Job Description

The role

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LOCATION: Fox Wood School, Holes Lane, Woolston, Warrington, WA1 4LS.

From Autumn 2026 onwards, the role will be mainly based at our new College but will require travelling to and from three sites - our main school (as listed above), our College on Peace Drive (WA5 1HQ), and our Early Years Satellite site at Sandy Lane (WA2 9HY)


REPORTS TO: Headteacher and Governors


CONTRACT: Full-Time, Permanent (Term Time Only + 10 days may be considered; please state your

preference in your application) START DATE: As soon as possible.

About the School

Fox Wood is a special school and college for pupils aged 4-19 with a wide range of complex needs, including Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD), Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD). Across our three sites, we aim to provide the best possible holistic education, total communication support, and meaningful learning opportunities in an engaging, safe, and caring environment.



This is a pivotal leadership role within our school and college, forming a key part of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT). The School Business Manager (SBM) will lead and manage the strategic and operational business functions of the school across all three sites. This includes responsibility for:

? Finance


? Human Resources


? Premises and Facilities


? Health & Safety


? Administration and ICT Systems


? Strategic Operations and Compliance



The post holder will play a central role in supporting the development of our new College provision, including staffing structures, systems, and operational processes. The role will require the ability to travel between sites.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership: Act as a strategic partner to the Headteacher, Governors and SLT, contributing to whole school development, improvement planning, and business continuity.


Financial Management: Lead budget planning, monitoring, forecasting, procurement, and value for money initiatives in line with LA and DfE requirements.


Human Resources: Oversee recruitment, onboarding, performance management, wellbeing, and compliance with employment legislation and safeguarding protocols.


Premises & Facilities: Manage the maintenance, security, and development of all three sites, including capital projects and accessibility improvements.


Health & Safety: Act as the school's Health & Safety Officer, ensuring robust policies, risk assessments, statutory training, and emergency planning.


Administration & ICT: Line manage administrative teams and oversee MIS, GDPR compliance, data protection, and digital transformation planning.

Recruitment and Compliance

Warrington Borough Council and Fox Wood School are committed to safeguarding; an Enhanced DBS clearance is required for this post.

Key dates

Closing date

: Monday 2nd February 2026 at 9am

Shortlisting date

: Monday 2nd February 2026

Interview date

: Thursday 12th February 2026

How to Apply

For an application pack and further details, please visit our website at www.foxwoodschool.org.uk




Further details and application forms are available from the School Website