Thomas Hall School, Reach South Academy Trust is seeking to appoint a Forest School Lead to join the School Thomas Hall School.

Post: Forest School Lead

Location: Thomas Hall School, Exeter, Devon, EX4 5AD

FTE Salary Range: Grade D Pt 8-14 . £26,824 - £29,540

Actual Annual Salary: £20,967 - £23,090 (Pro Rata)

Contract Type:  Permanent, term time (39 weeks)

Contract Hours: 32.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Please wait until the job offer stage before asking us about flexibility, and we will explore what’s possible for the role.

Summary

A caring and dynamic individual to deliver forest school, working outdoors and produce imaginative activities for pupils aged 4-16.

About the role

Co-ordinate, plan and deliver a Forest School curriculum. Monitor and track progress for students participating and report data to the relevant Tutors and class teachers. Work closely with other support staff to enable differentiation and variety where required. Constantly engaging the curiosity and excitement of all pupils within the session.

About the successful candidate

Someone who is passionate about outdoor pursuits, the wider learning that can be given within that environment, as well as dedicated to providing a well-rounded teaching to all students. An ability to see each person as a full individual and willingness to invest in those students and in turn gain their investment in Forest School and what it can provide for them and the school as a whole.

About the School

Thomas Hall School is committed to giving all children an engaging and enriching educational experience. We provide a richly diverse and connected school environment, representative of the world that our pupils will enter. Our pupils mature into individuals who are ambitious, open-minded and confident. Along with our academic pathway, we also take care to support individual character formation and wellbeing through The Thomas Hall Way.

Each pupil at our school is celebrated for their individual talents. For our pupils’, school is about exploring strengths and developing academic and personal skills that will ensure that every child is well prepared for the quickly changing world that awaits them. It is our promise that we will create an environment of community, collaboration and challenge. 

The Thomas Hall grounds, on the outskirts of Exeter, offer a site of inspiring natural beauty.  Our main building  was built in the 1600s, with established woodland surrounding the main campus area. The building was part of Exeter University’s Duryard Halls of Residence for nearly 100 years before becoming a school.  In 2023, Thomas Hall School joined Reach South Academy Trust.

About the Trust

Reach South is a young and developing Trust which operates across the South West of England with the aim of delivering all through 3-19 education.  We operate 16 academies in Devon, Bournemouth, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.  We are building this Trust on a clear set of values, behaviours and curriculum principles. At the heart of those values and principles is a belief in our young people and a determination to support them to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to become the successful citizens for today and all of their tomorrows.

Our core business is delivering exceptional education for children and young people with a mission to help all pupils aspire to achieve beyond the expectations that others put on them.  We do this through the development of a talented and committed workforce. In order to deliver exceptional opportunities for learning, we need highly motivated staff across all parts of the organisation. 

Those we recruit are able to demonstrate that they share our values, are highly motivated to work with colleagues, within and beyond their school, to continuously develop their skills and pursue professional excellence.

Next Steps

If you think this role may be for you and want to be involved at this exciting time in our development and have any questions about the position, please get in touch by calling the Recruitment team on 07759365064 or emailing us at recruitment@reachsouth.org.

Closing date: for applications is 4th January 2026

Interview Date:  Interviews are provisionally booked for 14th January 2026.

To apply for this opportunity, please complete our online application form by clicking ‘apply now’ on the advert.

We reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date. Therefore, an early application is strongly advised.

Opportunities and Benefits 

We offer a competitive salary plus LGPS pension, great career progression and development opportunities, access to our Employee Assistance Programme with many other benefits. 

We’re proud of how we support our staff in order that you have high levels of job satisfaction, are aware of the difference you are making for the children and families you work with and can see your contribution towards our community. There are regular opportunities for professional development and training, and a wider community of staff to network with within Reach South Multi Academy Trust. You will have the chance to visit other local schools, work alongside a range of outside professionals and take part in a variety of e-learning and face-to-face training.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Each post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Reach South Academy Trust has an Equal Opportunities Policy for selection and recruitment. Applicants are requested to complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring section of the application form before submitting.