Headteacher

Forest Bridge School, Maidenhead, SL6 1BN

30 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  January 2027 or sooner

• Closing date

  25 June 2026 at 9am

• Date listed

  26 May 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £99,536.00 - £112,327.00 Annually (Actual) L27-32 Fringe

Headteacher job summary

The school delivers an integrated approach that combines ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis), evidence-based therapy, and tailored curriculum pathways to maximise pupil outcomes and preparation for adult life. The school’s motto is “Through Adversity to the Starts” and is recognised for innovation, high expectations, and transformational outcomes for children and young people with autism.

The Role

The headteacher will provide strategic, operational, and inspirational leadership across all aspects of school life, ensuring the school continues to deliver outstanding education, therapeutic support, and life opportunities for pupils and families.

Working closely with the CEO, executive and senior leaders, teachers, behaviour analysts, therapists, parents, and external partners, the successful candidate will champion excellence in autism education while shaping the school’s next phase of development and impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide clear, strategic, and inspirational leadership, ensuring the highest standards of education, safeguarding, wellbeing, and pupil outcomes.
• Lead and develop outstanding autism provision through an integrated model of education, evidence-informed practice, and applied behaviour analysis.
• Drive excellence in teaching, learning, communication, and therapeutic provision for pupils with complex and diverse needs.
• Lead, motivate, and develop a skilled multidisciplinary team, fostering a culture of ambition, collaboration, accountability, and continuous professional growth.
• Foster a culture of unity and collaboration across education, ABA, therapies, and administration to ensure a cohesive, child-centered team around every student.
• Oversee school improvement, quality assurance, staffing, and operational management.
• Lead the senior leadership team to drive consistent practice, uphold high expectations, and promote strong staff wellbeing.

We are looking for a candidate who has:

Essential

• QTS or equivalent.
• Extensive senior leadership experience within a SEND/autism provision.
• Comprehensive expertise in designing and delivering effective teaching, learning, and curriculum strategies tailored to pupils with autism.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams (education and therapies).
• Skilled in leading school improvement and raising standards.
• Proven experience in strategic workforce planning and leading effective staff development initiatives.
• A solid track record leading, motivating, and developing multidisciplinary teams.
• Skilled in engaging with trustees and robust governance structures to support strategic leadership and accountability.
• Strong grasp of data-driven assessment and evaluative practice to support improvement.
• DSL training (or willingness to obtain).
• Background in budgeting, financial planning, and effective resource management.
• Strong alignment with the school’s vision of combining ABA, evidence-based practice, and personalised learning pathways.
• Experience working with governors and established governance frameworks.
• Ensure safeguarding remains rigorous and effective across all aspects of provision.

Desirable

• Experience in delivering or leading applied behaviour analysis provision.
• Specialist qualifications in autism/SEND.
• NPQH (or equivalent) or willingness to achieve.
• Demonstrated ability in managing growth, transformation, or system-level leadership.

If you are inspired by the opportunity of leading a thriving school which combines a multi-disciplinary approach and tailored learning to help every pupil thrive, please forward your CV and covering letter please forward your CV and covering letter to devra.farhi@harrishill.co.uk or by clicking the 'Apply' button. For a confidential discussion and candidate information pack, please contact Devra Farhi at 020 7820 7308 for further details.

A visit to the school or at a minimum a TEAMS call with the current Headteacher is essential after initial contact with the recruiter.

Applications close Friday, 26th June, with interviews commencing week of 29th June.

Forest Bridge School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children. The successful applicant will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and comply with all safeguarding requirements.

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 Forest Bridge School

• School type: Free Schools, None, ages 4 to 19
• School size: 122 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 4 to 19
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Forest Bridge School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/forest-bridge-school

Forest Bridge School is a Special Free School for children (4-16 years) with autism which opened in September 2015 and has moved into our purpose built building in March 2021. The school’s vision is: To be a leading provider of education for children and young adults with the primary diagnosis of autism. Combining Applied Behaviour Analysis, evidence-based therapy and effective personalised curriculums to enable pupils to fulfil their potential, prepare for adulthood and lead happy lives.

School location

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