Trust Business and Operations Manager
Spring School
Kingston upon Thames
- Expired
- Salary:
- Band 7 point 91 £72,043
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- April 2025
- Apply by:
- 24 February 2025
Job overview
Join Us in Making a Difference: Become Our School Trust Business & Operations Manager!
Are you a dynamic, strategic thinker who's ready to revolutionise how schools operate for learners with autism? Do you have the leadership nous to manage complex operations while building an inclusive environment where both people and ideas thrive? If so, keep reading — because this isn't your average school job advert.
The Mission?
As our School Trust Business and Operations Manager, you'll be a key driver in shaping the future of Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust (AaAST). You'll lead strategic development across multiple essential areas, including:
- Finance: Steering budgets and resource planning with finesse
- Premises & Health & Safety: Ensuring safe, inspiring learning spaces
- IT & GDPR: Driving innovation while safeguarding data
- Administration & People: Cultivating systems that empower teams
You'll be part of the Senior Leadership Teams at Rise School and Spring School, making sure educational aims are achieved through smooth, effective operations.
Plus, you'll collaborate closely with the central teams at Ambitious about Autism (AaA), sitting on the AaA Senior Management Team, where your insights will shape wider Trust decisions.
Why Join Us?
Because we're different. Our schools provide life-changing educational opportunities for autistic young people, and your role will ensure the structures behind that are second to none. We don't just care about compliance and efficiency (although Important) — we care about creativity, innovation, and most importantly, people.
Here's what you can expect:
- Purpose with Impact: Be part of something bigger than spreadsheets — your work will help change lives.
- Empowered Leadership: Take ownership of key operational strategies, driving real transformation.
- Growth Opportunities: We're all about learning and development — for you and the Trust alike.
- Inclusive Culture: We celebrate diversity and champion difference.
What We're Looking For:
- Proven experience in senior operational roles within a school setting
- Strong financial acumen and strategic mindset
- A champion for safeguarding, GDPR, and health & safety
- Inspirational leadership with the ability to collaborate and influence
- A passion for supporting autistic learners and creating meaningful change
How to Apply:
If you're ready to bring your talent and ambition to a mission that truly matters, we'd love to hear from you. We strongly encourage you to come and talk to us, visit our settings and see just what an incredible opportunity this is. Please contact Ben Lowe (Recruitment Manager on 0208 078 2553 to arrange visits to our settings.
Once ready, please then hit the apply now button and we look forward to receiving your application.
Closing Date- Monday 24th February 9am
Interview- Date- Tuesday 4th March 2025
The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.
Ambitious about Autism is fully committed to equality of opportunity and diversity and we warmly welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates. We welcome applications regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, disability, or age. All applications will be considered solely on merit.
Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check.
Attached documents
About Spring School
- Spring School
- 15 Coombe Street, Kingston upon Thames
- KT2 7AB
- United Kingdom
It is an immense privilege to have been appointed the head of Spring School and to lead the development of this fantastic new provision for autistic pupils.
Spring School has been set up to address a growing need for more specialist education provision for autistic children and young people in Kingston. It is run by the Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust, who already have two successful special schools and a further education college, providing excellent education to hundreds of autistic children and young people across London and the Home Counties.
Spring School will build on the Trust’s innovative approach to autism education, which is called the Ambitious Approach. At its heart, the approach is centred around improving the quality of life of autistic young people while they are in education and ensuring this quality of life continues into adulthood.
We will equip young people with the academic qualifications and personal skills needed to thrive in school and beyond. We will offer pupils the best of both worlds: special needs provision combined with a curriculum that follows the national curriculum.
Working in partnership with young people, parents and carers and the whole community, we will develop a wonderful new learning environment where autistic young people can reach their academic potential, strive for independence and lead rich and fulfilling lives.
Andy Nowak, Head of Spring School
Spring School is a special school dedicated to educating autistic pupils aged 4–19.
Our vision is to create a school where autistic children can learn, thrive, achieve and belong. We will offer a model of best practice for autistic children with social communication needs who can learn under a broadly age-related curriculum. In practice, this means:
- Pupils will obtain the best possible outcomes in terms of academic and personal development, based on their needs, aspirations, and priorities and feel proud of what they learn and achieve
- Pupils will have a sense of competence and self-worth with good mental health, well-being, and long-term life chances beyond school.
- Pupils will be directly involved in decisions about their learning and future.
- Families will have the confidence that their children are in a safe environment and are being guided toward greater independence.
- Families will be provided with the tools they need to support their children beyond school and feel they are key members of the school community with their voices heard.
Spring School will give pupils the support and challenge they need to reach their full learning potential. The school will have academic, personal, social and independent targets to provide autistic pupils with ambitious aspirations. Pupils will work towards gaining academic and vocational qualifications, that will help them succeed in the world beyond school.
Partnership working is at the core of the school’s vision. Our school model is designed to offer the best of both special and mainstream education through close collaboration with local mainstream providers, including Chessington School. We will work in partnership with parents and carers, recognising the importance of co-production in supporting children’s learning and development.
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