Headteacher
Selly Oak Trust School, Birmingham, West Midlands, B29 6HZ19 days remaining to apply
Earliest start date
13 April 2026
Latest start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
9 February 2026 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
20 January 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
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- L30-L36
What skills and experience we're looking for
Headteacher
For April 2026 or September 2026
L30-L36 £105,595 - £122,306
Selly Oak Trust School, Oak Tree Lane, Selly Oak, Birmingham, B29 6HZ
Owing to the retirement of our Headteacher in March 2026, we are looking for an exceptional leader who wants to make a long-term commitment to Selly Oak Trust School. A person who will inspire, invest in and connect with our young people, their families and our staff. A leader with the vision, wisdom, skill, experience, compassion and personal subtlety to build on the outstanding legacy of our longstanding Headteacher, Ms Eaton.
This is an exciting role in a flourishing school where success has been built on strong partnerships between all, in an environment of mutual trust and respect. We have an ambitious curriculum, a well-established ethos and strong values. Our students feel valued, seen and understood in a safe, inclusive space where their dignity and having a voice is a crucial part of their daily educational experience.
This role is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Secondary Special School Headteacher or an experienced Secondary Special School Deputy Headteacher seeking their first Headship.
The successful applicants will be able to demonstrate significant leadership experience and expertise in the following key areas of the role:
Ø Strategic planning: a proven ability to develop and implement long-term strategic plans that drive continuous improvement.
Ø Accountability: experience in monitoring and evaluating progress, using data to inform decision-making, and reporting to governors.
Ø Recruitment, retention and development of staff: experience in staff recruitment, performance management, professional development and coaching. This includes motivating staff, fostering a culture of high expectations and professionalism, and building a strong, collaborative team.
Ø Curriculum development: leading the planning, implementation, and evaluation of ambitious curriculum models to meet diverse student needs.
Ø Strategic vision and holistic analysis: having the ability to see the big picture while also grasping the granular detail. Possessing the cognitive skill to understand both overarching goals and minute components, integrating them for effective decision-making, planning, and problem-solving.
Ø Evidence-informed practice: using research to inform their practice enabling them to drive school improvement, enhance teacher professional development, improve student outcomes, and foster a reflective, evidence-based learning culture. This includes detailed knowledge of a wide range of Special Educational Needs and how those needs impact learning, development, and the daily life of students.
Ø Strong decision-making: evidence of making appropriate, well-judged and sometimes difficult decisions in a way that considers impact, relationships, consistency and precedent.
Ø Excellent communication with all stakeholders: a deep understanding of what it means to be a “Relationship First School”.
Application process
Applicants should submit via teachingvacancies@sellyoak.bham.sch.uk a completed application form (available from our website) and a covering letter (no more than two sides of A4) addressed to Mrs Louise Leigh (Chair of Governors) outlining their suitability for the post, relevant experience, prior impact, and vision. We encourage applicants to read the Applicant Information pack thoroughly and to respond to the salient details in their letter of application.
Applicants should also read our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and our Safer Recruitment Policy. These policies are available via our website. Please note that we do not accept CVs. In line with recognised safer recruitment procedures, you must provide the name of one referee who is your current or most recent employer.
School visits
Prior to making an application, we strongly encourage applicants to visit the school. During your visit, there will be an opportunity to see the school in action, to meet our young people and staff, to speak to Ms Julie Eaton (Headteacher) and to experience our Bistro. We have allocated three visiting times:
- Friday 23rd January, 10am
- Tuesday 27th January, 2pm
- Monday 2nd February, 10am
To arrange to visit on one of these dates or for an informal conversation about the role, please contact Mrs Sarah Simmons (Strategic Business Manager) in the first instance by email Sarah.Simmons@sellyoak.bham.sch.uk or phone 07525 123 903 (school mobile). If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact Sarah Simmons.
Key dates
Deadline for the submission of applications: Monday 9th February 2026, 12 noon
Interviews: Monday 23rd February and Tuesday 24th February 2026
Selly Oak Trust School is committed to safeguarding children and young people, and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants will require at least two satisfactory references. As part of our due diligence, online and ID check searches will be carried out on all short-listed candidates. Successful candidates will be subject to all necessary pre-employment checks including enhanced DBS; Prohibition check; Section 128 check; Childcare Disqualification (where applicable); qualifications (where applicable); medical fitness; identity and right to work. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. It is an offence knowingly to apply for, offer to do, accept, or do any work in a regulated position if you have been disqualified from working with children. This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent and spoken English is an essential requirement for this role.
What the school offers its staff
Employee Benefits
Our new headteacher will gain from many benefits including:
➢ Terms and conditions in line with national teacher terms and conditions and a salary range that is in line with local benchmarking data
➢ Working in a calm school where everyone is heard and fully focused on doing the best for the students
➢ Supportive, kind and caring senior and middle leadership teams and colleagues
➢ Access to an external wellbeing service, funded by the school
➢ A supportive, tailored induction programme
➢ Access to excellent internal and external CPD programmes
➢ Coffee shop available to staff
➢ Access to the school gym before and after school
➢ A contribution to relocation expenses, by arrangement
Further information about the job
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
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)Upload additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Selly Oak Trust School
- School type
- Special school, ages 11 to 19
- School size
- 400 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Selly Oak Trust School website
- Email address
- teachingvacancies@sellyoak.bham.sch.uk
- Phone number
- 07525123903
Selly Oak Trust School is a unique and welcoming school where hopes and dreams come to life through the ethos and vision of the Headteacher and Governors. We are a relationships first, caring community who put staff and student well-being at the heart of everything we do. We are not just a special school, we are a very special school.
Arranging a visit to Selly Oak Trust School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email teachingvacancies@sellyoak.bham.sch.uk.
School location
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