Post: Headteacher

Location: Cawood, North Yorkshire

Number on Roll: 143 (Mixed Year Groups)

Commencing: April 2026

Salary: L11 – L17 (£66,368 - £76,772)

Contract Term: Permanent

Our Opportunity:

Cawood Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School offers an exciting opportunity for an inspirational leader to join a thriving, deeply Christian community where every child is encouraged to “have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Guided by our core Christian values of Perseverance, Friendship, Thankfulness and Wisdom, we are proud of our inclusive, forward-looking ethos that nurtures academic excellence, spiritual growth, and wellbeing. With strong parish links, a committed staff team, and engaged governors, we provide a rich, ambitious curriculum and vibrant collective worship that empower pupils to flourish as confident, compassionate advocates for others. This is your chance to lead a happy, respectful school with a clear vision, strong relationships and a passion for making a difference.

About You:

We’re looking for an approachable, empathetic leader who values strong relationships and clear communication. You’ll be accessible to parents, work collaboratively for the benefit of every child, and support the wellbeing of pupils and staff. You’ll attend key school and community events, including Harvest and Easter services, and engage fully with the life of the school. Excellent listening skills, a visible presence, and a commitment to partnership are essential parts of being a Headteacher at our school.
As a Voluntary Aided school, our governing body is the employer and, under the Equality Act 2010, may apply a Genuine Occupational Requirement for this role. We therefore seek someone who can demonstrate a positive commitment to the Christian faith and uphold our school’s distinctive ethos.

We can offer you:

·       A happy and friendly school, with delightful children who respect each other and have a thirst for learning.

·       A culture which allows all staff to thrive and develop.

·       An opportunity to see the huge potential that exists and the time to make Cawood CE VA Primary School a beacon of excellence in primary education.

·       Significant levels of support from the Local Authority, Diocese of York, Governing Board and a staff team who are experienced, committed and passionate about our school.

·       A Governing Body committed to providing support on all matters including more sensitive or difficult issues and including the wellbeing of all staff members.

·       The school is part of local education networks providing a support network for sharing ideas and best practice.

For further information about our opportunity, please visit our dedicated recruitment microsite.

For an informal, confidential conversation about the role please call Ashley on 07814 932 389 or email. Ashley has been engaged to support us with recruitment to this exciting opportunity.

Key dates

Visits

We strongly recommend that you visit us so we can share with you why we are so proud of our school, and you will have the opportunity to see what we have to offer.  If you would like the opportunity to visit, please email Ashley. 

Whilst we welcome anyone who would like to visit the school, we appreciate this isn’t always possible. Such a visit is not part of the selection process, and whether applicants have visited will not influence the outcome.

Application closing date: Midnight on Sunday 11^th January 2026

Shortlisting: Wednesday 14^th January 2026

Interviews: Tuesday 20^th and Wednesday 21^st January 2026

When applying please take into account the following supporting documents:

Person Specification

Job Description

Application guidance, including policy statement on the recruitment of ex-offenders

The supporting information section of your application should clearly evidence your ability to meet the requirements we have outlined in the person specification. This will be used to shortlist applicants for this role and therefore it is imperative that you provide evidence as requested.

References

When completing your application, please provide two employment referees.

Safeguarding

We are committed to meeting the needs of our diverse community and aim to have a workforce reflecting this diversity. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We have a robust child protection policy and all staff will receive training relevant to their role at induction and throughout employment at the school. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

 Please note this post is in regulated activity and exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and subject to satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS criminal records and barred list check for work with children. An online search may be undertaken as part of the recruitment process on information available in the public domain. Candidates should disclose anything that may be relevant in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

 North Yorkshire Council (NYC) advertise vacancies and process applications on behalf of schools and external organisations (third parties) in North Yorkshire. NYC are not responsible for the recruitment/employment practices of third parties and accept no liability in relation to the vacancy and any subsequent recruitment/employment processes. Further information on how we process your data can be found here.