Director of Primary Education

Search Education Trust, Wood Green, N22 7ST

14 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  September 2026 or January 2027

• Closing date

  3 July 2026 at 10am

• Date listed

  19 June 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Other leadership roles
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Fixed term
• Full-time equivalent salary: £79,385.00 - £86,566.00 Annually (FTE)

Director of Primary Education job summary

SEARCH Education Trust, is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our students and young people. The successful applicant will therefore be required to complete checks in line with the requirements of Keeping Children Safe in Education with regard to DBS and other pre-employment checks.

We encourage applications from all sectors of the community to reflect our diverse student population.

Director of Primary Education

Hours: Part-Time (2 Days per Week), Term time

Contract: Two-year fixed term starting September 2026 or January 2027

Location: SEARCH Education Trust

Salary/Remuneration: L13 - L17 or equivalent

The Opportunity

SEARCH Education Trust is seeking an exceptional, highly experienced primary education leader to join us as Primary Director on a flexible, part-time basis. This role is ideally suited to an established or recently stepped-down Headteacher or Executive Leader who wishes to leverage their deep sector expertise, credibility, and passion for systemic improvement without the demands of full-time operational school leadership.

At SEARCH, our mission is simple yet profound: to improve the lives of children through "good work." We have a strong foundation, but we are looking for a strategic architect and ambassador to grow our primary phase, bring new schools into our trust family, and refine our overarching primary offer.

The Role

This is a high-impact, outward-facing role focused entirely on strategy, growth, and innovation. Over two days per week, you will work closely with the executive team to elevate our brand and amplify our impact.

Key Responsibilities:

• Trust Growth & Engagement: Utilize your professional network and sector credibility to engage prospective primary schools, aligning them with the SEARCH vision and welcoming them into the Trust.

• Strategic Offer Development: Refine and champion a high-quality, distinct primary model that balances academic excellence with holistic child development.

• Research & Innovation: Undertake targeted research and collaborate with external partners to ensure our primary strategy remains evidence-based, forward-thinking, and best-in-class.

• Brand & Advocacy: Act as the voice of our primary phase, building strong partnerships to enhance the reputation of the Trust and the outcomes of the communities we serve.

Who You Are

You are a proven leader with a track record of successful primary headship or executive leadership. You possess the gravitas to inspire other school leaders, the intellectual curiosity to drive educational research, and a deeply held commitment to improving children’s life chances. You are looking for a role where you can focus entirely on high-level strategy, legacy-building, and partnership development on your own terms.

How to Apply

If you are ready to shape the future of a growing trust and make a lasting impact on a flexible basis, we would love to hear from you.

For a confidential, informal discussion about the position, please contact the Executive Assistant to the Headteacher and CEO & Customer Service Manager, Mrs Maria Levenson via Maria.levenson@heartlands.haringey.sch.uk as soon as possible.

Completed application forms should be submitted on MyNewTerm by 10 a.m. on Friday 3rd July 2026. Interview date TBC.

NB: Please note that in line with the new Keeping Children Safe in Education updates, an online search will be conducted as part of our due diligence checks on all shortlisted candidates. CV's or incomplete application forms will not be considered. Only those that are shortlisted will be contacted by the school. Applications may be considered whilst the posts are being advertised. Search Education Trust reserves the right to close adverts earlier than the stated deadline. We advise early applications are submitted.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

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.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Search Education Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/search-education-trust

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