Headteacher
Greenshaw Learning Trust, Sutton, SM1 4AF23 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 January 2027
Closing date
11 March 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
16 February 2026
Job details
Job role
- Headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
Working pattern
- Full time: Monday to Friday, full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- Headteacher Group 5 Leadership pay scale (Outer London), L20 - L26 (£86,764 - £99,840). A five point pay scale will be agreed within this range depending on the successful candidate.
What skills and experience we're looking for
Founding Headteacher
Fernhill School (new special school), SuttonGreenshaw Learning TrustStart date: January 2027School opens: September 2027
Greenshaw Learning Trust is seeking an exceptional and values-driven leader to become the Founding Headteacher of a new special school opening in Sutton in September 2027.
Fernhill School is a new free special school in Sutton that will open on 1st September 2027. The school will provide 96 places for students aged 11 - 19. It has been specifically designed or pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan who have a diagnosis of autism, whose primary need is autism and who have associated cognition and learning needs and social and communication needs.
The school will provide a high standard of personalised special education for pupils, fostering a strong sense of belonging and agency. With access to a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum, pupils will be equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to prepare them for their best possible next steps into adulthood as active, independent and engaged members of their wider community.
We are looking to appoint a headteacher from January 2027 to set, drive and implement the vision for the school.
The Opportunity
As Founding Headteacher, you will:
- Create and drive the school’s vision, ethos, and culture
- Design a curriculum and build transdisciplinary partnerships to deliver the best possible educational opportunities for all pupils
- Recruit and develop a high-quality, committed staff team
- Work closely with Greenshaw Learning Trust, the local authority, local networks and external partners
- Lead the school through its pre-opening phase and into its first years of operation
The Ideal Candidate
We are looking for a leader who:
- Has successful senior leadership experience (headteacher or experienced deputy headteacher) in a specialist or highly inclusive setting
- Is aspirational for all pupils
- Is committed to working in genuine partnership with pupils and their families
- Is excited by the challenge of building a school from the ground up
- Leads ethically with clarity, high expectations and compassion
- Is ready to take on a visible system leadership role
This post would suit an experienced Headteacher or an exceptional Deputy Head who is ready for headship.
What the school offers its staff
About Greenshaw Learning Trust
Greenshaw Learning Trust is a vibrant and forward-thinking community of teachers, support staff and learners committed to educating the ‘whole child’ to enable the best possible outcomes and experiences for pupils. We are a values-led organisation with a strong track record of school improvement and leadership development.
As Founding Headteacher, you will be supported by:
- An experienced and reflective executive and school improvement team committed to deliberate collaboration and always learning
- Strong shared services including HR, finance, estates, and governance
- A collaborative network of school leaders who share expertise generously
- Professional coaching, mentoring, and development opportunities
Further information about the job
Location
The school will be located in Sutton in Rosehill Park near Sutton Common station. Sutton has excellent transport links across London and the South East.
For further information, please download the candidate pack or contact Greenshaw Learning Trust for an informal conversation. We also welcome in person visits that will be hosted by the Assistant Director of Education – SEND and Specialist Provision at Greenshaw High School (a few minutes’ walk from the new special school) including the opportunity to walk around the site of the new school.
Greenshaw Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to appropriate safeguarding checks.
Closing date: 11th March 2026
Commitment to safeguarding
Greenshaw Learning Trust places the highest importance on its duty to safeguard and promote the welfare and safety of all children in its care.
The Trust believes that safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility.
The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children by the provision of a safe environment in which children can learn.
All Trust staff and volunteers have a responsibility to provide a safe environment in which children can learn and should make sure their approach is child-centred.
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 Greenshaw Learning Trust
- Type
- Multi-academy trust
- Email address
- shall@greenshawlearningtrust.co.uk
The Greenshaw Learning Trust is an academy trust, a charitable company with the sole purpose of maintaining and developing academy schools, to provide comprehensive and inclusive education for the public benefit, funded by the Department for Education (DfE).
The Greenshaw Learning Trust is a DfE approved sponsor of both primary and secondary schools and has approval to open a new secondary ASD school in Sutton. Our schools are located in South London, Surrey, Berkshire, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, Bristol and Plymouth.
The Greenshaw Learning Trust provides an effective structure to ensure schools achieve real benefits from school-to-school collaboration and receive the support they need. Our culture of trust and openness fosters mutual support and continual improvement.
Each school in the Trust is led by its own leadership team and governing body, who have the support of the wider Trust to help them achieve their objectives for their school.
Arranging a visit to Greenshaw Learning Trust
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email shall@greenshawlearningtrust.co.uk.
Head office location
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