Headteacher

St Francis Church of England Aided Primary School and Nursery; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

St Francis CE Primary School & Nursery in Birmingham seeks a dynamic Headteacher to lead a one-form entry school with nursery, building on OFSTED outcomes and a strong church community.

You will sustain a caring culture, champion values, and shape strategy with the senior leadership team, directing teaching quality, inclusion and community engagement within Fioretti Trust.

Qualifications

• Embody the ethos and Christian values of the school and Fioretti Trust
• Be deeply committed to inclusion, equity and the flourishing of every child
• Lead with courage and compassion, balancing warmth with challenge
• Use data-informed strategies to drive pupil progress
• Secure curriculum knowledge across Key Stages and current pedagogy research
• Strong relationships with pupils, families, staff, governors and external partners

Responsibilities

• Ensure the Christian vision shapes decision-making and daily practice
• Sustain an inclusive, aspirational culture across the school
• Strengthen belonging, safety and mattering for all pupils and adults
• Embed peer collaboration, coaching and professional growth
• Lead strategic implementation of the School Improvement Plan
• Maintain high standards in teaching, behaviour, attendance and achievement
• Develop staff capacity through supportive leadership
• Secure excellent provision for vulnerable or disadvantaged pupils

Job description

We are seeking a dynamic, values-driven and highly skilled Headteacher to lead St Francis CE Primary School & Nursery, a caring and nurturing Church of England school in the heart of Bournville. Proudly part of Fioretti Trust - a family of like-minded schools committed to collaboration, compassion and excellence - and equally proud of our identity as a Church of England MAT, this is an exceptional opportunity for an inspiring leader to build on firm foundations and shape the next chapter for our children, staff and wider community. Our new Headteacher will nurture the Christian vision that underpins our work, champion high standards and create the conditions for every child and adult to flourish.

As the face of our school, you will be at the heart of daily life: sustaining the distinctive family feel that visitors so often remark upon, where every child is known by every adult; strengthening our excellent relationships with pupils, families, staff and our local church; and representing St Francis with integrity and warmth within the Bournville community. You will champion our vision and values, ensuring they continue to translate into excellent outcomes, a love of learning and a strong sense of belonging.

St Francis is a welcoming one-form entry primary school with nursery provision. Working closely with our Director of Education (your line manager), and supported by an established senior leadership team of two Assistant Headteachers, you will play a pivotal role in sustaining our success and leading the school forward.

A school in a strong position

Our March 2025 Ofsted inspection judged pupils' personal development to be outstanding and all other areas good. Our statutory data shows a clear upward trajectory: in summer 2026, all Year 6 outcomes exceeded national averages, with more than 80% of pupils reaching the expected standard. Attendance is consistently above national.

We are an OPAL Platinum school, a UNICEF Rights Respecting School and a Green Flag Award holder, and our children benefit from on-site Forest School. Our beautiful site offers masses of green space for children to explore, play and learn outdoors.

Our church links are strong, with clergy leading weekly collective worship, and our community feel is something we treasure - parent relationships are excellent and every child is known by every adult.

Aspiration runs through everything we do. We are never content to stand still, and both pupils and staff are encouraged to keep learning, growing and developing themselves. Children are challenged to aim high and take pride in their progress, while staff benefit from a strong culture of professional development, coaching and shared reflection. It is this commitment to continual growth that has driven our success and will continue to move the school forward.

That makes us special

St Francis is a happy, inclusive and aspirational school where children and adults alike are always striving to be their best. Guided by our Christian vision, "Together in God's love, we aspire to be our best!", we nurture enquiring minds and a spirit of curiosity and help every child to discover and use their unique gifts so that they grow academically, spiritually and personally. Our children enjoy a rich curriculum and wider experience, including Forest School, outdoor play and learning through OPAL, choir and our work as a UNICEF Rights Respecting School.

We value a healthy work-life balance and believe that staff who feel supported, trusted and developed are best placed to deliver high-quality education. Our culture is built on our 'High Five' values of compassion, honesty, integrity, respect and perseverance - held within a nurturing, inclusive and hope-filled community where everyone is accepted and valued as made in God's image.

We are looking for a Headteacher who:

• Embodies the ethos and Christian values of the school and Fioretti Trust
• Is deeply committed to inclusion, equity and the flourishing of every child
• Be an ambassador for Fioretti and engage effectively with our Executive Leaders
• Delivers and champions high-quality teaching that secures strong pupil progress
• Uses robust assessment, tracking and intelligent data analysis to inform strategy
• Has secure curriculum knowledge across all Key Stages and understands the latest research on effective pedagogy
• Holds high expectations for behaviour, attitudes and achievement
• Is reflective, emotionally intelligent and committed to continuous improvement
• Builds strong, trust-based relationships with pupils, staff, families, governors and external partners
• Can lead with courage and compassion, balancing high warmth with high challenge

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Ensuring the Christian vision shapes decision-making and daily practice
• Sustaining and developing an inclusive, aspirational and joyful culture across the school
• Strengthening belonging, safety and mattering for all pupils and adults
• Embedding a culture of peer collaboration, coaching and professional growth
• Leading the consistent, strategic implementation of the School Improvement Plan
• Building on our strong outcomes and maintaining high standards in teaching, behaviour, attendance and achievement
• Developing staff capacity through supportive, evidence-informed leadership
• Securing excellent provision for all pupils, including those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged

What we offer:

• A thriving school with strong outcomes, an established leadership team and a clear direction
• The opportunity to consolidate and grow excellent practice within a supportive, ambitious Trust
• Trust-wide support and collaboration, working alongside experienced leaders, system support and a responsive central team
• Professional growth and leadership development, with opportunities to shape Trust-wide strategy as one of our executive leaders
• A community rich in diversity, with strong links to families, church and partners in Bournville
• A beautiful site with extensive green space and outstanding outdoor learning provision
• A comprehensive wellbeing package, reflecting our commitment to a healthy, sustainable work-life balance
• Visits to school are welcome during the following times and can be booked by contacting the school office directly Monday 12th Oct: 2.30-4.00pm
  Thursday 15th Oct: 4.00 -5.00pm
  Wed 21st Oct: 10.30-12.00pm AND 2.30 - 4.00pm