Primary Executive Headteacher

Primary Executive Headteacher required from Easter 2020 (or as soon as available) to join The Castle Partnership Trust as the strategic Primary lead, and will be the lead on the opening of a brand new primary school, The Isambard Kingdom Brunel Primary School in Wellington, in partnership with the Local Authority.

The Castle Partnership Trust currently consists of two secondary schools, The Castle School in Taunton and Court Fields in Wellington, and two primary schools, Wellesley Park in Wellington and opening in September 2020, Isambard Kingdom Brunel Primary School (IKB). We are an open and welcoming Trust and have excellent relationships with other local schools and Trusts. It is likely that the Trust will expand over the next few years and so we are looking for a strong and passionate Primary lead to facilitate the opening of IKB and to develop the Primary provision across the Trust. It is very likely that the LA will ask us to open a second free school within the Trust catchment and as the Trust expands, you can expect the salary range to change to reflect.

Primary Schools in the Trust

IKB will be a brand new 420 place primary school and nursery (Bright Sparks) opening initially with 1 cohort in reception and a nursery intake. IKB is a free school supported by the Local Authority. The Executive Headteacher will be involved in every step of the pre-opening stages including recruiting staff and governors and will be the strategic lead for the first 3 years.

Wellesley Park is an established Primary School in Wellington with an excellent reputation for high standards in teaching and children’s wellbeing and development. The Executive Headteacher will support the Headteacher of Wellesley Park in developing provision both in the school and across the Trust, taking a leading role in the Trust in transition from Nursery to Reception, and from Primary to Secondary. The Executive Head will develop links with other providers in the area, both Pre-schools and Nurseries and the other local primaries, in order that the Trust achieves its vision for every child in the Trust locality to have an excellent education, to be healthy and happy learners and to thrive in everything they do. 

Good relationships with other schools in the area are very important and we share CPD and INSET with a number of partners. We are not predatory and work collaboratively with all our neighbouring schools for the good of our community. Headteachers in the Trust work cooperatively and decisions are made together. The Headteachers in the Trust are not expected to have a teaching commitment but to be able to focus on school improvement and staff and children’s wellbeing.

If you have the drive, determination and energy to embrace this new role, build a brand new school within the Trust, support our existing school and work with neighbouring schools and heads to enrich our community, and with deep commitment to the wellbeing of children, then we want to hear from you!

We offer the successful candidate:

• The opportunity to develop Primary provision across the Trust
• Good career development including training in the role of CEO for your next step should you wish.
• The exciting opportunity to set up a school from the very start
• The support and resources from a warm and supportive Trust
• The opportunity to develop professionally and personally
• A dedicated, innovative and focused team of Trust staff and directors who share the same passion of ensuring that every child achieves their full potential and beyond, that every child belongs and has self-esteem and that every child participates in learning, enrichment and the community.
• Professional support from the Trust and the Local Authority and well-established school to school collaboration

We are looking for a candidate who:

• Will empower and inspire staff and children to be the best they can be
• Is supportive and collaborative in his /her work with other headteachers both within and beyond the Trust.
• Is able to sustain and accelerate progress in raising standards of teaching and learning
• Drives the development of a curriculum rooted in STEM, Arts and Humanities as well as English and Maths, that both engages and challenges children
• Strives for ambitious standards for all children with a range of challenges within a nurturing and inclusive environment
• Will develop and widen parental involvement
• Is visible, approachable and has the resilience to meet the day to day challenges of  Executive Headship
• Has personal and professional integrity and is not afraid to challenge when appropriate in the best interests of our children

If you would like to speak to Sarah Watson, CEO The Castle Partnership Trust, about the role please email jgregory@castle.somerset.sch.uk  or phone 01823 274073.

For further information about the job and the school please visit www.ikbschool.co.uk  

To make an application for this role please complete an application form with a covering letter by 9am on Friday 10 January 2020. The covering letter can either be written in Section F of the application form or as a separate document.

In your letter please include:

• A statement of your vision and values 
• The story of your career so far and what appeals to you about this post.
• Evidence of impact – this should make up the main part of your letter and demonstrate the impact of your leadership of your school. 
• Any school to school support you have led or in which you have been involved, naming the school and the area in which you supported.

Please ensure your covering letter is no more than 2 sides of A4 in total and in Arial font size 12. We do not need a personal statement in addition to the letter. 

Please note that covering letters from candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be sent to their referees for comment as part of the reference process.

Applications should be emailed to Recruitment@castle.somerset.sch.uk  or posted to:  Mr Rob Trowbridge, Assistant Business Manager, The Castle School, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 5AU.

Closing Date: 9am on Friday 10 January 2020 

Interviews: Monday 20 & Tuesday 21 January 2020