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Head of School
Lift Cottingley, Leeds, LS11 0HU21 days remaining to apply
Start date details
September 2026 (or earlier)
Closing date
19 March 2026 at 9:48am
Date listed
26 February 2026
Job details
Job role
- Headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Skilled Worker visas can be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £73105 - £80655 per annum
Head of School job summary
Salary: L15-L19, £73,105-£80,655 (negotiable for an exceptional candidate) + relocation package + wellbeing cash plan + pension scheme (TPS) + additional Lift Schools benefits
Start date: September 2026 (or earlier if possible)
We are seeking an exceptional Head of School to provide strong, visible leadership at Lift Cottingley, a happy, inclusive and ambitious primary school at the heart of its community.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a values-led leader who brings energy, positivity and clarity to their work, and who believes deeply in the power of great teaching to transform lives.
About the role
As Head of School, you will lead the day-to-day life of the school, working closely with the Regional Executive Principal, Kelly Bentley, Lift Schools network and regional support team. You will play a central role in driving high-quality teaching and learning, nurturing culture, and ensuring that every child receives an excellent education, every day.
You will be a leader who models great teaching, coaches and develops others, and leads from the front. Teaching and learning is a key priority at Cottingley, with a strong focus on instructional excellence, inclusion and oracy.
This role would suit someone who thrives in a diverse, community-focused setting and who brings resilience, warmth and relentless positivity to their leadership.
About Lift Cottingley
Lift Cottingley is a one-form entry primary school with a 2- and 3-year-old nursery, serving a richly diverse community where over 30 languages are spoken. The school is known for its welcoming atmosphere, strong relationships and high expectations.
The school benefits from:
* Extensive outdoor space, including Forest School and OPAL play
* Dedicated art and kitchen spaces
* Strong use of technology to support personalised learning
* A recognised Voice 21 Centre of Excellence for Oracy and IQM Centre of Excellence
* A committed, loyal staff team who are proud to work here
There is a real sense of joy, care and ambition throughout the school, alongside a strong commitment to inclusion and SEND.
Who we're looking for at Lift Cottingley
You will be someone who:
* Is resilient, optimistic and deeply positive
* Models excellent classroom practice and instructional leadership
* Coaches and develops staff with clarity and care
* Leads with warmth while holding high expectations
* Believes every child can succeed, regardless of background
* Thrives as part of a collaborative trust rather than working in isolation
Who we are
Lift Schools is a network of 58 schools across the country. We are diverse, inclusive and united by a single mission: to deliver an excellent education to every child, in every classroom, every day.
What we offer you
As a Lift Schools Head of School, you'll receive sector-leading professional development and wellbeing support, including:
* An individual development account of up to £100,000 over five years
* Unlimited one-to-one executive coaching
* Evidence-informed professional learning opportunities
* A year-long induction programme
* Study tours and immersive CPD experiences
* Professional sabbatical eligibility after five years
* Relocation package available
Who we're looking for
We want leaders who are:
* Self-aware - thriving in high challenge, high support environments.
* Network-minded - committed to improving outcomes across all schools.
* Intellectually curious - eager to use evidence-informed approaches to drive success.
If you are an experienced senior leader ready for the next step, if you are driven, determined, and committed to creating lasting change, we would love to hear from you.
For an informal, confidential conversation, please contact us.
Closing date: Wednesday 18th March 2026
Interview date: Tuesday 24th March 2026 (Lift Cottingley)
Lift Schools are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our people and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair and consistent recruitment process which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.
Lift Schools embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.
We are a Disability Confident Employer and there is a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Lift Schools are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our people and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair and consistent recruitment process which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.
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.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Lift Cottingley
- School type
- Academy, ages 2 to 11
- Education phase
- Primary school
- School size
- 263 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Lift Cottingley website
Welcome to Lift Cottingley and thank you for your interest in our school. I am enormously proud and privileged to serve the children and families of this community as the Headteacher. Lift Cottingley is a happy, warm and nurturing environment for all within it and every member of our team is striving towards creating the outstanding school that our families deserve.
Our school is a very special learning community, filled with dedicated and talented staff, where all students, whatever their ability and background, will flourish. We work hard and care enormously about our pupils. We serve an area of high socio-economic deprivation which brings along with it many challenges, as well as massive rewards. Every day at Lift Cottingley is different and we pride ourselves on the difference that we make each day to the lives of the children we serve. If you are the type of person who is passionate about helping each and every child, has a positive outlook, shows bags of resilience in the face of challenge and wants to inspire children and young people through fun and engaging learning activities then you will fit right in as part of our team.
The staff at Lift Cottingley are our greatest resource and we will nurture and develop you throughout your career. Being part of Lift Schools means every employee at every level is able to access tailored CPD and opportunities to work across the group as they progress. Please read our staff profiles for more information on how this is happening right now for members of my team.
We warmly welcome visitors and hope that you will come and see for yourself just what we are about and whether or not working here is right for you.
Thank you for your interest in our school; we can't wait to meet you!
Kelly Bentley (Headteacher), the staff team and our governors
Our Curriculum
At Lift Cottingley we provide children with a carefully designed curriculum which is based on high quality learning experiences that prepare them both academically and socially to be the best that they can be both now and in the future.
At Lift Cottingley we teach all subjects discretely but make links between where appropriate. PSHCE permeates all that we do and links to our weekly and Rainbow Family assemblies. We also employ a counselling service in the school to support staff and children. To enrich the curriculum we use coaches, theatre groups, peripatetic music support, history and science specialists etc. We also believe that pupils benefit greatly from educational visits and each class has the opportunity to take part in at least one visit per year (with residential stays being part of the curriculum for Y6). We want our curriculum to be exciting for our pupils as we believe that the best learning comes when children are motivated and engaged.
Our Specialism and Awards
Our great science curriculum has enabled us to achieve the Space Education Quality Mark at Gold Level (2016-17).
We are proud to have gained our Primary Science Quality Mark at Silver level (2015-16).
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