Head of People

The Howard Partnership Trust, Leatherhead, KT24 5JR

20 days remaining to apply

• Closing date

  20 April 2026 at 10am

• Date listed

  3 March 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Administration, HR, data and finance
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £83,355.00 - £92,031.00 Annually (FTE) P14

Head of People job summary

THPT Schools is seeking an expert and dynamic Head of People to lead our Trust‑wide People Strategy and shape the future of our workforce across our family of, currently, 13 Primary, Secondary and Special schools. Our Trust is unique, a place where every child truly matters and our staff are dedicated to providing a life-changing education for every one of them, built on continuous improvement and serving the whole of our communities with ambition and care.

As a key member of the Trust Leadership team, you will drive strategic leadership across recruitment, retention, talent management, staff development, wellbeing, HR policy, systems and employee relations. You will ensure Equality, Diversity and Inclusion underpins each of our people practices and contributes to a culture where colleagues feel valued, supported and able to thrive.

You will be responsible for leading a respected HR team, around 20 staff, based across several Trust schools, all committed to providing colleagues with a high-quality employee experience.

We are seeking an innovative and ambitious individual to join us in this key role in the Trust. You will demonstrate the ability to articulate your vision and values across the organisation, be confident and competent to drive the People Strategy and be able manage risk to the Trust appropriately, whilst empowering our education leaders to act where they can and develop strong and positive relationships with all stakeholders. You will lead the HR team to ensure they are high performing, effective in managing day to day operational work, whilst developing the team to be strategic and innovative in their approach to people issues in our schools.

You will be an ambitious, innovative and resilient HR professional, likely qualified to MCIPD Level 7, with substantial senior experience in a complex, multi‑site organisation. While education sector experience is desirable, it is not essential for the right candidate.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds, beliefs, identities and protected characteristics.

We offer:

• Competitive salary
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Possible hybrid and flexible working
• Strong commitment to professional development
• The opportunity to shape People leadership across an organisation delivering Life-Changing Education

All adults employed by the Trust have a responsibility for data protection and have a duty to observe and follow the principles of the GDPR Regulations.

The Howard Partnership Trust is an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all individuals, regardless of gender, marital status, disability, race, age, or sexual orientation.

All applicants must be able to provide evidence of their Right to Work in the UK prior to commencement of employment. As part of our need to comply with UK immigration rules, you will be required to provide Home Office stipulated documentation prior to interview.

As well as verification of identity, we ask all successful candidates to undertake an enhanced DBS disclosure. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance, we may also conduct an online search about any shortlisted candidates as part of our due diligence to identify any matters that might relate directly to our legal duty to meet safeguarding duties, in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE).

SAFEGUARDING AND FURTHER INFORMATION

The successful candidate will be subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

The Howard Partnership Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment

Due to the nature of this role, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. In making your application, it is essential you disclose whether you have any pending charges, convictions, bind-overs or cautions and, if so, for which offences. This post will be exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Therefore, applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are ‘spent’ under the provision of the Act, and, in the event of the employment being taken up; any failure to disclose such convictions will result in dismissal or disciplinary action. The fact that a pending charge, conviction, bind-over or caution has been recorded against you will not necessarily debar you from consideration for this appointment.

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 The Howard Partnership Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/the-howard-partnership-trust

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