Wragby Academy*

Wragby Academy is a new 120-place independent specialist provision opening in September 2026 on the former Wakefield Independent School site. The school is being established through a strategic partnership between Venn Academy Trust, Venn Education Group and Wakefield Council as part of the local authority's long-term SEND sufficiency planning.

The academy will grow to full capacity over three years. It will serve pupils aged 8 to 16 across Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4.

The core designation of the school will be Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs and Speech, Language and Communication needs. Alongside this, a small highly personalised pathway will support pupils with more complex learning profiles, including Moderate Learning Difficulties, Severe Learning Difficulties and Autism.

Wragby is not intended to be a holding provision. It is designed to become a high quality, locally delivered specialist school that combines structured behaviour systems, a carefully sequenced SEND curriculum and strong pastoral support.

An early release or seconded period between May and the end of the summer term would allow the successful candidate to:

• Lead stakeholder engagement with families, commissioners and partner schools

• Recruit and induct the founding staff team

• Shape the curriculum model and daily structures

• Finalise safeguarding and operational systems

• Ensure the school opens with clarity and confidence in September

The Role

We are seeking a Founding Principal who understands that opening a school is both strategic and operational. You will lead every aspect of the pre-opening phase, launch and early growth of the academy. You will define the culture from day one and set the standard for behaviour, safeguarding, curriculum design and staff development.

You will:

• Establish a disciplined, ambitious culture where pupils are safe, known and expected to achieve

• Design and implement a high quality SEND curriculum across Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 4

• Embed robust safeguarding, attendance and multi-agency systems

• Build and develop a skilled and cohesive staff team

• Work confidently with Wakefield Council around commissioning and place planning

• Create the foundations for sustainable growth to 120 pupils This is a leadership role that requires clarity, resilience and credibility.

You will bring

• Significant SEND leadership experience, with strong experience in Autism specialist provision or complex neurodivergent profiles

• A strong record of improving outcomes for vulnerable learners

• Experience of leading organisational change and building high performing teams

• Confidence in financial oversight, compliance and operational management

• A secure understanding of expectations, particularly for new specialist schools You will be comfortable balancing strategic development with day-to-day execution. 

What We Offer

• The opportunity to found and shape a new specialist school from first principles, defining its culture, curriculum and long-term direction

• Direct strategic support from the CEO and Executive Team of Venn Academy Trust, with clear lines of accountability and experienced oversight

• Established central infrastructure including finance, HR, estates, safeguarding and specialist school improvement capacity, ensuring operational stability from day one

• A strategic partnership with Wakefield Council aligned to SEND sufficiency priorities and long-term place planning

• Access to Venn's structured professional development offer, including leadership programmes such as Aspirant Leader and Artisan Teacher, alongside specialist SEND and Autism-focused training

• Use of the Venn Institute of Learning as a hub for professional development, collaboration and system leadership

• Opportunities to contribute to wider SEND development work across the trust and region, shaping practice beyond your own setting Wragby Academy sits within a wider specialist infrastructure. You will not be isolated, but you will be accountable.

Venn Academy Trust is committed to achieving fairness and equality in employment and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

Our Trust is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and expects all staff to share this commitment.

The successful candidate will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check.

Online searches will be carried out as part of Venn Academy Trust’s recruitment due diligence for all shortlisted candidates, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

*Wragby Academy is an independent school and is run by Venn Education Group.  Venn Education Group is a subsidiary of Venn Academy Trust, however the terms of conditions of employment for this successful leader, and their staff team, will be equivalent to that of Venn Academy Trust eg the burgundy book for teachers and green book for support staff.