Head of School
Avanti Gardens School, Bristol, Bristol, BS16 2JP17 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
10 May 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
23 April 2026
Job details
Job role
- Deputy headteacher
- Other leadership roles
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Early years, Key stage 1, Key stage 2
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- L11-L17
What skills and experience we're looking for
At Avanti Gardens, we believe in nurturing the whole child and creating a school where every pupil can flourish academically, socially and personally. We are seeking a committed and inspiring Head of School to work closely with the Executive Principal in leading the next stage of our journey. This is a pivotal leadership role, shaping a strong and inclusive culture, driving high standards across teaching and learning, and ensuring every child receives an exceptional and well-rounded education.
You will lead and support a dedicated team, fostering a positive environment where staff feel valued, developed and empowered to do their best work. Working in partnership with pupils, families and the wider community, you will play a key role in strengthening relationships and ensuring the school remains a place where everyone feels a strong sense of belonging. This is an exciting opportunity to make a lasting impact within a values-led school community, where ambition, care and integrity are at the heart of all we do.
School visits are welcomed and ecouraged. To arrange a visit, please contact the school directly.
Avanti Gardens is a primary school situated in Fishponds, Bristol. The school is housed in a beautiful campus, that was previously an all-through school, and before that part of Bristol University, which means it has many facilities that primary schools don’t, like a full-size auditorium and sports hall. “We’re really fortunate, even though we are in the middle of Bristol, there’s lot of outdoor areas that we can use.” - Mrs Rodgers, Inclusion Lead.
Avanti Gardens was graded “Good” in all areas in 2024. Our school is a non-faith, community school that embraces inclusion and diversity. The school is inspiring place to be that places value on pupil wellbeing, “pupils know how to care for their minds and bodies through weekly singing and yoga” - (OFSTED).
“I think what makes Avanti unique, is the focus on the whole child, giving pupils opportunities to show compassion, show kindness, as well as understanding their place as citizens of the world.” - Matt Newman, Assistant Principal
Our staff are inspired and passionate about their roles, the vision of the school, and providing the most fulfilling learning experience for pupils. Learning is a quest to discover each student’s unique gifts and potential, and to lay the foundation for their lifelong journey of learning.
What will you do?
- Provide strategic leadership alongside the Executive Principal, driving high expectations, strong outcomes and a clear vision for school improvement.
- Lead and develop the Senior Leadership Team, fostering a positive culture, prioritising staff wellbeing and ensuring effective performance management and professional growth.
- Champion high-quality teaching, learning and curriculum design, using data and evaluation to raise standards and secure excellent pupil progress and behaviour.
- Build strong relationships with pupils, staff, parents and the wider community, promoting inclusion, equality and a shared commitment to the school’s ethos and values.
- Oversee effective use of resources, including budgets and staffing, ensuring compliance, safeguarding, and continuous improvement through robust self-evaluation and planning.
What are we looking for?
- Qualified teacher status and degree or equivalent professional qualification, evidence of ongoing commitment to CPD.
- Proven experience in a leadership role within a primary school or similar educational context
- Proven primary subject or phase leadership including strong Early Years curriculum, planning, assessment skills, and support for underachieving pupils.
- Successful experience of developing and implementing effective programmes for the professional development of staff.
- Excellent behaviour management, strong verbal and written communication, and the ability to model high standards while working effectively with staff, pupils, parents and wider stakeholders to maintain positive professional relationships.
Please view the full Job Description for more information on the responsibilities and essential criteria required for this role.
What the school offers its staff
Why should you apply
Avanti exists to help each person become a well-rounded human being through intellectual, moral and spiritual growth, and so make the world a better place.
You will be working in a fantastic environment, with:
- Great opportunities for professional development
- Teacher pension scheme (subject to eligibility)
- O2 discounts, Specsavers corporate eye test vouchers
- Eligible for NUS Card and CSSC membership
- Well-being programs (retreats, yoga, wellness apps)
- Cycle-to-work Scheme
Further information about the job
Further information
Pre-employment checks
Avanti Schools Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates are required to have an Enhanced DBS check unless internally appointed and still within the cycle of DBS re-checks.
Any appointment subsequently made will be subject to the receipt of satisfactory references and other pre-employment checks.
Diversity and Inclusion
We want to make sure we are attracting the widest possible range of people and ensure that they are accepted, understood and treated equally when they work here. This means we will work hard to understand that each employee is unique and ensuring that individuals or groups are not treated differently or less favourably on the basis of specific characteristics.
Such characteristics include (but are not limited to) age, disability, gender including transgender, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, and how the school supports pregnant women and new parents.
Commitment to safeguarding
Avanti Schools Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates are required to have an Enhanced DBS check unless internally appointed and still within the cycle of DBS re-checks.
Any appointment subsequently made will be subject to the receipt of satisfactory references and other pre-employment checks.
Applying for the job
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Avanti Gardens School
- School type
- Free School, ages 2 to 11
- Education phase
- Primary school
- School size
- 305 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Avanti Gardens School website
- Email address
- talent@avanti.org.uk
At Avanti Gardens, our ethos is built upon three core pillars which are the golden thread in all that we do: Educational Excellence – Character Development – Spiritual Insight.
Our exceptional team puts pupils at the centre of everything and our aim is to prepare our pupils to thrive beyond primary school. I believe that through the strong partnership that we develop with our community, aspirational aims become reality.
Our rich and rigorous curriculum is underpinned by the Avanti Way, which enables our pupils to develop a strong sense of self-belief and an understanding of respect and tolerance. We harness the potential of our staff’s expertise and our amazing on-site facilities to provide a unique offer. We support our children to become fluent and passionate readers, writers and mathematicians, thus ensuring that every child can engage in and enjoy the richness of our wider curriculum.
We are very proud of our inclusive, warm and caring approach. The strong relationships that are developed between staff and pupils enable our pupils to flourish and reach their academic and social potential. Through our curriculum pupils will gain a reflective, compassionate understanding of themselves and the communities around them.
Arranging a visit to Avanti Gardens School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email talent@avanti.org.uk.
School location
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