Head of School

St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Swanley Village, Kent, BR8 7PJ

11 days remaining to apply

• Closing date

  20 April 2026 at 10am

• Date listed

  9 April 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £53,198.00 - £62,962.00 Annually (Actual)

Head of School job summary

Compass Federation is seeking to appoint an exceptional Head of School to lead St Paul’s Church of England Primary School, a distinctive and much-loved village school in Swanley Village, Kent.

St Paul’s is a welcoming and nurturing Church school rooted in the Christian vision of “Life in all its fullness” (John 10:10). With 107 pupils across four mixed-age classes, the school has a strong sense of community where every child is known, valued and supported to flourish academically, socially and spiritually.

A distinctive feature of St Paul’s is its innovative approach to learning through Continuous Provision from Reception through to Year 4. This approach creates stimulating learning environments where pupils explore, investigate and develop independence in their learning. The school also benefits from Forest School, rich curriculum experiences and strong partnerships with families, the parish church and the wider community.

As Head of School, you will lead the day-to-day life of the school, working closely with the Executive Headteacher, governors and colleagues across Compass Federation to secure high standards of teaching, learning and pupil outcomes while sustaining the school’s distinctive Christian ethos.

We are looking for a leader who:

Shares our Christian vision and values

Is committed to high standards of teaching and learning

Can inspire and motivate staff, pupils and the wider community

Has the leadership skills to drive school improvement and raise outcomes for all pupils

Values collaboration and partnership across a federation of schools

In return, we offer:

The opportunity to lead a distinctive village school with a strong community identity

A school with an innovative approach to learning through Continuous Provision

Supportive collaboration within Compass Federation

Professional development and leadership coaching

A positive and dedicated staff team

This role would particularly suit an experienced senior leader ready for headship or an existing Head of School seeking a collaborative federation environment.

Visits to the school are warmly encouraged. We would be delighted to show prospective candidates around and give you the opportunity to experience the warmth and ethos of our school community.

To arrange a visit or request further information, please contact the school office or e-mail bhulme@compassfederation.com

Compass Federation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

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 St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

• School type: Local authority maintained school, Church of England, ages 4 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• School size: 111 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 4 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/st-pauls-church-of-england-voluntary-controlled-primary-school

School location

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