Chief Executive Officer and Headteacher

Shorefields; Rayleigh; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution is seeking a visionary Headteacher to lead The Sweyne Park School and the Rayleigh Schools Trust. This role involves shaping the future of the trust, ensuring excellent education for every child, and fostering an inclusive community environment. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership experience and a passion for comprehensive education.

Qualifications

• Experience in educational leadership required.
• Passionate about comprehensive education and community involvement.
• Ability to uphold strong values and standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead The Sweyne Park School and the Rayleigh Schools Trust.
• Shape the future of the trust and uphold its values.
• Foster a safe and inclusive environment for all students.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Planning

Inclusivity

Education

Qualified Teacher Status

Job description

Job Ref No. ECC4011-183
Position Type: Headteacher
Pay Range: Leadership Point 33 - 41

Position Start Date: 01/01/2026
Contract Type: Full-time
Contract Term: Permanent

Application Close: 20/06/2025 Midnight
Date of Interviews: tbc

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead both The Sweyne Park School and the Rayleigh Schools Trust, which also includes Glebe Primary School. We are seeking a visionary, inclusive, and strategic leader to shape the future of our trust and uphold the strong values and standards of our well-respected, community-rooted secondary school.

Our vision is clear: excellent education for every child, in an environment built on respect, inclusion, and character development. We believe every pupil and student should be supported to flourish, succeed, and develop the skills to lead a happy, fulfilled life.

If you are passionate about comprehensive education and have the leadership experience to make a lasting impact, we warmly invite your application.

If you share our culture and ethos and believe you can help us achieve our ambitions and unlock the full potential of our pupils and students, we encourage you to apply by sending an application form and covering letter (no more than 2 sides of A4) to our HR Manager at [e-mail].

RST is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and visitors to share this commitment. Appointment to this post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS) as well as other pre-appointment checks outlined in Keeping Children Safe in Education (September 2024). To help us meet our high standards and aspirations of a fully diverse and inclusive workplace, we strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply and to join us.

Please visit our website www.rayleighschoolstrust.com to access a copy of our Applicants' Pack for potential candidates and our RST Application Form.

Information about the School

Welcome to The Sweyne Park School, a larger than average mixed, 11-18 comprehensive school. The School became an academy on 1st April 2013 and opened its Sixth Form in September 2014.

Our school is a safe and happy environment, and central to our ethos is a belief in respect — respect for yourself, others, and the environment. We believe that our focus on respect leads to high expectations and excellent discipline, which in turn fosters the highest possible achievement for each individual pupil. In December 2018, we were the first Secondary School in the East of England to achieve the prestigious Rights Respecting Gold Award.

At Sweyne Park, we are committed to providing first-class teaching and learning for all our pupils. This commitment is supported by our focus on recruiting and retaining the very best staff, along with our nationally recognized staff training programs. We aim for our pupils to achieve strong examination results and progress to high-quality destinations. Our broad and balanced curriculum includes a wide range of cultural, artistic, sporting, and social opportunities. We also prioritize strong partnerships between home, school, and the community, believing that collective efforts motivate and support pupils’ progress.

In October 2017, Sweyne Park School and Glebe Primary School formed the Rayleigh Schools Trust (“The RST”).

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people, including appropriate checks and clearances.

Other Leadership Opportunities

• Gosbecks Primary School, Colchester — Headteacher, Closing: 02/06/2025 Midday
• St Peter's Catholic Primary School, Billericay — Headteacher, Closing: 06/06/2025 4pm
• The Brickfields Multi Academy Trust, Rochford — Chief Executive Officer & Accounting Officer, Closing: 23/06/2025 Midnight