Head of School - Stocklake Park School
Location: Aylesbury
Overview
Inspire - Enable - Achieve
The Vale Federation is seeking an inspirational and strategic Head of School to lead Stocklake Park School, our secondary special school with 102 students on roll. The school works closely within the Federation alongside Booker Park School (Primary). The post holder will work under the direction of the Federation Principal, supported by central Federation services including HR, finance and estates.
Term time only: No
Salary type: Leadership
Salary Details: L16-L20
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: Full-time
Closing date: 17/05/2026
Interviews to be held: 28th May 2026
About us
Stocklake Park School is part of the Vale Federation of Special Schools and is based on two sites, Stocklake Park main site and Harding House. We offer educational provision for students with complex learning difficulties, from 11 to 19 years of age.Our vision as a Federation is to provide a supportive but challenging multi-professionals approach to the education of all the young people in our care, enabling them to achieve the greatest possible level of independence and inclusion.
We Offer:
- A small, inclusive school within a supportive Federation
- Centralised business, HR and finance support
- Ongoing professional support from the Federation Principal
- A strong Health and Wellbeing programme
- Other Benefits include:
- Free onsite parking
- Large staffroom with resourced kitchen with complimentary hot and cold beverages
- Employer contribution pension scheme, with Life Cover
- Access to employee benefits including discounts on travel and purchases from local shops, cafes and restaurants
- 24 hour free, confidential Employee Assistance Programme
- Annual Flu Vaccination
Website: www.thevalefederation.com
About the role
The Role:
The Head of School will provide day‑to‑day leadership and management, securing high‑quality teaching, strong outcomes and positive experiences for pupils with SLD and PMLD. You will lead staff, drive continuous improvement, and ensure safeguarding, inclusion and wellbeing remain central to all aspects of school life.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and manage senior and middle leaders, promoting a positive and professional culture
- Secure high‑quality teaching and learning through effective monitoring, support and challenge
- Lead curriculum, assessment and personal development across the school
- Use data and self‑evaluation to drive school improvement
- Build strong partnerships with parents, governors, external agencies and the wider community
- Line manage key staff, including the Family Support Officer, with oversight of attendance and family engagement
- Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
- Support staff development, wellbeing and succession planning
For further information please see attached Job description.
About you
The Ideal Candidate Will Have:
- Qualified Teacher Status and leadership experience within an SEN setting
- Strong knowledge of the SEN Code of Practice, particularly SLD/PMLD
- A proven ability to inspire, motivate and develop staff
- Excellent communication, organisational and data‑analysis skills
- A warm, approachable leadership style with high expectations
- A clear commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and pupil wellbeing
- (NPQH desirable)
Other information
Visits to the school are warmly welcome. To arrange a visit or to find out more about the role, please contact Lisa Snook (HR Officer).
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, should we appoint an appropriate candidate
If you have not been contacted within three weeks of the closing date you must assume that your application has, on this occasion, been unsuccessful
The above post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Any offer of employment will be subject to a satisfactory check supplied by the Disclosure & Barring Service. The check will include any cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions.
The Vale Federation of Schools is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to provide two satisfactory references, undertake pre-employment checks including a health check and have a cleared Enhanced Disclosure & Barring check. An online search (including social media checks) will be carried out for all shortlisted candidates as part of our recruitment process.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:
• All unspent convictions and conditional cautions
• All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020).
For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance and the guidance issued by the Ministry of Justice (see, in particular, the section titled ‘Exceptions Order’).
It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. All shortlisted applicants will be required to complete self-disclosure form and return prior to interview.
