- School type
- Academy, ages 2 to 11
- Education phase
- Primary school
- School size
- 43 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Ashill Community Primary School website
Executive Headteacher of Small Schools
More than one location, The Academies For Character And Excellence15 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
24 April 2026 at 9am
Date listed
9 April 2026
Job details
Job role
- Headteacher
- Other leadership roles
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Early years, Key stage 1, Key stage 2
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- Group 2 banding
What skills and experience we're looking for
We are seeking to appoint an experienced, inspirational leader to develop the ACE Small
schools group on the Somerset border. Comprising five village schools, each with between
20 and 80 pupils, every school sits at the heart of its community while working in partnership
to provide exceptional experiences for their pupils. The Executive Head will oversee the
school lead teachers and directly manage a small cross-group team that provides support
in areas such as SEND, safeguarding and other shared functions. This role offers a significant
opportunity for innovation, enabling the development of approaches that allow small schools
and their pupils to flourish at the centre of their communities.
Job Purpose
To ensure that all five schools in the group are providing excellent provision for all pupils through developing high-quality leadership at all levels. The Executive Headteacher will provide strategic leadership across the schools ensuring that Trust improvement plans are fully implemented. The Executive Headteacher, along with the Assistant Executive Head, will develop strong pedagogy, leadership development, safeguarding and a culture that reflects the ACE curriculum and values.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategy and Improvement
• Analyse changes in the educational landscape and incorporate findings into improvement planning.
• Lead whole school change using research and established models of improvement.
• Promote the excellence approach through reflection, coaching and collaboration.
• Maximise opportunities for cross school collaborative working.
2. Pedagogy and Curriculum Excellence
• Lead and develop high quality teaching across the five schools using national and international evidence.
• Ensure ACE curriculum and pedagogy integrates knowledge, character and metacognition
• Support ongoing development of the ACE curriculum.
• Strengthen teaching through coaching, mentoring and modelling practice. Also:
• Ensure all pupils achieve well, including SEND, disadvantaged, EAL and the most able.
• Ensure statutory responsibilities (Equality Act, SEND reporting) are met.
• Evaluate provision for vulnerable pupils.
3. Leading with Impact
• Distribute leadership effectively and work collaboratively with the Assistant Executive Head.
• Adapt leadership approaches to different contexts and stakeholders.
• Communicate clearly to secure progress.
• Use stakeholder perspectives to inform decisions.
4. Working in Partnership
• Strengthen partnership working between the five schools and a single Local Advocate Board.
• Work with clergy and diocesan partners across the Church of England schools.
• Share expertise with other ACE schools.
• Build external partnerships to enhance provision.
5. Increasing Capability
• Hold staff to account through clear culture of excellence and Individual Personal Aspiration plans
• Promote professional development that improves outcomes for staff and pupils
• Contribute to Trust-wide leadership development.
What the school offers its staff
Who are we?
The Academies for Character and Excellence is a charitable Trust with a mission of Achieving Excellence through Cultivating Character, Sharing Talents and Pursuing Innovation. Our Trust is an exciting and diverse mix of Church of England and Community Schools within Torbay, Devon and Somerset. We are growing a family of schools that prioritises working together in collaborative partnerships which are mutually supportive and share great practice. We truly value the distinctive character of our schools and believe they should be rooted in the communities which they serve.
Our commitment to Character Education is at the heart of our work across the Trust. We are uncompromising in our belief that every child fulfils their academic potential whilst also flourishing in and at life. Relationships are central to the way we work together and we are proud to work with colleagues who are passionate about making a positive difference to our children and families.
Our ACE culture is defined by four guiding principles:
- Our values are valued
- Our staff are our most important resource
- Everything we do is ultimately about the children
- Simply what we want is to be the best we can be
Our commitment to you..
COMMUNITY
ACE is a community of learners dedicated to achieving our common mission. You are our most valued asset
COLLABORATION
ACE works in collaborative partnerships to achieve the extraordinary. You are a vital part of our amazing team
EQUITY
ACE recognises that each individual has the right to be appreciated for the added value they bring to the Trust
UNCOMPROMISING EXCELLENCE
ACE is about excellence in all that we do. We can’t do it for you but we can help you do it for yourself
INTEGRITY
We do what we say we will do. If the gloves don’t fit then we don’t wear them. Our mission and values are both the light that guides us and the standards against which we measure our successes
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 job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About the schools
- Type
- Multi-academy trust
- Email address
- recruitment@acexcellence.co.uk
- Phone number
- 07450 125066
School Details
Ashill Community Primary School
Buckland St Mary Church of England Primary School
- School type
- Academy, Church of England, ages 2 to 11
- Education phase
- Primary school
- School size
- 62 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
Hatch Beauchamp Church of England Primary School
- School type
- Academy, Church of England, ages 2 to 11
- Education phase
- Primary school
- School size
- 27 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Hatch Beauchamp Church of England Primary School website
Winsham Primary School
- School type
- Academy, Church of England, ages 2 to 11
- Education phase
- Primary school
- School size
- 40 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Winsham Primary School website
Stockland Church of England Primary Academy
- School type
- Academy, Church of England, ages 5 to 11
- Education phase
- Primary school
- School size
- 72 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 5 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Stockland Church of England Primary Academy website
Arranging a visit to The Academies For Character And Excellence
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email recruitment@acexcellence.co.uk.
School locations
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