Head Teacher

SS. John and Monica Catholic Primary School; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Forest School provision

Support from Archdiocese and parish

Supportive Governing Body

Faith-based community

Job summary

SS John & Monica’s Catholic Primary School in Birmingham is seeking an inspirational Head Teacher to lead the school as it advances its ethos and outcomes. The role requires a practising Catholic leader who places children at the heart of every decision and who can drive improvement across teaching, curriculum and assessment.

The successful candidate will have senior leadership experience, strong communication with the parish and community, and a clear vision to sustain high standards while

Qualifications

• Must be a practising Catholic and lead the Catholic life and ethos.
• Ability to lead Catholic RE, prayer, worship and spiritual life.
• Inspirational leader focusing on children.
• Strong understanding of high-quality teaching and assessment.
• Proven track record of raising standards.
• Excellent communicator with staff, governors, parish and community.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the school's vision and improvement plan.
• Manage staffing, budget and resources effectively.
• Hold designated safeguarding responsibilities and oversee safeguarding.
• Be an active, visible leader, supporting staff wellbeing.
• Work with Governing Body to secure strategic direction.

Skills

Catholic leadership

Visible leadership

Strategic school improvement

Communication with community

Safeguarding governance

Budget and resource management

Job description

Closing date for applications:25 November 2026, 12.00pm

SS John & Monica’s Catholic Primary School

Chantry Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8DW

Vacancy for a HEAD TEACHER (Leadership Point 15-21)

• Required: 1st September 2027
• Full Time: Permanent

“The school’s mission statement permeates all aspects of school life.”
“Relationships are positive and nurturing, and this brings out the best in pupils.”
Ofsted, November 2023

“Serving a diverse, multi-faith community, the school has a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive ethos, which ensures that everyone is valued and respected for who they are.”
Catholic Schools Inspectorate, October 2024

Following the retirement of our current Head Teacher at the end of the 2026–27 academic year, the Governors of SS John & Monica’s Catholic Primary School are seeking to appoint an inspirational, dedicated and ambitious Head Teacher to lead our school into its next chapter.

SS John & Monica’s is a happy, caring and inclusive Catholic primary school serving a wonderfully diverse community. Our Catholic faith is at the heart of school life and underpins the relationships, decisions and experiences of our children and staff.

Our mission is:

“At SS John and Monica’s, we learn through the example of Jesus to love, respect, understand and value each other.”

We are looking for an exceptional leader who will cherish what makes our school special, while bringing the vision, energy and ambition needed to continue its development and ensure that every child is given the opportunity to flourish.

We are looking for a Head Teacher who:

• Is a practising Catholic, committed to developing and promoting the Catholic life, mission and ethos of the school.
• Can lead and further develop Catholic religious education, prayer, worship and the spiritual life of the school.
• Is an inspirational and visible leader who places children at the heart of every decision.
• Has a clear and ambitious vision for school improvement and the ability to translate this into sustained action and impact.
• Brings successful senior leadership experience and the confidence to manage change, including potential developments in Catholic school organisation.
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of high-quality teaching, learning, curriculum and assessment across the primary phase.
• Has a successful track record of raising standards and securing strong outcomes for pupils.
• Has high expectations for the achievement, behaviour, attendance and personal development of all pupils.
• Understands how to meet the needs of a diverse school community, including pupils with SEND, disadvantaged pupils and those who may face barriers to learning.
• Has a strong commitment to inclusion and understands the importance of children’s emotional wellbeing alongside their academic development.
• Can lead effective provision for pupils with increasingly complex SEND needs, ensuring high aspirations and appropriate support for every child.
• Is an effective Designated Safeguarding Lead, or has the knowledge, experience and commitment necessary to fulfil this key leadership responsibility.
• Has a thorough understanding of statutory safeguarding responsibilities and will maintain a strong culture of vigilance throughout the school.
• Is able to lead, motivate and develop staff, building a culture of high expectations, professional trust, accountability and teamwork.
• Recognises the importance of staff wellbeing while maintaining a clear focus on improving outcomes for children.
• Is an excellent communicator who can build positive and respectful relationships with children, staff, parents, governors, the parish, the Archdiocese and the wider community.
• Has the ability to work effectively and strategically with the Governing Body.
• Demonstrates sound financial and organisational leadership and can deploy staffing and resources effectively.
• Can manage a challenging school budget, make sound financial decisions and secure the effective and sustainable use of resources.
• Understands the importance of effective self-evaluation, school improvement planning and the use of evidence to measure impact.
• Is resilient, reflective and able to make difficult decisions when necessary.
• Has the integrity, warmth and sense of humour needed to lead a busy and vibrant primary school.
• Will be highly visible and approachable and become fully involved in the faith, educational and wider life of our school and parish community.
• Is committed to their own professional development and to developing future leaders within the school.
• Will embrace future opportunities and challenges while respecting the history, traditions and distinctive character of SS John & Monica’s.

We can offer you:

• A happy, welcoming and caring Catholic school with a strong and distinctive ethos.
• Wonderful children who enjoy coming to school and are eager to learn.
• A diverse school community in which children and families are valued and respected.
• A committed, experienced and hardworking staff team.
• A supportive and committed Governing Body.
• Strong relationships with our parish and the wider Catholic community.
• Support and professional development through the Archdiocese of Birmingham and other partners.
• A school with a strong sense of community and a commitment to inclusion.
• An attractive and well-resourced learning environment, including our Forest School provision.
• The opportunity to build upon strong foundations while shaping the next stage of the school's journey.
• Above all, the privilege of leading a school where faith, relationships and children are at the centre of everything we do.

Visits to the school

Visits to SS John & Monica’s are strongly encouraged and will provide prospective candidates with an opportunity to experience the character and ethos of our school.

To arrange a visit, please contact the school office on 0121 464 5868.

Safeguarding

SS John & Monica Catholic Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The appointment will be subject to satisfactory references, an enhanced DBS check, identity and right-to-work checks and all other appropriate pre-employment safeguarding checks. As part of our safer recruitment procedures, shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a criminal self-declaration and online searches will be undertaken for publicly available information.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and is subject to the relevant amendments to the Exceptions Order.