Principal

TCES National Online School, Wimbledon, SW19 4EE

20 days remaining to apply

• Closing date

  7 April 2026 at 12:59am

• Date listed

  18 March 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £90,240.00 Annually (Actual)

Principal job summary

National Online School (NOS), the first - and only - Department for Education accredited online special school, is a growing provision across the UK, engaging with young learners virtually. These young people have lengthy gaps from formal education for a variety of reasons, current and previous adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and a variety of complex needs and/or neurodiversity, with the majority displaying Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA).

We are seeking an inspiring Principal to provide clear, credible educational leadership for the TCES National Online School (NOS), holding both operational oversight of the school and its senior leadership team, and providing strategic leadership. You will ensure the highest standards of safeguarding, high quality education, leadership and management, embedding high expectations and ensuring outstanding pupil outcomes for our exceptional neurodiverse pupils through high-quality digital pedagogy that promotes regulation, engagement, inclusion and accessibility.

You will be the ultimate role model and champion for young people with neurodiverse identities and support our multi-faceted staff team to have high expectations of their pupils and high standards in everything they do. You will have proven abilities to motivate staff, communicate and implement clear strategic plans with measurable impact, building trusted relationships with families and Local Authorities. By ensuring the embedding of therapeutic and trauma-informed practice across curriculum and pastoral systems, you will work closely with Clinical Services, ensuring staff are trained in co-regulation, attachment-aware approaches and online safeguarding.

By supporting all staff create positive opportunities and remove barriers to learning, you will

In collaboration with the Director of Education, they contribute to sustainable growth, contributing to capacity planning, budgeting, commercial KPIs and scalable systems—ensuring expansion never compromises quality, safety or relational depth, enabling our pupils to build on a platform for life-long learning and educational success, a life without labels.

Essential requirements to be successful in the role are:

• A champion of therapeutic education and advocate for young people, with similar values to ours: Expect the very best from each other; Develop a strong work ethic; Respect and appreciate all difference; Include everyone and exclude no one; Listen to and involve everyone; Never give up on each other!
• Substantial and relevant experience at Headteacher or Principal level (ideally within large site school, online provisions or overseeing multiple schools or services) integrating education, health and care provision for young people with neurodiversity or Special Educational Needs.
• Highly proficient digital literacy, including a good understanding of IT systems and the ability to use, and drive effective use as part of an online school.

• Demonstrable strategic and operational experience, with the ability to lead implementation of strategic plans with measurable impact, through the clear communication of a strategic vision.
• Experience of driving inclusive education initiatives to support best practice with vulnerable and complex groups, role modelling outstanding professionalism.
• High Emotional Intelligence and a proactive, evidence-based approach, collaborating with team members in other disciplines, with confidence in coaching senior leaders and building trusting partnerships.
• Commercially astute and solutions focused.

National Online School

National Online School was born out of The Complete Education Solution (TCES), an independent social enterprise, providing specialist therapeutic education.

National Online School supports UK-based exceptional neurodiverse children and young people aged 7 to 19 who have special educational needs and disabilities typically associated with autism, social emotional and mental health needs and associated disorders. Most of them will have experienced multiple placement breakdowns and significant trauma, often resulting in emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), with significant periods out of education.

NOS supports highly complex and vulnerable pupils, with highly differentiated and personalised holistic therapeutic education programmes developed for each pupil focusing on development milestones. Our universal, targeted and intensive therapeutic provisions allow young people to be supported with bespoke therapeutic input as well as allow consistent continuation of support in the home environment.

In return we offer:

• Competitive salary and terms & conditions.
• An opportunity to join a leading provider of specialist education in one of the most rewarding sectors whilst directly contributing to the positive outcomes for pupils with SEMH and ASC.
• Comprehensive induction process, and excellent CPD opportunities with all staff provided an individual Learning & Development Plan to support career development. Regular half termly staff wellbeing days.
• A range of employee support and wellbeing benefits including our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), counselling and contributions towards medical costs and an exclusive rewards platform.
• Gym & Active Health discounts.

To apply:

Please apply by sending through a CV. Shortlisted candidates will need to complete a formal application form as per safer recruitment practices in Education.

Interviews to be held between 20th - 27th April.

NOS are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and expects all staff to share this commitment. The appointment is subject to all relevant checks such as references, medical clearance and a satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure.

We are an equal opportunity employer.

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 TCES National Online School

• School type: Online provider, ages 5 to 25
• Education phase: All through school
• School size: No information available
• Age range: 5 to 25
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: TCES National Online School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/tces-national-online-school

School location

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