Key Role Information

Salary
£94,349.00 - 109,291.00
Job type
Full Time
Contract type
Permanent
Closing
12/11/2026 16:00
Interview
18/11/2026 + 19/11/2026
Contract term
TTO - Term time only
Pay grade
Leadership Group | L24 - L30
Department
Executive Leadership
Key stage
Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4, Key Stage 5
Hours per week
32.50
Weeks per year
52.000
Visa sponsorship
No

Your Role

Solent Academies Trust is looking for an exceptional leader to become the Executive Principal at Dove House Academy, a large and highly regarded secondary special school dedicated to transforming the lives of children with learning disabilities and associated conditions such as autism and speech, language and communication needs.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a multi-site school that is part of a highly successful Trust on to its next stage of development by shaping its vision, culture, and provision to deliver exceptional specialist education and to contribute to Trust-wide strategic developments.

About Dove House Academy

Part of Solent Academies Trust since 2023, Dove House Academy:

  1. Educates nearly 250 children
  2. Operates over two sites, with a Sixth Form co-located with a mainstream secondary school
  3. Is rated Outstanding by Ofsted (February 2025)

Our Relational Culture Charter guides us to work together and support each other through: 


  1. Valuing Difference 
  2. Effective Communication 
  3. High Challenge & High Support to Empower 
  4. Respect for All 
  5. Solution-Focused Approaches 


We believe that when relationships thrive, people thrive – and so do the children and young people we serve.


Who we’re looking for

The Executive Principal will be part of the Trust Executive Leadership Team as well as leading Dove House, so we are looking for an experienced leader who is an exceptional practitioner with a proven track record of securing excellent outcomes for pupils with the ability to shape and influence policy and practice on a larger scale. You will be a confident communicator who is able to motivate and develop teams. You will strike the very careful balance between offering highly effective support and development to those that you lead, alongside providing rigorous challenge and accountability. You will have a deep understanding of strategies to support pupils with complex needs including autism. The successful candidate will contribute to Trust strategy and improvement, the details of which will be negotiated as part of the appointment process.   

Discover more about the role visit our dedicated Dove House Academy Executive Principal recruitment website to find out what makes this opportunity special. You’ll hear directly from the Trust leadership team in a short video about the role, the school and the Trust, and learn more about the community you’ll be joining. Welcome | Solent Academies Trust | Hays UK


Contact James Hall at Hays for an informal conversation about the role on james.hall@hays.com


Open mornings for tours of the school are available at 9.30am on Tuesday 3rd November or Wednesday 4th November. Please contact Jarlath O’Brien, Trust Director for School Improvement, on jarlath.obrien@solentacademiestrust.info to reserve a place.

Closing time and date for applications is 4pm, Wednesday 11th November.

Qualifications

Degree or equivalent qualificationessential
Qualified Teacher Statusessential
Senior leadership or management qualification desirable
NPQH / NPQEL or working towards this

Skills

Experience

ABility to devleop the curriculum within a context of educational change for pupils with SEND, particularly autism and complex learning difficulties.essential
Knowledge and understanding of the fundermental importance of personlaised learning for pupils with SEND, particularly autism and complex learning difficulties.essential
In-depth understanding of assessment theory and practice around SEND, particularly autism and complex learning difficutliesessential
Understanding of educational, social and emotional development of pupils with SEND, particularly autism and complex learning difficultiesessential
Experience as an Ofsted Inspector

Leadership

Experience as a Headteacher / Principal or Head of Schoolessential
Ability to motivate, develop, support and challenge staffessential
Track record of successful leadership of significant school improvement strategies leading to excellent outcomes for pupils.essential
Experience of monitoring school performance at every levelessential
Experience and understanding of management of human and financial resources at a senior levelessential
Experience of working positvely with governorsessential
Ability to design and implement school improvement activities from a range of sources of evidenceessential
Experience of preparing a team for a successful Ofsted Inspectionessential
Evidence of the ability to embrace and manage changeessential
Successful establishment of links with the local community and external partners.essential
Outstanding leader, committed to distributed leadership and team work.essential

Personal Attributes

Ability to think and act strategicallyessential
Actively seeking new apporaches, ideas and challenges. Be willing to take risksessential
Ability to nuture and maintain strong and positive relationships with the whole school communityessential
Approachable and supportiveessential
Evidence of being a highly effective classroom practitioneressential

Dove House Academy

James Hall

james.hall@hays.com

Sutton Road
Basingstoke
Hampshire
South East England
RG21 5SU
James Hall
james.hall@hays.com

Safeguarding Information

Solent Academies Trust welcome applications regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or religion. Only applications submitted on the academy’s application form will be accepted Solent Academies are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.