Headteacher
John Spence Community High School
North Shields
- £93,424 - £108,202 per year
- Expired
- Salary:
- L25-L31
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- 01 September 2026
- Apply by:
- 27 February 2026
Job overview
John Spence Community High School is a proud, well established school with a strong sense of community and identity, clear values and high expectations for its young people. The school is a values-led school with a clear and lived ethos. At its heart sits the principle that every young person should leave school Fit for Life — resilient, skilled and considerate.
The school now seeks a Headteacher who will lead the next phase of its journey. The task ahead is to build on these foundations with clarity and confidence: securing stronger outcomes, sustaining a broad and ambitious curriculum, and ensuring that John Spence continues to be a school where pupils are known, challenged and supported to succeed.
This is a leadership position that requires moral purpose and rigour; someone who understands that improvement is driven through culture as much as strategy, and that consistency, visibility and relationships matter every day. This is a unique opportunity to shape a compelling future for a flagship secondary school in North Tyneside.
We strongly encourage prospective candidates to visit the school. John Spence is best understood by seeing it in action: the students, the staff, the culture and the ambition.
This is a demanding role in a school that deserves exceptional leadership. For the right person, it is also an outstanding professional opportunity.
Please contact the Head’s PA, Emma Rutter, via email to emma.rutter@johnspence.org.uk to book a visit. Contact the CEO, Kieran McGrane, for an informal discussion about the role at k.mcgrane@peletrust.org.uk
How to Apply
Please submit your application and a covering letter of no more than 2 A4 pages (properly formatted and in Arial 11) to Claire Leightley at c.leightley@peletrust.org.uk
This post is subject to enhanced DBS and other pre-application checks as determined by KCSIE 2025.
Closing Date - Friday 27 February 2026, 12:00pm
Interviews - 12 & 13 March 2026
Attached documents
About John Spence Community High School
- John Spence Community High School
- Preston Road, North Shields
- Tyne And Wear
- NE29 9PU
- United Kingdom
John Spence Community High School is situated in North Shields, Tyne and Wear. It is a foundation, community school for 11-16 year olds. It is a non-denominational establishment. At the moment, there are approximately 880 students enrolled at John Spence Community High School.
Headteacher
Jonathan Heath
Values and Vision
We are a fully inclusive school that sits at the heart of our community and recognise that in order to excel students need to be supported and challenged through every stage of their school journey.
Our ‘Fit for Life’ ethos encapsulates our purpose as a school; we want our students to thrive in their communities when they leave school as resilient, skilled and considerate individuals. These attributes will develop through the opportunities that each student will receive both within and beyond the classroom. All we ask of our students is that they seize these opportunities and participate fully in school life.
To succeed in our ambition, that all individuals leave us ‘Fit for Life’, we work in collaboration with local schools and organisations. Good relationships with parents and carers are very important to us. This partnership is essential if our students are to succeed and we are delighted that our parents work closely with us by supporting the school in the standards and expectations that we have. The connection between school and home is of paramount importance and sits at the heart of our values.
John Spence Community High School is also the Lead School and Governing Body of the North East Partnership SCITT; a specialist physical education initial teacher training provider offering both secondary and primary postgraduate training places.
The staff and governors are passionate in their drive to provide the very best education. We seek to create an inspiring environment where students feel safe to take risks in their learning and where achievement is celebrated by all.
Ofsted report
“The curriculum is broad and varied. Pupils are guided well onto a range of courses at key stage 4. The school’s ‘Fit for Life’ programme promotes personal development effectively. There is an impressive range of extra-curricular activities, particularly in sport.
Procedures to safeguard pupils are rigorous. Vulnerable pupils are supported very well to engage fully in school life.
Pupils’ attendance is above the national average. In the past, the proportion of disadvantaged pupils who were regularly absent from school has been high, but it is now reducing.”
View John Spence Community High School’s latest Ofsted report
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