Assistant Principal

Job Title:  Associate Assistant Principal - SEND Full Time Equivalent Salary : £63,688 - £70,275 (CLF L8 – L12)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: Full Time – 32.5 hours per week Provisional Start Date : January 2027 – Pending completion of Pre employment Checks Are you an ambitious and inspirational leader with a passion for inclusive education and ensuring every student can thrive? Do you have the vision, expertise and determination to remove barriers to learning and champion outstanding outcomes for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)? Hanham Woods Academy is seeking an exceptional Associate Assistant Principal – SEND to join our supportive, ambitious and talented leadership team. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced leader to play a significant role in shaping the strategic direction of the academy, while leading and developing our SEND provision to ensure that all students receive the support, guidance and opportunities they need to succeed. As a member of the extended Senior Leadership Team, you will lead on SEND across the academy, ensuring compliance with the SEND Code of Practice, overseeing provision for vulnerable learners, driving high-quality inclusive teaching, and working collaboratively with colleagues, families and external agencies to secure the best possible outcomes for students. You will also lead and develop staff, contribute to academy improvement priorities, and ensure that inclusion remains at the heart of our provision. We have the option for a SENCO to join the team without the Associate Assistant Principal aspect of the role. If you are ready to be a SENCO but not a school leader, please apply as there is an option to have the SENCO role as a TLR About You

You will:

Be a qualified teacher with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Have substantial experience of leading SEND provision and supporting vulnerable learners. Demonstrate a strong understanding of the SEND Code of Practice and current statutory guidance. Have professional knowledge of what constitutes high-quality teaching, learning and inclusion. Be an outstanding classroom practitioner with a proven record of improving outcomes for students. Have experience of leading strategic whole-school improvement and managing change effectively. Be confident in analysing data, monitoring impact and using evidence-based approaches to drive improvement. Have experience of leading, coaching and developing staff to improve practice and outcomes. Demonstrate excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills, enabling effective collaboration with students, families, colleagues and external agencies. Be committed to safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed. Share our high expectations, ambition and belief that all young people can achieve their full potential. Applicants are advised to refer to the full job description and person specification before submitting an application.

About Hanham Woods Academy:

Hanham Woods Academy is a secondary school located within the outskirts of Bristol and South Gloucestershire, delivering education to pupils aged 11-16. It is one of the most improved academies in the South West, providing an excellent education to over 800 students. The academy has a growing reputation both locally and regionally. Whilst we appreciate the unique setting in which the academy is placed, we work hard to challenge students from a variety of backgrounds to be the best they can be in all areas of life. Our mission here is simple: we want to give people the best chance of success, underpinned by our ethos of Dream Big, Work Hard, Be Kind. We want students to 'climb the mountain' in order to achieve success both academically and by developing a confident, resilient and hard-working character. We have a supportive and compassionate culture in which the whole person is nurtured and the voice of students is valued. We celebrate the diversity of the members our community by enabling them to learn from each other, by encouraging them to respect each other’s differences, and by providing opportunities to contribute to academy life and the wider community. Why work at CLF? We are a diverse and inclusive community of 37 academies across five cluster regions in the South West that is committed to excellence and making a positive impact. Our people bring unique perspectives, but we’re all driven by a shared moral purpose and a passion for making a positive impact, whether in a teaching, leadership or support role. We’re proud to foster a culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and make a meaningful difference to the lives of others. We are an equal opportunity employer and proud to serve a diverse student population and our communities. We strongly believe that representation matters. Over 52% of the students who attend Bristol Metropolitan Academy are from global majority groups, so we particularly encourage applicants from those groups in order to represent the students we serve, as well as wider underrepresented groups including gender, transgender, age disability, sexual orientation or religion. We aim to remove any barriers to employment, ensuring everyone can compete on equal terms. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.

What we can offer you:

Access to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. Comprehensive induction and ongoing support for career development and wellbeing. Sector-leading professional development entitlement and opportunities. Collaboration with colleagues across the trust through subject communities and specialist networks. Shared CLF curriculum, written and curated by trust experts, reducing individual teacher workload. Career enhancing and progression opportunities within the trust and through the CLF Institute. A collaborative culture which supports workload. Well-being support through an Employee Assistance Programme. Health benefits, including wellness sessions, gym discounts, and flu jabs. A range of generous family leave options, including above industry average occupational maternity pay. Additional benefits like cycle to work scheme, on-site parking and many more!

Recruitment timeline:

Closing Date: 19 October 2026 Shortlisting: 20 October 2026 Interviews: 23 October 2026 We welcome visits from potential candidates. If you would like to arrange a school visit prior to the closing date, please contact the academy/site directly to arrange a suitable appointment. As part of our commitment to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), we do not accept CVs, a full education and employment history must be provided through our application form. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, should we receive a high level of interest in the role. Therefore, candidates are advised to apply at their earliest convenience to avoid missing out. This role may be eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship, subject to the candidate meeting the applicable Home Office eligibility and salary requirements. Full-time and 0.8 FTE positions will generally meet the required salary threshold; for other part-time working arrangements, eligibility will depend on the salary applicable to the role and the candidate's working pattern. To help us assess whether sponsorship may be available, we encourage candidates who require sponsorship to provide their current salary information when completing the application form. As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we are dedicated to equity and inclusion and commit to interviewing applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria. We aim to provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process, and support employees throughout their employment. If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or require any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process please let us know how we can assist.