Executive Headteacher

Brighton & Hove City Council; Hove; On-site; GBP 78,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Skylark Federation is seeking an Executive Headteacher to lead four rural primary schools around Lewes and to drive continued improvement across the federation.

Based at Plumpton School, you will provide strategic and professional leadership, develop future leaders, and ensure high standards, a rich curriculum and strong pastoral care for all pupils within a supportive community.

Responsibilities

• Lead the federation and four rural primary schools, driving improvement in educational experience and outcomes.
• Provide strategic and professional leadership to shape the federation's development and standards.
• Develop future leaders and build resilient systems to support sustainability and high attainment.

Job description

Job profile for Executive Headteacher

Executive Headteacher

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Salary £77,552 - £89,830 Contractual hours 37 Basis Fixed Hours Job category/type Teaching and Leadership Date posted 23/10/2026 Job reference REQ0001687

Job description

The Skylark Federation – Executive Headteacher

Please note: the successful applicant will be based at Plumpton School, South Downs, Plumpton Green, Lewes.

The Governing Board of Skylark Federation are seeking to recruit a new Executive Headteacher to lead the Federation into the next exciting stage of its development. This is an exceptional executive leadership opportunity for an ambitious, forward thinking leader who is committed to making a lasting difference in rural education.

We are an established Federation of four distinctive rural primary schools clustered around Lewes in East Sussex: Barcombe, Hamsey, Plumpton and Iford and Kingston. While each of our four settings maintains its own distinct identity, ethos and community character, coming together as a Federation gives us the strength, scale and financial resilience of a much larger institution.

The new Executive Headteacher will provide strategic and professional leadership to shape the Federation's further development and drive improvement in the educational experience and outcomes for all our pupils.

Why work with us?

Our Federation offers a challenging but rewarding opportunity to lead small rural schools that serve close-knit communities where relationships are strong and families are deeply invested. We are proud of the inclusive ethos shared across all schools and of the distinctive Christian character of our Church schools, which enriches the life of the Federation.

Working with us means leading schools that are ambitious for their pupils despite the familiar challenges of rural settings; fluctuating pupil numbers and increasing financial pressures. We are looking for a leader who can think creatively and strategically, ensuring sustainability while protecting the high standards, rich curriculum and strong pastoral care our communities value.

You will join committed staff teams who care deeply about their pupils and take pride in their schools. Our governors are supportive, engaged and determined to secure the best possible future for the Federation. We have strong partnerships with the Diocese, local authority and neighbouring schools, and we welcome leaders who can strengthen these relationships further.

This is a role where your leadership will be visible, valued and influential. You will have the opportunity to shape the long-term direction of the Federation, develop future leaders and build resilient systems that allow our schools to thrive. If you are motivated by community, collaboration and the chance to make a profound difference, our Federation will be a fulfilling and inspiring place to work.

Please note that recruitment packs for this vacancy will only be provided directly to an individual considering applying to our school for this opportunity. This school does not enter into business with Recruitment Agencies, or other commercial organisations, on behalf of their clients seeking employment.

The Skylark Federation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.

This post is covered by the Childcare Disqualification Regulations 2018.

The school will need to ensure that they are not knowingly employing a person who is disqualified under the 2018 Regulations in connection with relevant childcare provision.Accordingly, the successful candidate will be required to demonstrate to the school, by completing a self-declaration form as part of the pre-employment checks process, that they have not been disqualified under the 2018 Regulations.

If the preferred candidate is found to be disqualified under the 2018 Regulations, the offer of employment will be subject to the application by the preferred candidate to Ofsted for a waiver and the receipt of a waiver from Ofsted.