Headteacher

*Please note: the Diocese of York is not the employer*

South Otterington Church of England Primary School

Headteacher

Full Time, Permanent 

Required for September 2026

Salary L9-15, £60,644 – £70,293 

Within Dales Academies Trust, South Otterington Church of England Primary School is a welcoming and caring school for children aged 2–11. Its vision, ‘Shine like stars in the universe’ (Philippians 2:15), provides a guiding light for pupils, staff, governors and parents, supporting a dynamic mix of high achievement for all, exceptional pastoral care and expansive opportunities for children. The school was opened in 1993 to replace the schools at Newby Wiske and Thornton-le-Moor and today continues to serve its local community with a strong sense of belonging.

The school has an ambitious curriculum and, in the most recent Ofsted inspection (November 2024), it was judged Good in all areas.

We are seeking a Headteacher to lead the next stage of the school’s improvement journey. We wish to appoint an experienced and talented leader with a strong track record of improving pupil outcomes in their widest sense. The successful candidate will be skilled in managing change and able to translate strategy and vision into effective action at school level. An accomplished team builder, they will develop, inspire, and sustain strong teams, modelling the behaviours expected of others and leading by example, the dedicated and committed staff of the school.

The successful candidate will be:

• somebody who will actively live out and embed the Christian Vision and core Christian values of the school. 
• a dynamic leader who can inspire, support and develop the talents of pupils and staff within a vibrant community of learners. 
• relentless in their pursuit of the best outcomes for all. 
• committed to ensuring equality of opportunity and social justice for all.
• adept in balancing appropriately the operational and strategic demands of the role.
• committed to the principles of appropriate accountability seen as a framework in which to achieve excellence for all.
• experienced in and committed to ensuring best practice to support pupils with SEND.
• consistently modelling the behaviour expected from staff and pupils.
• passionate in developing a learning experience that genuinely meets the needs of all learners.
• a team builder and effective communicator.
• a lifelong learner.

The school / Trust can offer:

• a working environment with a strong sense of community and moral purpose.
• engaged and enthusiastic pupils.
• supportive families.
• a dedicated and established group of staff.
• supportive Local Governors and central Trust team.
• a wide range of professional development opportunities, within the school’s context and the wider Trust.
• high quality support for school leaders in their pursuit of excellence.

The skill set we have laid out is both extensive and diverse.  Evidence of impact is important but so is your educational vision and philosophy. If you feel you have the right combination of experience and vision, we would be very interested to hear from you.

The successful post holder will be line managed by the CEO of Dales Academies Trustand accountable to the Chair of the LGB.

Interested candidates can obtain an application pack by visiting our website,Dales AcademiesTrust or emailing the Trust, recruitment@dalesmat.org.  Visits to the school are welcome but by appointment only, please telephone 01609 561017 to arrange an appointment. If you would like a confidential discussion about the role, please contact the Dales Academies Trust Office via the same contact details and this will be arranged.

Closing Date: Monday 11^th May 2026, 9:00am 

Interview Date: 19^th & 20^th May 2026

Start Date: September 2026           

Dales Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils and young people. We have a robust Child Protection Policy and all staff will receive training relevant to their role at induction and throughout employment with the Trust. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service criminal records check for work with children. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975 as amended.