Post: Executive Headteacher
Number on Roll: 92 (across both schools)
Commencing: January 2026
Salary: Headteacher group 1 £58,959 - £68,400 (L10-L16)
Contract Term: Permanent
Our Opportunity:
The Federation of Middleham and Spennithorne is a federation of two small village schools with enthusiastic and engaged pupils and dedicated staff. We have been rated Good in our last Ofsted report and aspire to be exemplary in the future. Our new Executive Headteacher will continue building on the school’s reputation and be able to develop the school to “future-proof” the school and its student body.
A defining feature of the school is its deeply embedded Christian vision: “Fruitful lives, rooted in love, A place to learn, love and grow.” The Executive Headteacher will need to ensure that this is actively lived out through worship, relationships, curriculum, and community work, while also promoting inclusion, respect, and diversity in a multi-faith society.
Leading a split-site federation requires effective coordination, communication, and consistency in expectations. The Executive Headteacher will need to ensure that pupils, staff, and parents across both locations experience the same high-quality provision, while maintaining the unique strengths and context of each setting. Part of this role will be to lead growth in pupil numbers, which is a positive reflection of the school’s reputation, but will also bring pressures on staffing, infrastructure, and resources. Additionally, changes to local transport eligibility criteria may affect accessibility for some families within catchment. Our future Executive Headteacher must respond flexibly and strategically to these shifts.
In a small school, staff frequently go above and beyond. The Executive Headteacher must recognise, support, and protect this commitment, ensuring that workload is manageable, wellbeing is prioritised, and all staff feel valued. Staff buy-in and retention will depend on a leadership style that is inclusive, empathetic, and transparent.
About You:
As Executive Headteacher of a small, rural Church of England primary school operating across two sites—Spennithorne CE VC and Middleham CE VA—the successful candidate will provide strategic, operational, and spiritual leadership for both school communities. This is a hands-on role that requires visibility, adaptability, and strong organisational and people leadership skills, ensuring consistency, collaboration, and high standards across both locations.
The successful candidate will be a proactive and hands-on leader, fully embedded in the daily life of the school. They will be expected to plan ahead with clarity and purpose, ensuring that systems and processes run smoothly and efficiently, while also remaining flexible enough to adapt when challenges arise. This is not a role for someone who leads from behind a desk; the Executive Headteacher must be visible, involved, and lead by example, supporting staff, engaging with pupils, and modelling the school's values in practice. They must be open, approachable, and empathetic, building strong relationships with parents, staff, pupils, governors, and the wider community. A natural problem-solver, they should approach unexpected issues with a calm, creative, and solutions-focused mindset—able to balance immediate operational needs with the bigger strategic picture.
To lead effectively across a two-site, values-driven Church of England primary school, the new Executive Headteacher will need a well-rounded blend of strategic, relational, and operational leadership skills, underpinned by a deep commitment to inclusion, excellence, and our school’s Christian distinctiveness
We can offer you:
- A positive and supportive culture that encourages all staff to grow, flourish, and reach their full potential.
- A unique opportunity to unlock the schools’ full potential and lead Middleham and Spennithorne Primary Schools toward becoming a shining example of excellence in primary education.
- Strong and consistent support from the Local Authority, the Diocese, a dedicated Governing Board, and a team of experienced, passionate, and committed staff.
- A Governing Body that is actively engaged and supportive, including in navigating sensitive matters and prioritising staff wellbeing.
- A collaborative local network, offering a valuable forum for sharing ideas, challenges, and best practice.
For further information about this role including the job description and person specification, please visit our dedicated recruitment microsite ahead of applying.
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. We can accommodate visits on Thursday 4th September at 13:30 and Friday 5th September at 9:30am - both starting at the Spennithorne site. If you would like to visit during these times please contact Ashley to book a place.
Application closing date: Midnight on Sunday 7th September 2025
Shortlisting: Tuesday 9th September 2025
Interviews: Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th September 2025
When applying please take into account the following supporting documents:
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.