Executive Headteacher
Number on Roll: 98 (inc nursery) – Spofforth, 49 – Follifoot
Commencing: September 2026
Salary: L14 – L18 (£71,330- £77,924)
Contract Term: Permanent
Are you an experienced Headteacher with a strong track record of driving school improvement, eager to take on a role where you can make an immediate and meaningful impact across two schools?
Our Opportunity:
The Federation of Follifoot and Spofforth Primary Schools are friendly and welcoming small village schools in the heart of the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside. The Headship of one village school is a unique one; with this opportunity you will have the benefit of getting to know two caring communities and personally build relationships with children in both schools, whilst determining long term opportunities and identifying the benefits these can bring to the federation.
This is a rewarding and challenging position where you can make an immediate impact. You’ll lead two rural schools with distinctive strengths and opportunities. With confidence, empathy, and strategic insight, you will foster a healthy workplace culture that benefits both staff and pupils whilst being a key figure of influence in shaping the strategic direction of the Federation in consultation with the Governing Body, Diocese and Local Authority.
About You:
You will be an experienced Headteacher with a proven track record of raising educational standards, driving school improvement, and fostering a culture of high expectations and achievement. Your expertise will enable you to quickly identify areas for development, implement effective strategies, and deliver tangible improvements that benefit both pupils and staff.
With exceptional leadership ability, you will excel in communicating effectively and whether working with pupils, staff, parents/carers, governors, or external stakeholders, you will inspire confidence, trust, and collaboration. Your ability to listen, empathise, and communicate will be essential to engage the school community as well as establishing a cycle of reflection with a view to continual improvement.
You will relish the opportunity to step into a challenging role, bringing your energy and determination to tackle complex issues head-on. You will thrive in a dynamic environment where your leadership can make an immediate and meaningful impact. Your resilience and adaptability will allow you to navigate the unique challenges of an interim role, while your focus and strategic thinking will lay the groundwork for sustainable improvements. As a skilled leader, ideally possessing a SENCO qualification, you will balance the diverse needs of pupils, staff, and the wider school community, ensuring that every decision aligns with the schools’ ethos, values, and long-term goals.
We can offer you
- Strength in our Christian Vision and ethos and the ethos this inspires in our community of children, staff and parents/carers.
- An excellent opportunity to provide strategic leadership and direction in a supportive environment
- Happy, caring and supportive schools, with children who respect and care for each other and have a thirst for learning.
- A Governing Body who are committed and passionate about our schools and eager to support your work
- Significant support from a dedicated staff team ready to grow under your leadership, in addition to ongoing support from the Local Authority and Diocese
For an informal, confidential conversation about the role please call Helen Poole on 01609 532254 or email helen.poole@northyorks.gov.uk. Helen has been engaged to support us with recruitment to this key role.
For further information about this exciting opportunity, please visit our dedicated campaign website.
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 Helen.
Dates when we can accommodate visits are detailed below - if these are not possible for you please contact Helen, as we may be able to offer alternatives.
Key dates
Application closing date: Midnight on Sunday 9th March 2025
Interviews: Thursday 20th & Friday 21st March 2025
When applying please consider 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.
Executive Headteacher
Posted: 20/02/2026
Closing date: 09/03/2026
Closing time: 23:59