Barnet Special Education Trust

Overview

The Windmill School is recruiting an Assistant Headteacher to lead its autism‑specialist secondary phase (ages 11–19). The role involves overseeing personalised curriculum pathways, managing transitions, monitoring progress with autism‑specific assessment systems, and ensuring meaningful accreditation routes. The school seeks an experienced autism specialist—or someone ready for their first leadership role—who is committed to strengths‑based, autism‑affirming practice. The Windmill School offers strong professional development, a collaborative culture, and the chance to make a significant impact on autistic young people’s lives.

This is a key strategic and operational role for an experienced SEND practitioner who understands that autism-specific education is not a simplified mainstream model, but a carefully designed, highly personalised curriculum built around an inside-out knowledge of autism and education.

The successful candidate will provide leadership across our secondary provision, ensuring that our 3 curriculum pathways are responsive to the complex and diverse needs of our autistic pupils. You will have a drive to deliver outcomes for our pupils that are meaningful and based on a strengths based curriculum model.

As part of Barnet Special Education Trust, The Windmill School is dedicated to delivering exceptional education and care for autistic pupils. The Windmill School follows a highly autism specialist curriculum that closely aligns with the secondary National Curriculum. We are ambitious that our pupils will be taking a range of external qualifications in areas of strength and interest. Our secondary setting provides a supportive and innovative environment where both students and staff can thrive.

About the role: You will lead the 11-19 phase of this all-age autism specific school, ensuring high quality teaching and progression between phases. You will oversee the transition planning of all pupils who move into the secondary school at phase transfer or mid-year and ensure curriculum pathways are developmentally appropriate, autism-informed and outcome-focused. You will oversee accreditation routes (e.g. entry level GCSE, vocational pathways and access to higher education) where appropriate and Monitor progress using appropriate assessment systems for autistic learners to prepare for analysis by the wider leadership team, Governing board and Trustees. 

Personal attributes

We are looking for:

• QTS/QTLS
• An experienced and outstanding autism specialist with secondary or post-16 experience.
• A leader who combines strategic thinking, expertise in curriculum development and assessment systems in a special school and a calm, relational leadership style, and who is committed to improving outcomes for autistic learners.
• Ability to promote, embed and evaluate research-led practice, particularly in relation to autism-specific pedagogy and inclusive curriculum design
• Experience of leading or supporting professional learning communities or structured staff development programmes
• Understanding of ethical, strengths-based approaches to autism that uphold dignity, identity and wellbeing
• A leader who will ensure curriculum pathways are developmentally appropriate, autism-informed and outcome-focused
• Ability to influence whole-school culture so that policies and practice consistently reflect autism-affirming values
• Experience of working collaboratively with families and multi-disciplinary professionals to support personalised planning
• Someone passionate about inclusion and supporting young people to achieve their best
• This could suit a colleague ready to step into their first leadership role and make an impact

 If you are ready to take the next step in your career and share our commitment to autism inclusive education, we would love to hear from you.

Salary & Benefits

Salary from £58497 to £68799 per year

What we offer:

• A supportive and collaborative team environment
• Opportunities for professional growth and development through our links with research institutions
• The chance to make a real difference to the lives of autistic young people and their families
• A well-resourced school with a clear commitment to inclusive education with autism at the core.
• High quality CPD delivered by autistic scholars

 You will be a key member of the senior leadership team, driving high standards and positive outcomes for all.

Location

The Windmill School, Moxon Street, High Barnet, EN5 5TS

Supporting documents

• Add link to supporting document 1Job description & Person Spec. TWS AH
• Add link to supporting document 2Application Form
• Privacy Notice for Candidates

Deadline and how to apply

Please complete and return our application form with a cover letter relating to the Job Description & Person Specification and return it to vacancies@bsentrust.org (or you can apply directly via TES platform or DFE Vacancies platform) by 24^th April 2026 at 5pm

Equal opportunities

Equality Policy

Job reference: 2026/04