Assistant Headteacher
Pond Meadow Academy Trust: New Satellite Provision, Cobham, Surrey
Full-Time: 3 days teaching | Strategic leadership role
Leadership Scale (Fringe)
Start date: 13th April 2026 appointed in advance of September 2026 opening
Be There from the Beginning ~ Build Something Extraordinary
Pond Meadow Academy Trust is a specialist day school providing high quality education for approximately 170 young people from 3-19 years of age. Based in Guildford, Surrey, the school meets the needs of pupils with ASD (Autism, Communication and Interaction Needs) and/or Severe learning Disabilities.
Pond Meadow Academy Trust is delighted to offer a rare and exciting leadership opportunity for an exceptional primary practitioner to play a pivotal role in establishing a brand-new specialist satellite provision in Cobham, Surrey.
This role is ideal for an ambitious, values-driven leader who wants to build something from the ground up, working closely with the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team to shape provision, culture and practice from the very beginning.
🌱 About the Role
This is a primary Assistant Headteacher post, with responsibility for:
• Teaching three days per week within the new satellite provision
• Strategic leadership in the planning, development and implementation of the satellite
• Being appointed in advance of the site opening, allowing time to:
o Design systems, routines and follow curriculum in line with Pond Meadow’s Teaching and Learning Guidelines
o Establish high-quality practice aligned with Pond Meadow’s vision and values
o Observe practice and receive training at our Guildford site
o Play a central role in the recruitment and appointment of teachers and teaching assistants for the new provision
You will work across both sites during the pre-opening phase, ensuring strong consistency, shared values and excellent preparation for launch.
🧠Who We Are
Pond Meadow Academy Trust is an Outstanding special school supporting pupils aged 3–19 with Autism and or severe and complex learning disabilities. We are widely recognised for our person-centred practice, exceptional staff training, and strong, values-led culture.
The Cobham satellite represents the next stage in our strategic development and will offer high-quality specialist provision within a mainstream partnership model.
🌟 We Are Looking for Someone Who:
• Is an outstanding primary teacher with strong SEND expertise
• Has leadership experience (middle or senior level) and is ready to step into whole-school influence
• Is excited by the challenge of establishing a new provision, not just running an existing one
• Has experience of supporting and developing staff, including delivering training
• Understands how children with Autism and complex needs learn and regulate
• Shares our belief in changing the environment, not the child
🧩 What Makes This Role Special
• A genuine opportunity to shape a provision from the outset
• Time built in before opening to do the job properly
• Direct involvement in staff recruitment and team building
• Strong support from an experienced, stable and values-driven SLT
• A trust culture that prioritises relationships, wellbeing and professional growth
đź“Ť Practical Details
• Location: Cobham (with pre-opening work at Guildford site)
• Contract: Permanent
• Safeguarding: This post is subject to enhanced DBS clearance
Visits and informal conversations are warmly encouraged.
Pond Meadow Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to understand and share this commitment. We have a shared commitment to develop a culture of respect, where discrimination is not tolerated. We welcome all applications, including those from under-represented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.