Executive Headteacher

The Wensum Trust; Norwich; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Programme

Training & career progression

Job summary

The Wensum Trust is seeking an ambitious Executive Headteacher to lead Firside Junior School and Kinsale Junior School in Norwich. You will drive strategic direction, raise educational achievement, and foster a healthy, inclusive environment for children and staff.

We value collaborative leadership, strong partnerships with families and the community, and a commitment to safeguarding and staff wellbeing. A comprehensive induction and support network will back your leadership.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading multiple schools or a federation.
• Track record of improving educational outcomes across schools.
• Comfort with relational, community-focused leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across Firside Junior School and Kinsale Junior School.
• Drive educational improvements and raise achievement across both schools.
• Lead with a relational ethos, collaborating with families and partners.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Relational leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

As part of The Wensum Trust, we believe that our shared duty is to help every child to develop into high achieving, confident, healthy, caring and resilient members of their family and community. We want our schools to be healthy environments where both children and staff can develop and where strong, positive relationships are key. Our school, therefore, practices a relational approach with children, our families and our communities. We are particularly interested in working with people who share Our Qualities; who will work effectively and flexibly as part of a team.

Firside Junior School and Kinsale Junior School are two thriving junior schools located in the heart of the Hellesdon and Norwich community, forming part of The Wensum Trust. We strive to create high-achieving, confident, healthy, caring, and resilient individuals who seize opportunities, discover their passions, and build a pathway for their future aspirations. Across both schools, we maintain high academic standards, strong mental health and wellbeing frameworks, and innovative educational experiences—including Firside’s new state-of-the-art facility opening in 2027 and Kinsale’s pioneering status as the UK's first Zoo School.

We are looking for an ambitious, inspirational Executive Headteacher who is able to provide strategic leadership and continue to raise educational achievements across both schools. A structured and comprehensive induction programme will prepare you for the role, and you will be backed by an experienced network of leaders and central team expertise. We welcome applicants with a proven track record who can bring real enthusiasm, a relational ethos, and a commitment to developing the whole child.

Being a part of The Wensum Trust’s family of schools offers employees unique experiences to work alongside our strategic partners and to collaborate with a wider network of staff. We believe in investing in employees as individuals, by providing training opportunities that help to develop both existing and new skill sets, to encourage career progression at all levels.

We value our staff and are committed to supporting their wellbeing. We have an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which all staff can access 24 hours a day. The EAP provides counselling services, legal information and guidance, musculoskeletal services and online resources such as nutrition diaries, healthy eating plans, personal coaching questionnaires and tools and fitness programmes.

We care about bringing together the most able people, to help us achieve our vision of providing a rounded education for children, quality support for their families and opportunities to enrich our communities.

Safer Recruitment

The Wensum Trust is committed to safeguarding children and promoting the welfare of children and young people, we expect all trustees, staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The Wensum Trust is exempt from the Rehabilitations of Offenders Act 1974 and all convictions, cautions and bind-overs, including those regarded as 'spent' must be declared. All successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced Criminal Record Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service, along with other relevant employment checks, including overseas criminal background checks.