Job Title: Headteacher for Lampard School
Closing Date: 5th November 2025 at 5pm
Shortlisting: 7th November 2025
Interview: 13th & 14th November 2025
Start Date: April 2026 / As soon as possible
Salary: L20-26 £79,475 - £92,052
Hours: 1 FTE
Location: Lampard Community School, Barnstaple
Contract type: Full Time
Contract term: Permanent

Exciting Leadership Opportunity at The Special Partnership Trust

We're a specialist educational trust on a journey to raise the bar and set new standards for Special Educational Needs (SEN) throughout the Southwest.

We are not afraid to do things differently and we never settle for ordinary. We aspire to be the best in everything that we do. Through collaboration, co-operation and creativity - underpinned by an ethos built on inclusivity, empowerment and transparency - we aim to inspire every single young person (as well as their families and our staff) to be the very best versions of themselves they possibly can. We do this through an ambitious, specialist curriculum that goes beyond school life and focuses on living as well as learning. We step outside the comfort zone when it’s needed, we care more than people think is needed or necessary, and we genuinely want to improve the lives and experiences of our learners.

The Special Partnership Trust is seeking an experienced and dynamic leader to design, develop, and implement the educational offer at Lampard School. This is an exceptional opportunity for a visionary school leader to join a high-achieving and aspirational Trust committed to delivering outstanding outcomes for students with Special Educational Needs (SEND).

We are particularly keen to hear from senior leaders with a proven track record in SEN leadership, school improvement, and organisational development. Experience within a Multi-Academy Trust is desirable, but not essential. The Trust is flexible regarding the start date to accommodate the right candidate.

This role would be ideal for an accomplished SEN leader or Headteacher who is eager to build on their leadership experience by taking the next step within a collaborative Multi-Academy Trust. The successful applicant will have a deep commitment to providing a high-quality SEND provision, along with a strong background in curriculum innovation, school improvement, and staff development.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential, as is the ability to engage, inspire, and motivate staff and the local community.

At The Special Partnership Trust, we are passionate about providing our students with the very best education, empowering them with the skills, resilience, and independence they need to succeed. If you share our values and vision for delivering an exceptional SEND experience, we would love to hear from you.

About Lampard Community School
This is a rare and exciting leadership opportunity to lead a highly acclaimed special school into its next stage of development and to play a key role in the future leadership of the Special Partnership Trust.

Lampard Community School is part of the Special Partnership Trust, an extraordinary education Trust that is redefining Special Educational Needs in the Southwest. Our mission is clear: we are a force for good in SEN and make a positive difference in people's lives. We challenge conventions, pioneer excellence, and work tirelessly to create better tomorrows for our young people and their families.

The successful candidate will build on the school’s existing legacy, bringing fresh perspectives, innovation, and a clear vision to lead Lampard Community School into its next phase of growth and development. At the heart of the school’s success is a dedicated and talented team of staff who embrace change, challenge their own practices, and continually seek new ways to support our students in achieving their personal aspirations. The new Headteacher must share this 'can-do' attitude and embody it in their leadership, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and inspiring staff and students alike to reach their full potential.

Lampard Community School is a vibrant and ambitious specialist centre, educating 196 pupils aged 5–16 with a wide range of complex learning and communication needs. Serving the community of North Devon, the school sits on a spacious site with a variety of innovative indoor and outdoor learning environments. The school has a strong reputation for delivering a holistic curriculum with Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) at its core and has just been awarded the Gold award by the LOtC council.

Safeguarding:
The Special Partnership Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to the satisfactory completion of checks and references, including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. In accordance with guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education; the Trust will undertake an online search of all shortlisted candidates.

Key Responsibilities:
• Provide clear vision and leadership, driving school improvement and strategic development.
• Deliver an inclusive, ambitious curriculum that meets the diverse needs of pupils.
• Raise standards in teaching, learning, behaviour and progress.
• Inspire, support and hold staff to account, fostering a culture of professional growth.
• Build strong partnerships with parents, governors, the Trust and external agencies.
• Ensure effective management of people, resources and safeguarding.
• Act as an ambassador for the school and Trust locally and nationally.

What We Are Looking For:
• An experienced, inspirational leader with a proven track record in special education or similar settings.
• A strategic thinker with resilience, integrity and a “can-do” attitude.
• Strong interpersonal skills to build positive relationships across the school community.
• Commitment to inclusive education, celebrating neurodiversity and raising aspirations.
• A collaborative leader who contributes to the wider Special Partnership Trust.

Our Total Reward Offer:
The Special Partnership Trust recognises the importance of developing a properly implemented People Strategy to underpin the overall strategic aims of the Trust. Our People Strategy is designed to help us attract prospective high calibre candidates, as well as drive engagement, productivity and retention of our high performing and high potential employees. It reflects our belief in putting our people first. This does not mean putting our learners second. It is based on the philosophy that if we create a positive and rewarding work environment, if our staff feel motivated, well managed and well supported, they in turn will provide the best possible outcome for our learners.

We recognise that our total reward offer, has got to consist of more than just money. We seek to provide our staff with a diverse range of benefits that support their day to day needs both at work and outside of work. These include generous leave entitlements and pension scheme as well as access to health/wellbeing tools, training & development, career pathways and opportunities to ensure they feel valued.

For further information, click here to visit the Special Partnership Trust website for our People Strategy and Benefits.

Contact Us
Informal conversations are welcomed. If you would like to discuss the role in confidence please call Guy Chappell, CEO, on 07807 495402. For further information on the role, please contact the HR Team hr@specialpartnership.org.

Please visit the Lampard Community School website www.lampard.devon.sch.uk or Special Partnership website, www.specialpartnership.org for further information about our Trust and an application pack. The Family Handbook (Prospectus) is also available as a useful resource that showcases the School’s values, community spirit and culture. Completed applications should be returned to recruitment@specialpartnership.org no later than 5pm on 5th November 2025. Please note CVs will not be accepted.

In addition to your application form, please click on the following link to complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form.