Head of School

Woodlands Academy, Bristol, BS14 8DQ

12 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 September 2026

• Closing date

  17 May 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  5 May 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Assistant headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Early years, Key stage 1, Key stage 2
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £69,596 - £76,772

Head of School job summary

Job Title: Head of School  

Contract: Permanent

Actual Salary: L13 – L17 (£69,596 - £76,772)

Start Date: September 2026

A unique opportunity to support a Senior Principal in leading a primary academy at the heart of a South Bristol community.

We are looking for an inspiring, forward-thinking leader with vision, resilience and a strong commitment to learning. Woodlands Academy is seeking a Head of School to join its senior leadership team and play a key role in a developing leadership structure, helping to drive excellence, equity and continuous improvement.

Woodlands Academy educates children across the primary age range and is proud to be part of the Cabot Learning Federation, a trust known for its collaborative ethos and dedication to high-quality education. The school benefits from a committed, enthusiastic staff team who work tirelessly to ensure all pupils are supported and challenged to achieve their full potential.

Working in close partnership with the Senior Principal and wider leadership team, the Head of School will take a central role in both the strategic direction and day-to-day running of the academy. You will build on current strengths while leading key priorities that enhance teaching, learning and curriculum development.

The successful candidate will be a confident communicator, able to develop strong, positive relationships with staff, pupils and families. You will bring energy, resilience and strategic clarity, along with a strong commitment to equality, collaboration and ongoing professional development. In doing so, you will help ensure Woodlands Academy continues to deliver an exceptional, inclusive education for its entire community.

Why CLF?

We are a diverse and inclusive community of 36 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. 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.

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:  

Academy Tours: w/c 11 May 2026

Closing date: 17 May 2026 @ 11.59pm

Shortlisting: 18 May 2026

Interviews*: 21 and 22 May 2026

Please contact Vicky Counsell (Senior Principal) vicky.counsell@ clf.uk if you would like to arrange a school visit prior to the closing date, or to discuss the role in more detail.

*This is a two-day process (a first full assessment day, with the final interview on day two).

How to apply:

Please complete a full application form via the Eteach website. 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 the application form.  

Please note: there is a requirement on page 24 of the Candidate Information Pack for you to include requested information within the Supporting Statement section of the application form. This information will be reviewed during short-listing, as part of your application for this role. The Supporting Statement section does not allow anything over an 8,000-character limit - this is equivalent to 2/3 pages of text in Word, depending on spacing/formatting used. The application form will highlight how many characters you have used/if you reach the limit. 

Updates regarding an application, which could include an invite to interview, will be sent to the email address used when registering an account. 

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.  

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 Woodlands Academy

• School type: Academies, ages 3 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• School size: 163 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 3 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Woodlands Academy website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/woodlands-academy-bristol

Woodlands Academy is a single form entry primary school with a nursery, situated in Stockwood, Bristol. The school is very well resourced and has extensive outside space.

School location

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