Headteacher

Teaching Vacancies; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A primary school in Chester seeks a Headteacher to lead its vibrant community. The ideal candidate should be a committed Catholic with visionary leadership skills and the ambition to ensure every child receives a quality education. Responsibilities include driving school improvement, supporting staff, and maintaining strong partnerships with parents and the community. This position offers a nurturing environment committed to children's holistic development.

Benefits

Strong community support

Excellent SATS outcomes

Opportunities for professional development

Qualifications

• Committed and practicing Catholic with personal faith.
• Ambition to provide the best education for every child.
• Ability to inspire and support staff.

Responsibilities

• Drive school improvement and maintain high standards.
• Build strong partnerships with parents and the community.
• Ensure strong SATS outcomes and pupil well-being.

Skills

Visionary leadership

Excellent communication

Strategic vision

Collaboration with staff and community

Commitment to safeguarding

Education

Practicing Catholic

Job description

Overview

What skills and experience we're looking for

St. Werburgh’s and St Columba’s is a happy, vibrant and successful primary school in the outskirts of Chester in the Diocese of Shrewsbury. Rooted in Gospel values, we provide a warm, nurturing environment, with committed staff, supportive Governors, enthusiastic learners and a wide school community. We are committed to developing the whole child academically, spiritually and socially to follow in Jesus’ footsteps to love, learn and laugh.

Our much loved Headteacher is due to retire in December 2025 and Governors are looking to appoint an ambitious, creative and determined leader to continue driving our school forward.

Our school enjoys a strong reputation, with a supportive community that embraces its vision and Catholic ethos. This is an excellent opportunity for a practising Catholic who is dynamic, forward-thinking, and able to collaborate effectively with staff, pupils, senior leaders, and governors to help lead our school.

Responsibilities and profile

We are seeking a Headteacher who:

• Is a committed and practising Catholic with a strong personal faith.
• Will be a visionary leader, capable of building upon our existing strengths while driving forward further improvement.
• Strong strategic vision and excellent communication skills.
• Has the ambition, creativity and determination to ensure every child receives the best education.
• Will inspire and support staff, value collaboration and maintain strong partnerships with parents, the parish and wider community.

What the school offers its staff

• Consistently strong and above average SATS outcomes
• RE inspection April 2025
• OFSTED inspection July 2024
• Eco school with Distinction
• Arts mark Gold
• Gold school games award

Recent inspection comments

We are very proud of our most recent inspection (July 2024) where inspectors made the following judgements:

• Pupils relish being part of the happy school community. They do their best to live up to the school motto and ‘love, learn, laugh’ as much as possible.
• Pupils enjoy welcoming new friends into their school. Pupils build exceptionally strong relationships with each other and with staff.
• Behaviour is exemplary. Pupils play well together, making sure that everyone is included.
• Pupils are curious and committed learners. They have a thirst for knowledge. There is an industrious atmosphere in school. As a result, pupils, including those with SEND, achieve highly across the curriculum.

Additional information

There is a lot of information about our school within this application pack and on our school website: https://www.lovelearnlaugh.org.uk/

Visits to our school are most welcome and can be booked by appointment with Mrs Sarah Farrell, our School Business Manager, [e-mail]

Further details about the role

Completed application forms should be returned via email to [e-mail] no later than 9am on September 19th 2025.

Interviews will be held on the 25th & 26th September 2025

Safeguarding and equality

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): child care disqualification, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), medical, online and social media prohibition from teaching, right to work, satisfactory references, and suitability to work with children. You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.