Assistant Principal Lead for Enhanced Curriculum

Salary: Leadership Group Spine point £65,642 - £72,008 (L8-L12) Location: Bedelsford School, Grange Road, KT1 2QZ Working Pattern: Full Time, Maternity Cover, February 2026 Bedelsford School is an Outstanding special school located in Kingston, providing a nurturing and innovative learning environment for pupils aged 2 to 19. We support a diverse group of students with a wide range of physical disabilities, including those with profound and multiple learning difficulties, moderate learning needs, and complex health conditions. The school benefits from specialist facilities including an accessible swimming pool, adapted outdoor play areas and an outdoor learning environment. It is within walking distance of the vibrant town centre of Kingston upon Thames and has excellent transport links. Bedelsford School is committed to evidence-based practice. We draw on the latest developments in neuroscience and educational research to continually enhance the skills of our staff. Every member of our team is trained to understand how each pupil learns uniquely and is supported in delivering tailored teaching strategies that help our students achieve their full potential. We are looking for an inspiring and committed Assistant Principal to join our Senior Leadership Team, contributing to strategic school development, leading high-quality teaching and curriculum provision, and overseeing our Enhanced Curriculum and extended learning opportunities. The successful candidate will be an outstanding practitioner with strong leadership, organisational and partnership-working skills, and a clear commitment to inclusive, high-quality education for pupils with complex needs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership & School Development - Contribute to the strategic leadership, organisation and management of the school alongside the Principal, Vice Principal, Governors and Senior Leadership Team, ensuring policies, staffing structures, budgets and health & safety requirements are effectively implemented and reviewed.
• Teaching, Learning and & Curriculum Leadership - Lead and coordinate high-quality curriculum planning and delivery, ensuring a stimulating, inclusive learning environment that meets the complex needs of pupils with severe and profound learning disabilities.
• Enhanced Curriculum & Extended Provision - Lead the operational delivery of the Enhanced Curriculum, including home-based learning, family liaison, ILIs, EHCP reporting, after-school clubs, summer school provision and participation in residential visits.
• People Management & Partnership Working - Build strong professional relationships with staff, families and external agencies, line-manage support staff within the Enhanced Curriculum provision, and promote a positive, collaborative team culture.
• Safeguarding, Inclusion & Professional Responsibility - Uphold safeguarding, equality, confidentiality and attendance policies, participate in SLT meetings and INSET, deputise for senior leaders when required, and ensure all responsibilities are delivered within agreed budgets and statutory frameworks.

Key Requirements:

• Qualified Teacher Status with substantial, recent experience teaching pupils with severe, profound and multiple learning disabilities, including physical difficulties, and those who present with challenging behaviour.
• Outstanding classroom practitioner, with a proven track record of sustained high-quality teaching and a strong commitment to providing exceptional education for all pupils.
• Curriculum leadership experience, including successfully leading a core curriculum area and demonstrating secure knowledge of current best practice in special education provision.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills, with the proven ability to manage high-level administrative responsibilities appropriate to an Assistant Principal role.
• Inspirational and forward-thinking professional, able to generate enthusiasm for new ideas among pupils and staff, inspire confidence in others, and contribute positively to school improvement.

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)

Find out what makes OHCAT a truly rewarding place to work - visit our ‘Work for Us’ page to hear from our Chief Executive Officer, John Prior, and watch inspiring messages from students and parents about the difference our staff make every day.

Our Trust: Bedelsford School is part of Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust. We are a family of specialist education providers from pre-school through to further education across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire and fully represent all designations of special education needs and disabilities (SEND). To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please our website. We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners. Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential. As a large specialist education provider we employ over 1500 people across our schools, college and central support team. There is a wide range of job roles available, ranging from teaching and therapy to business support roles and significant career progression opportunities. It is an exciting time to be part of OHCAT and we are keen to recruit talented people who can play a key role in realising our mission and who want to make a difference. In return, we offer training and development, competitive pay and benefits in a positive and inclusive working environment.

If you wish to discuss this opportunity before or after submitting an application form, please get in touch with the School directly. Visits to the School in advance of applications are encouraged. Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role. To ensure a fair opportunity for all applicants, candidates who have applied for this position in the past 6 months will not be considered.

Closing Date: 30th January 2026 Interviews will take place on: Week Commencing 2nd February 2026

Safeguarding Statement Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust are 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. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for all.