Headteacher
Aerodrome Primary Academy, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 4EJ29 days remaining to apply
Start date details
January 2027
Closing date
4 June 2026 at 9am
Date listed
6 May 2026
Job details
Job role
- Headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £82,816.00 - £95,267.00 Annually (FTE) Leadership Pay Scale L18 - L24
Headteacher job summary
The Role:
Aerodrome Primary Academy are seeking a dynamic and inspirational leader to join our team. Are you an experienced educational leader looking for an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of our children? The successful candidate will have a proven track record of excellence in educational leadership, with experience in managing highly effective teams. You will be committed to providing every child with an exceptional educational offer, ensuring they are supported, challenged, and inspired to reach their full potential.
Aerodrome was of the very first schools in the country to receive an Ofsted inspection under the new framework in November 2025, and we are proudly at “Expected” in all areas other than Inclusion and Personal Development where we are at the “Strong” standard. We are located towards the south of Croydon with good access to transport links. The school is part of the REAch2 Multi-Academy Trust family, having joined the Trust in 2012.
At Aerodrome, every child is recognised as a unique individual and we celebrate the diversity within our school community. The ability to learn is underpinned by the teaching of basic skills, knowledge, concepts and values. We are looking for an outstanding leader with proven track record of success and a passion for improving the life chances of children.
Our Aims:
To provide a safe, happy, healthy and friendly environment, which enables children to develop their self-esteem and decision making skills enabling them to make a positive contribution to school life and beyond
To instill a love of learning and promote high expectations, celebrating both success and effort
To provide an inspiring, fun, engaging curriculum, with both challenge and support, in and beyond the classroom
To work hand-in-hand with parents/carers and members of the Aerodrome community to maintain and develop a school of which we can all be proud.
What we are looking for in our next Headteacher:
We are seeking an outstanding senior leader with the passion, drive, and enthusiasm to build on our strengths. You will lead, motivate, develop, and inspire a team of staff and governors who are committed to providing pupils with a wide range of enriching experiences. We welcome applications from existing headteachers and talented deputy headteachers who have the knowledge and expertise to help us raise outcomes and consistently deliver excellence.
You will have a clear understanding of what it takes for a school to maintain the highest standards of teaching and learning, whilst having the expertise to embed a culture of continuous improvement. Additionally, you will demonstrate the ability to manage, prioritise, and organise your workload, show flexibility and resilience, and recognise the need for pastoral care for all members of the school community.
Inclusion is at the heart of all of the school’s work (having attained IQM flagship status on multiple occasions). You will have a deep knowledge and experience of ensuring that all children thrive and succeed as well as a passion for and commitment to Inclusion. You will be highly skilled at creating intentional provision that makes a real difference to all children through working in partnership with other staff both in the school and throughout Reach2 as well as outside agencies.
You will proactively share the strengths of the school with others as well as promote collaboration and being open to learning from other schools within the cluster and the Trust as a whole.
A commitment to supporting wellbeing and mental health is essential.
We are a caring employer who invests in the future of our employees, as only through their excellence can we deliver excellence for the children and families we serve.
As a member of REAch2 Academy Trust, a national family of primary academies, Aerodrome Primary Academy is committed to raising standards and achieving excellence for all pupils, regardless of their background or circumstances. The Trust provides a strong culture of collaboration and support, with high expectations for staff and pupils alike.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead, motivate, and inspire a dedicated team of educators
Drive excellence in teaching and learning
Foster strong relationships with parents and the wider community
Ensure the delivery of an exciting, broad, and engaging curriculum
Uphold and promote our core values: high expectations, integrity, nurturing, always learning, working together, and taking responsibility, guide us daily.
Supporting and effecting the trust vision of “every school a great school” by “Always Aiming Higher”
Requirements:
Proven track record of excellence in educational leadership
Experience in managing highly effective teams
Commitment to providing exceptional educational opportunities for all children
Relational and proactive approach with parents and the community
Ability to inspire, challenge, and motivate
Deep knowledge, experience and commitment regarding Inclusion
The application process and timetable
Application deadline:
9am, Thursday 4th June 2026
School visits (starting at 9:30am):
Monday 18th May
Thursday 21st May
Tuesday 2nd June
Interviews:
Thursday 11th June 2026
Contract details:
Permanent
Salary:
L18 - L24
Start date:
January 2027
To have a confidential conversation about the role and to arrange a school visit please contact Justin Burtt, Deputy Director of Education to (justin.burtt@reach2.org, 07503 925439)
The candidates selected for interview will be informed after shortlisting and full details of the interview programme will be provided.
