Headteacher Designate - New 2-form entry Primary School (Nuneaton)

Teaching Vacancies; Nuneaton; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional educational trust is seeking a passionate Headteacher Designate for a new primary school opening in September 2026 in Nuneaton. This leadership role involves strategic planning, recruitment, and the implementation of an engaging curriculum. Key responsibilities include building partnerships with families and the local community and fostering an inclusive environment. The successful candidate will have a strong background in educational leadership and the ability to inspire their team.

Benefits

Professional Development

Pension Scheme

Employee Support Schemes

Gym Membership Scheme

Employee Benefits Scheme

Qualifications

• Proven experience in educational leadership and management.
• Experience in setting up new educational establishments.
• Knowledge of SEND provision and inclusion strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic planning and operational setup of a new school.
• Recruit and build a talented team aligned with the Trust’s values.
• Design and implement a curriculum from EYFS through to Year 6.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Curriculum development

Stakeholder engagement

Inclusion

Education

Qualified Teacher Status

Job description

Overview

What skills and experience we're looking for

The Role

Central England Academy Trust is delighted to welcome applications for the post of Headteacher Designate to start January/April 2026 at our brand-new Primary School opening September 2026.

Key information about the school

• Location: Callendar Farm, Nuneaton
• Opening: September 2026
• Pupil Places: 420 (Two-Form Entry)
• SEND Provision: Specialist Resource Provision (SRP) for 14 children with communication and interaction needs (Incremental admission numbers that increase with the PAN)
• Part of a Local Multi-Academy Trust
• School Group: 3
• Salary Scale: Leadership Pay Range L17 – L23
• Headteacher Designate Start Date: January or April 2026

Important Information

The provisional opening date for this Brand-New School has been confirmed as September 2026. Staff well-being, welfare and professional development are priorities which are underpinned by our Trust core values of Collaboration, Equity, Aspiration and Trust. We fervently believe that if we get it right for staff then we then get it right for pupils.

Our vision for the school

This new school will serve as a vibrant, inclusive and aspirational hub for the local community. We are committed to:

• Delivering exceptional education for every child, with a strong foundation in EYFS and primary curriculum excellence.
• Embedding a culture of high expectations, curiosity, creativity and kindness.
• Establishing a school that is outward facing and collaborative, actively working with local schools and the wider MAT.
• Creating an inclusive environment where vulnerable pupils, including those SEND and additional needs, are supported with care, expertise and ambition.

The Role of the Founding Headteacher

This is a career-defining role to:

• Lead the strategic planning and operational setup of a new school.
• Recruit and build a talented team aligned with the Trust’s values.
• Design and implement a rich, relevant and engaging curriculum from EYFS through to Year 6.
• Champion inclusion and provide strategic leadership for the SEND resource provision.
• Build partnerships with families, the local community and key stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with MAT leaders and fellow headteachers to drive innovation and continuous improvement.

This is a rare opportunity to create something truly special. We look forward to hearing from passionate leaders ready to take the next step in their career.

Job Summary

To provide outstanding leadership and management of the school and designated aspects of the Trust’s work to secure sustainable success and ensure the highest standards of curriculum experience, teaching and learning, behaviour, attendance, safeguarding and personal development for its pupils.

To meet the expectations of the prevailing Headteachers’ Standards (currently Headteachers’ Standards 2020). These standards underpin best practice and will shape the professional and personal development of the Headteacher Designate to raise standards and support the successful implementation of whole school initiatives and priorities.

What the school offers its staff

Our offer to you

We strive to be an employer of choice, and are committed to ensuring our employees feel valued, appreciated and at the heart of what we do.

We have a number of core benefits which include:

• Professional Development
• We support all our schools and services to offer professional development that is rooted in the evidence of what improves teaching and learning.
• We listen to what your career aspirations are and how we can support you within your role.
• We provide Trust-wide CPD in key areas, including SEND, behaviour and teaching and learning.
• We support staff in accessing a wide range of qualifications, including Diplomas, Masters and NPQs.

• Appraisal
• Our staff appraisal focuses on supporting our employees to be the very best they can be. There is no performance-related pay in our Trust, and we put staff at the heart of what we do so they can put children at the heart of what they do

• Apprenticeship Levy
• As a large employer we pay into the Apprenticeship Levy Fund and are therefore able to offer a wide range of apprenticeships to both new and existing staff.

• Pension Schemes
• A contributory pension scheme relevant to your role: Teachers’ Pension Scheme for teaching staff, and the Local Government Pension Scheme for non-teaching staff.

• Employee Support Schemes
• Subsidised eye care for extended VDU users
• A Gym Membership Scheme
• A Cycle to Work Scheme
• An Employee Assistance Programme, providing practical and emotional support.
• An Employee Benefits Scheme, offering discounts on everyday essentials
• A Health Cash Plan benefit, providing reimbursements for various health-related expenses, including dental treatments, optical care, physiotherapy and more.

Further details about the role

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for this post, please click on this link https://centralenglandacademytrust.face-ed.co.uk/vacancies and select the Headteacher Designate position. Alternatively, you can contact Vicky McKay, PA to the CEO at [e-mail] to request an application pack.

Please see the attached Job Application Pack for the full details of the role, including the Person Specification.

Safeguarding Information

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff to share this commitment. All successful applicants will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and will also be taken through the Trust\'s vetting procedure. Central England Academy Trust is also strongly committed to protecting personal data. Our Privacy Notice, which can be found under the GDPR section on the Trust website, describes why and how we collect and use personal data and provides information about individuals’ rights.

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.