Head of Senior Academic Development (and potential Head of Senior School)

The Governors are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, thoughtful and innovative Head of Senior Academic Development to promote the continued high quality of teaching and learning at our small school across Year 7-11.

The successful candidate will understand, enable and nurture Cransley School’s independent ethos and will build upon the School’s success, whilst preserving its culture and mission statement of Seeking Excellence; Nurturing Relationships and Venturing Beyond.

The Position

This role would suit those currently in an Assistant Headteacher, Head of Year/Department or academic innovation position, ideally with knowledge and experience of compliance with the Independent Schools Standards.

The Head of Senior Academic Development is accountable to the Headteacher directly and will be the line manager to Senior School subject teachers working closely with the Head of the Junior School.

Currently the Senior Management team is made up of the Headteacher, Head of Senior Academic Development (& Deputy HT), Head of the Junior School (& Deputy HT), AHT (Pastoral), AHT (SENCO) and AHT (Data and Systems), who are accountable to the various sub-committees of the Governing Board.

The Head of Senior Academic Development (& Deputy HT) is due to leave their role at the end of the academic year, returning to the classroom, and will continue to provide the successful candidate with support as required.

A Head of Pupils Wellbeing role has also become available due to the current AHT (Pastoral) retiring at Easter 2026 after many highly successful years at the School. This will present the opportunity of a future SMT restructure with a new Head of Senior School position being considered to work alongside the Head of the Junior School. It is expected that the Head of Academic Development will aspire to this position (see below).

The Head of Pupils Wellbeing role is advertised separately on TES.

Our Offer

Contract: Full time and permanent, subject to probation period, starting in March 2026.

Salary: £51,151-£55,213 pro-rata based on experience and qualification, with a 0.2-0.4 flexible teaching allocation.

• The opportunity to work within a small and aspirant leadership team, and share expertise with highly capable and enthusiastic colleagues;
• A vibrant, happy, studious workplace with a focus on the enjoyment of employment;
• An excellent small school community with 250 delightful well-behaved children and supportive, engaged parents;
• A beautiful rural setting;
• Working week end at 1.30pm on Fridays (subject to urgent requirements)
• Auto-enrolment in a workplace pension scheme;
• Professional leadership development and ongoing CPD through internal and external training;
• Active and supportive governors and parents;
• Flexible working, within limitation;
• Tuition fee remission for children to attend the school (50% depending on circumstances and age of children);
• Membership of relevant professional associations