Headteacher

Allscreens Nationwide Ltd; Haywards Heath; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

St Mark's School in West Sussex is seeking a new Headteacher to start January 2027 (open to April/September start for the right candidate). The Governors invite applications for leading a small rural church school where every child is known and nurtured.

The successful candidate will work with governors, staff and families to raise standards, preserve the school's ethos and strengthen links with the local community while guiding educational developments based on current research.

Qualifications

• Is reflective, compassionate, courageous and collaborative.
• Is able to work closely with governors, staff, and families to pursue ambitious educational standards and opportunities for pupils of all backgrounds, aptitudes and abilities.
• Understands the unique character of a small, rural, church school where every child is known and nurtured and has strategic vision for the school, informed by a thorough knowledge of local context, national context and developments in educational research.
• Will uphold and further develop the school's strong and distinctive Christian ethos and links with the broader community.

Responsibilities

• Lead the school and staff to pursue high educational standards and opportunities for all pupils.
• Work closely with governors, families and the wider community to implement the school's strategic vision.
• Uphold and develop the school's Christian ethos and community links.

Skills

Reflective

Compassionate

Courageous

Collaborative

Governance liaison

Job description

What skills and experience we're looking for

Mission statement: Together in God's Love, we will shine.

Due to the resignation of our highly successful and inspirational Headteacher who has led our small, rural, church school for 9 years, our Governors are seeking to recruit a new Headteacher from January 2027 (for the right candidate we would consider an April or September start). We will be advertising this post on 28th August 2026.

We are looking for a Headteacherwho:

• Is reflective, compassionate, courageous and collaborative.
• Is able to work closely with governors, staff, and families to pursue ambitious educational standards and opportunities for pupils of all backgrounds, aptitudes and abilities.
• Understands the unique character of a small, rural, church school where every child is known and nurtured and has strategic vision for the school, informed by a thorough knowledge of local context, national context and developments in educational research.
• Will uphold and further develop the school's strong and distinctive Christian ethos and links with the broader community.

What the school offers its staff

To find out more about our school and what we have to offer please visit our website www.st-marks.w-sussex.sch.uk

The post will be advertised on the 28th of August (Reference: SCHO02713) and interviews will take placeon the 6thand 7thof October 2026.

St Mark's School and West Sussex County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to an appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service check along with other relevant employment checks, including satisfactory references.

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): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references 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.