only fully completed Forward Education Trust Application forms will be accepted; we will not read accompanying Curriculum Vitae (CV) or accept them in place of an application form.  

If you do not hear from the school within 14 days of the closing date, please assume that your application has not been shortlisted. The successful applicants will require an enhanced DBS check and will be subject to relevant pre-employment checks.  

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.  

This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent spoken English is an essential requirement for this role.  

An online search will also be carried out for all shortlisted candidates.

Forward Education Trust is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate must promote this ethos.

The successful candidate will be subject to all necessary pre-employment checks, including enhanced DBS; Prohibition check; Childcare Disqualification; qualifications, medical fitness; identity and right to work and  references.