Principal

Bedelsford School, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, KT1 2QZ

9 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  to be confirmed

• Closing date

  28 January 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  19 January 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Early years, Key stage 1, Key stage 2, Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
• Working pattern: Full time: Full Time, Permanent
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: Outer London Leadership PayScale - L27-L33 (£102,212.00 - £117,757.00)

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are looking for an inspirational and committed Principal to lead Bedelsford School in delivering a high-quality, inclusive education for pupils with physical disabilities, complex health needs and learning difficulties, fostering a nurturing environment where every pupil can thrive, while working in close partnership with staff, families and the Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust Executive Leadership Team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership to ensure a high-quality, inclusive education that meets statutory SEND, safeguarding and health and safety responsibilities.

• Lead continuous school improvement through effective self-evaluation, development planning, governance partnership and collaboration with OHC&AT Executive Leadership.

• Promote excellence in teaching, learning and professional development through robust performance management, induction, appraisal and high-quality INSET.

• Build strong relationships with pupils, families, staff, governors, multi-agency professionals and the wider community to secure the best outcomes for all learners.

• Ensure effective organisational, financial and operational management, including staffing structures, attendance, timetabling, reporting and best value use of resources.

Key Requirements:

• Qualified to degree level and above

• Qualified to teach in the UK

• Recent and relevant professional development

• Evidence of budget management skills and resource planning

• Experience of effective and impactful leadership in an educational setting

What the school offers its staff

OHCAT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:

Rewards & Benefits:

• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.

• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.

• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)

• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme

• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)

• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)

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

Bedelsford School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Applying for the job

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Upload additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

Bedelsford School, Principal Recruitment Pack 2026 (1).pdf - 7.72 MB (opens in new tab)

About Bedelsford School

• School type: Academy, ages 2 to 19
• School size: 132 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 2 to 19
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Bedelsford School website
• Email address: MHartzenberg@bedelsfordschool.org
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/bedelsford-school

Bedelsford School is an outstanding special school which aims to provide innovative education and a challenging environment for pupils aged 2 to 19. The school specialises in educating pupils with a wide range of Physical Disabilities including those with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties, Moderate Learning Difficulties and Complex Health needs. However, we are a changing population and many of our pupils now have CLDD (complex learning difficulties and disabilities).

The school converted to Academy status in April 2016 and was last inspected by Ofsted in December 2018 . Inspectors observed: Bedelsford School has high expectations of all and aims to provide consistent and sustained improvement, working collegiately with key partners.

We keenly take account of the development of neuroscientific knowledge and research to better enable us to develop the skills of our staff team, understand the unique ways our pupils learn and implement the teaching strategies which will ensure pupils make the maximum progress they can.

Bedelsford School works in close partnership with Parents/Carers to ensure that collaborative goal setting takes place and that all students reach their full potential.

School location

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