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Teaching Vacancies; Taunton (MA); On-site; USD 44,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

EAP

CPD opportunities

Free eye tests

On-site free parking

Low-cost catering

Blue Light Card discounts

Job summary

Pyrland School in Taunton seeks an exceptional Headteacher to provide visionary leadership as it embarks on the next phase of growth and development. You will lead the school's strategy, ensuring high standards of behaviour and achievement while fostering collaboration with the Trust, Local Governing Body and wider community.

You will manage leadership and operations, secure outstanding outcomes for pupils and strengthen the school's reputation as a centre of excellence in Taunton.

Qualifications

• Has successful senior leadership experience within a secondary school setting.
• Proven track record of raising standards and sustaining improvement.
• Demonstrates strong strategic thinking and system leadership skills.
• Excellent communication skills to inspire confidence and build relationships.
• Sound financial and organisational acumen.
• Commitment to inclusion, equality and ensuring every pupil matters.

Responsibilities

• Providing clear strategic leadership that secures the school vision and promotes high standards of behaviour, achievement and personal development.
• Ensuring consistently high-quality teaching and learning so that all students make strong progress.
• Developing a broad balanced curriculum including opportunities for outdoor learning and character development.
• Leading robust self-evaluation and school improvement planning aligned with Trust priorities.
• Managing resources effectively to ensure sustainability, efficiency and value for money.
• Building strong partnerships with parents, carers, local schools and community organisations.
• Leading and developing staff to their full potential through effective performance management and professional development.
• Ensuring safeguarding is robust and that the wellbeing of all students and staff is paramount.

Skills

Senior leadership

Raising standards

Strategic thinking

Communication

Financial acumen

Inclusion & equality

Job description

What skills and experience we're looking for

Location: Pyrland School, Taunton

Start Date: January 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter

Closing Date: 9am Monday 9th November 2026

Interview Date: 19th and 20th November 2026

Salary: L33 - L43 (start point within the scale negotiable depending on experience)

An outstanding leadership opportunity

Pyrland School is a Church of England over-subscribed secondary school for up to 1050 pupils aged 11 - 16 in Taunton. The school is seeking an exceptional Headteacher to provide visionary leadership as the school enters its next phase of growth and development. This is a rare opportunity for a leader who values high standards in behaviour and conduct of pupils, to combine strategic ambition with operational excellence, ensuring that every pupil can thrive academically and socially.

In this role you will have responsibility for the leadership and management of the school, fostering a culture of high expectations and continuous improvement. You will work collaboratively with the Trust, Local Governing Body, staff, parents and the wider community to secure outstanding outcomes for all pupils and strengthen the school’s reputation as a centre of excellence in Taunton.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing clear strategic leadership that secures the school vision and promotes high standards of behaviour, achievement and personal development
• Ensuring consistently high-quality teaching and learning so that all students make strong progress
• Developing a broad balanced curriculum including opportunities for outdoor learning and character development
• Leading robust self-evaluation and school improvement planning aligned with Trust priorities
• Managing resources effectively to ensure sustainability, efficiency and value for money
• Building strong partnerships with parents, carers, local schools and community organisations
• Leading and developing staff to their full potential through effective performance management and professional development
• Ensuring safeguarding is robust and that the wellbeing of all students and staff is paramount

We are seeking an ambitious and resilient leader who:

• Has successful senior leadership experience within a secondary school setting
• Has a proven track record of raising standards and securing sustained improvement
• Demonstrates strong strategic thinking and system leadership skills
• Is an excellent communicator, able to inspire confidence and build productive relationships
• Has sound financial and organisational acumen
• Is committed to inclusion equality and ensuring that every pupil matters

What the school offers its staff

We offer a competitive salary, along with access to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, providing a secure retirement income and family protection. Your terms and conditions of employment are in line with the nationally agreed Burgundy Book, which provides a strong foundation of entitlements. In addition to these national entitlements, we also offer a range of local benefits that support your well-being and professional development, including:

• A confidential Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Funded continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities
• Free eye tests and flu vaccinations
• On-site free parking and low-cost catering

Teachers also have access to a range of national discount schemes, such as the Blue Light Card, offering additional savings on shopping, travel, and leisure.

Safeguarding Statement

Pyrland School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.We particularly welcome applications from under represented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

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.