Associate Assistant Principal

Springwell Special Academy, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S71 2AY

13 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  Easter 2026

• Closing date

  12 December 2025 at 8am

• Date listed

  28 November 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • Other leadership roles
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £54,394.00 - £60,145.00 Annually (Actual) L3 - L7

Associate Assistant Principal job summary

Associate Assistant Principal: A Future Senior Leaders Programme

We are looking for an ambitious and adaptable leader to join us as an Associate Assistant Principal.

This is not a static role. It is a rotational leadership position supported by a development programme designed to expose you to the operational and strategic complexities of four different settings.

These settings include:

• Greenacre Special School
• Springwell Special School
• Joseph Norton Academy
• Springwell Alternative Academy

Collectively these schools are known as the Special Provision Partnership.

Whether you are looking to step up in seniority, or crossover from Mainstream into Special Education, this programme will offer the training and exposure required to navigate different settings and all aspects of SEND.

The Role

As an Associate member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will rotate across our partnership of four schools. This rotation is critical to your development, ensuring you obtain a breadth of skills in diverse educational settings.

• For the Aspiring Senior Leader: You will move from operational delivery to strategic oversight, gaining a seat at the table for school-wide decision-making.
• For the Mainstream Transitioner: You will apply your subject rigour and curriculum expertise while we support you in mastering the nuances of the specialist sector.

You will not just be observing, you will be leading. Your core responsibilities may include:

• Contributing to the school vision, School Development Plan, and self-evaluation processes.
• Using your expertise to support the review and sequencing of an ambitious curriculum that is accessible for pupils.
• Working alongside Assistant Principals to manage day-to-day school operations and specific whole-academy projects.
• Maintaining a teaching commitment to model high-quality practice and gain hands-on experience with different cohorts.

The Person

We are seeking an aspiring senior leader who is eager to learn and ready to be challenged. You might be a Head of Department or Curriculum Leader in a mainstream school who wants to make a deeper impact on vulnerable learners, or an existing SEN leader wanting to broaden your strategic scope.

We are looking for someone who is:

• A current Middle Leader looking to transition into the specialist sector or step up to SLT.
• Willing to work rotationally across different sites to understand various cohorts and challenges.
• Able to coach colleagues, lead CPD, and hold staff to account in a supportive manner.
• Committed to inclusion and creating a supportive climate for staff, pupils, and parents.

What We Offer

In return for your hard work and flexibility, we offer a career-defining development pathway. This role is an investment in your future as a Senior Leader. If you are moving from mainstream, we provide the mentoring and structure to help you translate your existing skills into the SEND context. If you’re already in SEND we will broaden your experience across SEMH, generic special and alternative education.

You will gain:

• A portfolio of experience across different school settings that few other roles can offer.
• A seat at the table for SLT meetings, budget management and policy implementation.
• A clear pathway to developing the skills required for substantive Assistant or Vice Principal roles in the future.

Questions?

This is a unique role, and we understand you may have questions, especially if you are considering the move from mainstream to special education. We strongly encourage interested candidates to contact us for an informal discussion before applying to hear how we can support your career.

NEXT STEPS

For more information please refer to the job description attached. If you are interested in this opportunity simply click APPLY NOW. Alternatively if you have additional questions then please reach out via springwell@springwellacademies.co.uk

We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. We want our people to reflect our diverse communities and create a safe space in which everyone belongs. We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds and especially those from under-represented groups including those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

Safeguarding We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils. All posts are offered subject to enhanced DBS checks and appropriate references. All posts are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Springwell Special Academy

• School type: Academy, ages 5 to 16
• School size: 122 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 5 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Springwell Special Academy website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/springwell-special-academy

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