Executive Headteacher
Whitnash Nursery School, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV31 2PW28 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
4 March 2026 at 3pm
Date listed
4 February 2026
Job details
Job role
- Headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- L11 to L17
What skills and experience we're looking for
Main purpose
The role of the executive headteacher is to:
- Provide effective leadership and management to a group of schools in the federation
- Drive federation-wide improvement priorities
- Develop system leadership practice that support the sustainability of Maintained Nursery Schools
- Ensure that the schools in the federation are delivering high-quality provision and securing the best outcomes for pupils
- Promote a culture of unity and collaboration among the schools in the federation
- Manage individual budgets for the two schools.
Duties and responsibilities
Strategic leadership
- Embed our shared vision across the federation, ensuring that it is understood by staff and families
- Develop and review the federation’s strategic plan, ensuring that key objectives are used to develop school improvement plans
- Review and monitor progress of school improvement plans and self-evaluation forms, providing necessary challenge in order to achieve a sustained focus on the strategic objectives
- Build positive and respectful relationships with stakeholders and the wider community
Managing the organisation
- Line manage senior leaders, providing effective support and challenge to help them secure best outcomes for pupils
- Carry out performance management in line with the federation’s procedures
- Manage the federation’s budget and resources effectively
- Develop and implement federation-wide policies
- Allocate financial resources appropriately, efficiently and effectively
- Develop and retain high-quality staff through effective professional development and performance management
- Establish clear and open lines of communication with all stakeholders
- Monitor staff wellbeing and workload and implement strategies to promote a healthy working environment
- Ensure the federation effectively and efficiently operates within the required regulatory frameworks and meets all statutory duties
- Ensure staff and pupils’ safety and welfare through effective approaches to safeguarding, as part of duty of care
- Work successfully with other schools, trusts and federations and organisations
- Maintain effective relationships with fellow professionals and colleagues to improve educational outcomes for all pupils
Teaching and learning
- Develop and implement a broad and balanced curriculum that meets the relevant statutory requirements
- Establish and sustain high-quality teaching across the Early Years Foundation Stage using a reliable evidence base wherever possible.
- Have ambitious expectations for all pupils, including those with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities, and promote an inclusive culture that enables all pupils to access the curriculum
- Establish curriculum leadership, including developing early years specialists and leaders with relevant expertise and access to professional networks and communities
- Promote a culture that encourages collaboration, where best practice is shared in order to secure the best outcomes for pupils
- Ensure valid, reliable and proportionate approaches are used to assess pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the curriculum
Other areas of responsibility
Please note that this is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the role. It is not a comprehensive list of all tasks that the executive headteacher will carry out. The postholder may be required to do other duties appropriate to the level of the role.
What the school offers its staff
What can we offer?
Two amazing, committed and well-trained teams who deeply care for families and colleagues and go above and beyond in their support and desire to continually improve. Exciting indoor and outdoor environments and year 3 of a funded creativity project that links you with 10 national arts partners.
An opportunity to lead two outstanding Maintained Nursery Schools where you can truly focus upon early years and shape provision based upon what is right for children. Links to a wider network of Warwickshire Nursery Schools for peer work and professional support. National network of MNS headteachers for advice and support via a lively WhatsApp group!
A commitment to personal and professional development that embraces research and system leadership opportunities to remain at the forefront of the early years sector and ensure Nursery Schools remain guardians of early education.
As a leader you will have the opportunity to build upon work that began as a teaching school, early years hub and is ready to evolve into a stronger practice hub. With established local partnerships to support in place.
Further information about the job
Letter from Chair of Governors
Thank you for your interest in the post of Executive Headteacher. I have been the Chair of Kenilworth Nursery School, and then the Federation that expanded to include Whitnash Nursery School, since 2017. As our current Executive Headteacher takes the next steps in her career we are looking to appoint a committed, inspiring and knowledgeable Executive Headteacher to sustain and build upon the outstanding performance of the two Maintained Nursery Schools in our federation.
Kenilworth Nursery School and Whitnash Nursery School are two of six remaining maintained nursery schools in Warwickshire. They have a strong history of excellence and have worked collaboratively as a successful federation for 10 years. Both are based upon the principles of Reggio Emelia and are interested in the uniqueness and capabilities of every child. Geographically the schools are 5 miles apart but have two very different catchment areas. Both offer outstanding inclusive provision and host enhanced inclusion spaces for Warwickshire County Council.
All of our work with children, families, our staff teams and more widely in a system leadership role is relationship-based and we are looking for an Executive Headteacher with a strong understanding of the value and importance of play and the uniquely significant role of the foundation stage and early years education.
We look forward to welcoming you and strongly encourage a visit.
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 Whitnash Nursery School
- School type
- Local authority maintained school, ages 2 to 5
- Education phase
- Nursery
- School size
- 92 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 2 to 5
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Whitnash Nursery School website
- Email address
- admin1003@welearn365.com
- Phone number
- 01926335312
Kenilworth and Whitnash Nursery Schools are vibrant and innovative ‘outstanding’ Maintained Nursery Schools for 2-4-year-olds. Kenilworth also runs Blueprints provision for 12-24 month olds.
We value and celebrate the uniqueness of every child, and nurture the foundations for lifelong learning by providing exceptional early childhood education experiences.
Our educational philosophy is inspired by that of Reggio Emelia and is based upon an understanding of the socio-constructivists approach. Effective learning is a collaboration between child / teacher / environment/ parents and other children, constructing learning together, with ideas and contributions extending possibilities.
Arranging a visit to Whitnash Nursery School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email admin1003@welearn365.com.
School location
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