Executive Headteacher

The Methodist Church in Britain; Portslade by Sea; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Skylark Federation is seeking an Executive Headteacher to provide strategic and professional leadership across four rural primary schools around Lewes, with Plumpton School as the base. The role focuses on shaping the federation’s future, raising pupil outcomes and ensuring financial resilience while preserving each school's identity.

You will lead and develop future leaders, build robust systems, and strengthen partnerships with the Diocese, local authority and neighbouring schools to secure

Qualifications

• Proven strategic and executive leadership experience.
• Experience leading multiple schools or a federation.
• Commitment to safeguarding and welfare of children.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and professional leadership across the Federation.
• Shape the Federation's further development and long-term direction.
• Drive improvement in educational experience and outcomes for all pupils.
• Protect high standards, rich curriculum and strong pastoral care across the schools.
• Ensure the sustainability of the four schools despite fluctuating pupil numbers and financial pressures.
• Develop future leaders within the Federation.
• Build resilient systems that allow the schools to thrive.
• Strengthen partnerships with the Diocese, local authority and neighbouring schools.
• Work with the governing board to secure the Federation's future.

Skills

Ambitious leadership

Strategic thinking

Job description

This is the Executive Headteacher post for the Skylark Federation, which runs four rural primary schools around Lewes, with the postholder based at Plumpton School. The role is to give strategic and professional leadership across the Federation, shaping its next stage of development and raising outcomes for pupils. Each of the four schools keeps its own identity while the group gains scale and financial resilience. Successful candidates must pass DBS and childcare disqualification checks.

What the job involves

• Provide strategic and professional leadership across the Federation
• Shape the Federation's further development and long-term direction
• Drive improvement in educational experience and outcomes for all pupils
• Protect high standards, rich curriculum and strong pastoral care across the schools
• Ensure the sustainability of the four schools despite fluctuating pupil numbers and financial pressures
• Develop future leaders within the Federation
• Build resilient systems that allow the schools to thrive
• Strengthen partnerships with the Diocese, local authority and neighbouring schools
• Work with the governing board to secure the Federation's future

What’s required

Skills & knowledge

• Ambitious, forward-thinking leadership
• Creative and strategic thinking

Checks & eligibility

• DBS check
• Other relevant pre-employment checks
• Self-declaration that they are not disqualified under the Childcare Disqualification Regulations 2018

Other

• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people