Principal/CEO

The Governing Body of The Royal School are seeking a highly motivated, experienced, and innovative Principal/CEO, to continue the ambitious and successful journey provided by the current post holder. 

The Royal School Wolverhampton is located on a 25-acre site on Goldthorn Hill just outside Wolverhampton City Centre. There has been an educational institution on site since the 1850s. The recently established Free School provides an all-through, 4-19, co-educational, non-denominational, non-selective education and continues to reflect the original founder’s values. As well as compassion and caring for others, it was the original founder’s intention to help and support the most vulnerable in society and that ethos remains strong today. The School retains the royal patronage which was endowed on it, in recognition of its work with the disadvantaged, by Queen Victoria in the 1890s. HRH the Duke of Edinburgh is the current Patron. The School primarily serves the local Wolverhampton area, as well as Shropshire, Staffordshire and the greater West Midlands. It also maintains its long-established boarding culture and has around 80 boarding places taken up by students from far and wide, both from within the UK and overseas.

There are currently 1459 pupils in the School made up of 630 Primary, 594 Secondary and 256 in Sixth Form. The School has recently been named as the most heavily oversubscribed school in the country. The pupil intake is diverse and broad in its ability range.

As an independently run Free School, the School adopts a holistic approach to education, developing the potential of every child by encouraging leadership, resilience, responsibility and character. The School aims to achieve this by committing the whole school community to live out five core values: Respect–Trust–Community-Initiative-Risk.

The Royal School Wolverhampton is a company limited by guarantee and an Academy Trust which is a registered charity. The current Principal, Mark Heywood, is retiring after 13 years distinguished service. The Governing Body is now seeking an inspiring and highly skilled educationalist to build on the success brought about by his transforming leadership in establishing, consolidating, and growing the Free School since its inception in 2016. 

You will embrace and be fully committed to the aims and values of the Free School and be able to demonstrate a strategic approach to policy and planning, management skills and business insight. You will be responsible for the day-to-day management, ensuring smooth operations and that the pupils receive an excellent educational experience, supported by outstanding levels of safeguarding, pastoral care, and enrichment opportunities. It will be important that you also bring with you a knowledge and understanding of education across the 4-19 age range and of boarding. You should bring experience of successful senior leadership in schools, a track record of building and leading strong teams, a creative approach to teaching and learning and a desire for continuing professional development. An engaging individual and a confident networker, you will be able to promote the School effectively. Instinctively collaborative, you should be able to inspire confidence across the school community and to communicate openly with governors, staff, parents and other stakeholders.

Potential candidates should not contact the School. Those wishing to discuss this post are invited to arrange a confidential discussion with one of the consultants handling this appointment:

Isabel Patchett – isabelpatchett@rsacademics.com or +44 (0)7885447781

Peter Bodkin - peterbodkin@rsacademics.com or +44(0)7821737092

For further information about the role and an application pack please visit: https://www.rsacademics.com/current-vacancies/head-royal-wolve/

The closing date for applications is: 10.00am Thursday 19th October 2023

Tours will be provided to successfully selected candidates.

The Royal School Wolverhampton is an equal opportunities employer committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. The safeguarding responsibilities of this post are detailed in the candidate briefing pack and The Royal School Wolverhampton’s child protection policy can be found on the school’s website.