For further information about the role come and visit our school! To book your visit or for an informal discussion, please contact the school office. School visits are encouraged but are by appointment only.
Why Work with REAch2 Academy Trust?
Join REAch2 Academy Trust, one of the UK's largest primary academy trusts, with a mission to unlock the potential of every child, regardless of their background. Here’s why joining our team can be an exciting and fulfilling career choice:
- Excellence & Development: We prioritise high standards and offer extensive professional development and career growth opportunities.
- Supportive & Collaborative: Be part of a strong, collaborative community of over 60 schools where every voice is valued, and best practices are shared.
- Well-being Focus: We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer robust well-being support for all staff.
- Diversity & Inclusion: We celebrate diversity and believe that varied perspectives strengthen our schools.
- Innovation & Impact: Bring creativity to the classroom and make a real difference in children’s lives.
- Making a difference: Working with REAch2 means contributing to something bigger than yourself. You’ll be helping to shape the lives of young learners, making a meaningful impact on communities and future generations.
- Join us to grow your career, collaborate with passionate educators, and make a lasting impact on future generations.
Benefits
We offer a range of benefits to support your career and well-being:
- Generous Annual Leave: healthy work-life balance.
- Professional Development: Access diverse CPD and training opportunities to grow your skills.
- Flexible & Family-Friendly: We are committed to supporting flexible working and requests will be considered on an individual basis, including options such as part time, term-time, home working, and other options that work for both the employee and the Trust.
- Exclusive Discounts: Benefit from Blue Light Card offers and employee perks.
- Well-being Support: Receive comprehensive well-being and employee assistance for you and your family.
Join REAch2 for a rewarding career with great benefits!
Safeguarding, Safer Recruitment and Data Protection
At REAch2 we recognise that those who work in an academy are in a unique position in their care of children. The responsibility for all staff to safeguard pupils and promote their welfare, as stated in Section 175 of the Education Act (2002) is one that is central to our ethos, our policies and our actions. All children are deserving of the highest levels of care and safeguarding, regardless of their individual characteristics or circumstances, and we are committed to applying our policies to ensure effective levels of safeguarding and care are afforded to all our pupils.
We will seek to recruit the best applicant for the job based on the abilities, qualifications, experience as measured against the job description and person specification. The recruitment and selection of staff will be conducted in a professional, timely and responsive manner and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be requested for all successful candidates, including a Children's Barred List check if the role meets the criteria for regulated activity.
For more information about our safer recruitment processes, please click here for our Safer Recruitment Policy.
All information is stored securely, and any information supplied by unsuccessful candidates will be destroyed through a confidential waste system six months after the decision has been communicated, in accordance with our information and records retention policy.
The Trust ensures all applicant data is stored and processed appropriately. For further details on how your information will be managed during the recruitment process please refer to our Privacy Notice for Job Applications.
Further information about the job
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.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Aerodrome Primary Academy
- School type
- Academies, ages 3 to 11
- Education phase
- Primary school
- School size
- 466 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Aerodrome Primary Academy website
Aerodrome Primary Academy is a vibrant, diverse and child centred 2 form entry school with a Speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) Resource Base and Nursery. Our Ofsted in May 2021 confirmed that we are a’ Good School’ and we are on our journey to providing our children with an outstanding education. We are a member of the REAch2 Trust, a national family of primary academies committed to raising standards and achieving excellence for all pupils. As part of REAch2, we benefit from the involvement of leading educationalists, and strong links to prestigious institutions such as the Institute of Education. We constantly strive to develop our staff to ensure our children meet their full potential and have great fun getting there!
As a member of the REAch2 Trust, a national family of primary academies, Aerodrome Academy is committed to raising standards and achieving excellent for all pupils whatever their background or circumstance. The Trust provides a strong culture of collaboration and support, together with high expectations for staff and pupils alike. Aerodrome Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people / vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory written references.
School location
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