The Garden School is a thriving, ambitious special school for autistic pupils aged 4–18, based across two sites in Hackney. We currently serve 204 exceptional young people with a primary diagnosis of autism, supported by a dedicated, specialist staff team. Our curriculum intent—ACORN (Ambition, Communication, Opportunity, Resilience, Needs)—underpins everything we do, and our most recent Ofsted inspection (December 2024) recognised the strength of our relationships, our ambition for pupils, and the quality of our provision.
We are now entering a crucial phase of organisational development. Our School Improvement and Development Plan (SIDP) 2025–28 sets out a bold programme of educational excellence supported by financial recovery, systems modernisation, and robust governance. To support us in delivering this, we are seeking an exceptional School Business Manager who can lead transformative change with clarity, confidence and integrity. This is not a maintenance role. It is a strategic, future-shaping position for a leader who thrives on improving systems, solving legacy challenges, and building high-performing teams.
As our School Business Manager, you will be a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, working closely with the Headteacher and Governors to secure the school’s long-term sustainability and operational excellence.
We warmly encourage visits to the school. To arrange this, please contact Mary Francis (mfrancis@thegarden.hackney.sch.uk)
The Garden School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS checks and rigorous safer recruitment procedures.