Principal

Location: Nightingale Community Academy, Beechcroft Road, SW17 7DF

Nightingale Community Academy is a special school in Wandsworth, providing education for students from 5 to 19 with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs. Our primary pupils benefit from a purpose-built classroom hub, an outdoor adventure playground, weekly music lessons, and a comprehensive therapy service. Secondary and post-16 students have access to a broad curriculum, including vocational courses such as motor vehicle studies, construction, horticulture, and hospitality. All pupils also enjoy regular animal therapy sessions at Tom’s Farm, located on our expansive school grounds.

Staff at Nightingale Community Academy take pride in the development of young people in a safe and stimulating environment and are offered a rewarding and varied career in return.

We are looking for an exceptional Principal who will inspire and lead a passionate team, nurture a culture of care and ambition, and ensure every young person has the support and opportunities they need to thrive. This is a unique opportunity to make a lasting difference and lead a community committed to transforming lives.

• Lead and Inspire: Drive the school’s vision and culture, providing strategic leadership, managing resources effectively, and ensuring a safe, ambitious, and supportive environment for all.
• Champion Student Success: Ensure every young person receives high-quality education, personalised support, and access to multi-agency services to help them thrive.
• Develop Staff Excellence: Inspire and develop staff through appraisal, professional development, and targeted training, building a strong, motivated, and skilled team.
• Engage the Community: Foster meaningful partnerships with families, governors, local authorities, and the wider community, promoting inclusion, collaboration, and shared success.
• Ensure Compliance and Accountability: Oversee safeguarding, SEND, health and safety, and statutory responsibilities, representing the school with integrity and maintaining the highest standards of governance.

• Qualified to degree level and above
• Qualified to teach in the UK
• Recent and relevant professional development
• Experience of effective and impactful leadership in an educational setting
• Excellent understanding of current developments and best practice in teaching and learning, particularly as it relates to achieving high rates of progress for SEN students

• 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 Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust 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. Nightingale Community Academy 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).

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.

Closing Date: Wednesday 11th February 2026

Interview Date: Wednesday 25th February 2026

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.