EYFS Lead Teacher
Chichester Free School, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 1NP21 days remaining to apply
Start date details
September 2026
Closing date
2 February 2026 at 8am
Date listed
12 January 2026
Job details
Job role
- Teacher
- Head of department or curriculum
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Early years
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- MPS/UPS
Additional allowances
CFS TLR 2
What skills and experience we're looking for
The Executive Principal and Head of Primary are seeking an exceptional teacher with the energy and vision to teach and lead our Early Years unit. This is a permanent position for a September 2026 start and would include a TLR (CFS TLR 2).
The successful candidate will be a strong and committed professional with the ability and drive to offer the highest quality of Early Years practice. Working closely with the Head of Primary and other members of the primary leadership team to ensure that the Early Year team are supported, challenged and inspired to be the very best they can be.
CFS is a vibrant, collaborative and forward-thinking school for 4-16 year olds, where the personal development of our pupils is just as important as the academic curriculum. Our values of ‘nurture, challenge and inspire’ influence everything we do as a school, and genuinely permeate all areas of school life. If you are a strong practitioner who shares our values and ideals, we strongly encourage you to find out more about CFS via a visit to the school or through our school website www.chichesterfreeschool.org.uk.
Whilst this is a primary post, there is something extremely unique and special about working in an All-Through environment; the successful candidate will have the opportunity to work creatively with colleagues from both phases helping to develop a cohesive and truly progressive educational experience for all learners.
The Role
The person appointed to this post will be expected to work as a full time EYFS class-teacher. They will also be expected to take a proactive role in the extra-curricular life of the school.
The successful candidate will:
be a highly-skilled and competent professional who is energetic and totally committed to the ethos of the School
readily establish excellent relationships with both staff and students
enjoy pioneering new developments in pedagogy
embrace the use of new technologies in the classroom
be skilled in behaviour for learning
value creating an inspiring learning environment
possess drive, expertise and enthusiasm
be well-organised and disciplined when it comes to administrative duties
possess an optimistic and resilient style when faced with pressure
be able to communicate well with children and young people, having an understanding of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people
have recent experience of teaching in an Early Years setting
All teachers at CFS commit themselves to contribute fully to the ethos and life of the School in and outside the classroom.
What the school offers its staff
The School
CFS is now entering its second decade and is fully established in our state-of-the-art facilities on the Carmelite Convent Site in the south of Chichester. Our PAN is 60 in Primary, and 120 in Secondary; in almost all year groups we are oversubscribed with waiting lists. Due to demand, we have a bulge intake of Year 7 who started in September 2023, with over 150 pupils currently on roll in this year group, with a similar sized cohort joining Secondary in September 2025.
The School joined Sussex Learning Trust in September 2023 – a move that we personally initiated through the desire to collaborate with a like-minded family of schools. The Trust is currently small and based in Haywards Heath; CFS are well placed to launch a new Western Region of the Trust, which is really exciting.
As a Free School, we are the same as any other academy; we are both held and hold ourselves to the same exacting and rigorous standards as all state-funded schools. We follow the national curriculum, and are proud of our ambitious, inclusive and varied curriculum offer. Our pupils engage with SATs and GCSE assessments. In May 2024 we received a very strong fully graded Ofsted Inspection – we were graded at least a strong Good in all areas and Outstanding in Personal Development. As a school we are now striving for excellence in all areas, and to achieve above average outcomes in both phases.
CFS is open to pupils of all abilities. We take part in the West Sussex County Council (WSCC) admissions process. As a school we benefit from longer holidays, specifically at October half term, Christmas and during the summer.
The Recruitment Process
For further information and an informal discussion about this post, please do not hesitate to contact us via recruitment@chichesterfreeschool.org.uk or on 01243 792690.
Candidates should complete an application form and supporting statement addressing the criteria presented in the role description and person specification. Completed applications should be sent to recruitment@chichesterfreeschool.org.uk by 8:00am on Monday 2nd February.
Early applications are encouraged, and we reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to this deadline.
A formal contract will be issued once the successful applicant has been appointed. It will be offered subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS, formerly CRB) check.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
CFS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. In accordance with our Child Protection Policy we are unable to process applications without a fully completed application form. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All convictions, cautions and bind-overs, including those regarded as ‘spent’ must be declared when applying. The applicant may post such a declaration in an envelope marked ‘Private & confidential for the Principal’. The successful applicant must obtain List 99 clearance and DBS clearance at enhanced level.
Applying for the job
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Upload additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Chichester Free School
- School type
- Free School, ages 4 to 19
- Education phase
- All through school
- School size
- 1078 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 4 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Chichester Free School website
- Email address
- recruitment@chichesterfreeschool.org.uk
CFS is now entering its second decade and is fully established in our state-of-the-art facilities on the Carmelite Convent Site on the Hunston Road in the south of Chichester. Our PAN is 60 in Primary, and 120 in Secondary; in almost all year groups we are oversubscribed with waiting lists. Due to demand, we have a bulge intake of Year 7 who started in September 2023, with 150 pupils currently on roll.
The School joined Sussex Learning Trust last September – a move that we personally initiated through the desire to collaborate with a like-minded family of schools. The Trust is currently small and based in Haywards Heath; CFS are well placed to launch a new Chichester Hub of the Trust, which is really exciting.
As a Free School, we are the same as any other academy; we are both held and hold ourselves to the same exacting and rigorous standards as all state-funded schools. We follow the national curriculum, and are proud of our ambitious, inclusive and varied curriculum offer. Our pupils engage with SATs and GCSE assessments. Since 2013, CFS has achieved two ‘Good’ Ofsted Inspections. As a school we are now striving for excellence in all areas, and to achieve above average outcomes in both phases.
CFS is open to pupils of all abilities. We do not have a catchment area, thus ensuring the School is fair and inclusive. We take part in the West Sussex County Council (WSCC) admissions process. As a school we benefit from longer holidays, specifically at October half term, Christmas and during the summer.
Arranging a visit to Chichester Free School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email recruitment@chichesterfreeschool.org.uk.
School location
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