Headteacher
Bridport, St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 5LA14 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
29 April 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
15 April 2026
Job details
Job role
- Headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Early years, Key stage 1, Key stage 2
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- L10 to L14
What skills and experience we're looking for
As Headteacher, you will provide the strategic leadership necessary to secure continued school improvement. You will be responsible for:
Leading teaching and learning: Raising the quality of classroom practice and ensuring a consistent focus on pupil achievement and progress.
Developing people: Coaching and mentoring staff to identify emerging talent and build a climate of excellence.
Community engagement: Building strong, effective relationships with parents, carers, and the wider community to enrich the lives of our students.
Operational excellence: Managing financial and human resources effectively to meet the school’s educational goals.
Inclusion: Develop the inclusion strategy and to further develop the successful inclusion hub (Communication and Interaction).
Safeguarding: Acting as the Designated Safeguarding Lead and ensuring the highest priority is given to the welfare of children.
About You
We are looking for an experienced leader who can demonstrate:
Proven impact: Evidence of driving rapid and sustained improvement in teaching, learning, and children outcomes.
Visionary leadership: The ability to create a shared vision that motivates students and staff alike with the school's Christian distinctiveness as the foundation.
Integrity: High personal standards of moral integrity and the ability to foster an inclusive culture that challenges inequality.
Communication: Excellent skills in building relationships with staff, children, parents, and local governance.
Collaboration: Desire to work with the school community and wider trust community.
Essential Requirements
Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)and a degree-level qualification (NPQH is desirable).
Substantial leadership experience in a relevant educational phase.
Thorough understanding of OFSTED/SIAMS frameworks and current national educational priorities.
A deep commitment to safeguarding and the welfare of children.
What the school offers its staff
Why Join Initio Learning Trust?
You will be part of a collaborative trust that values professional development and the wellbeing of its staff. We offer a supportive environment where you can work alongside the Executive Team to develop new ideas and initiatives that shape the future of education in our region.
The Trust offers a welcoming and supportive environment and provides:
a genuine commitment to supporting professional development
a supportive and flexible working environment which offers equal opportunities for all
free onsite parking
access to the local government or teachers pension scheme
a range of employee benefits including Cycle to Work and Health Cash Plan
Further information about the job
Are you a visionary leader ready to inspire excellence?
Initio Learning Trust is seeking a dynamic and professional Headteacher to lead Bridport, St Mary's CE Primary School into its next chapter of success. We are looking for an individual who is passionate about delivering high-quality education and can empower a whole school community to achieve the highest possible standards.
Salary:£64,691 - £71,330 per annum (Leadership pay scale L10 - L14)
Contract: Full time, permanent - required from 1st September 2026
Located in the vibrant market town of Bridport, amidst the stunning landscape of the West Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, St Mary’s Church of England Primary School is a place where children truly flourish. We are seeking an exceptional leader to take the helm of our "Good" rated school (Ofsted 2024) and build upon a foundation of academic ambition and deep-rooted pastoral care.
At St Mary’s, our vision—"Building a caring community, where all can learn and shine!"—is more than just a motto; it is the heartbeat of our daily life. Inspired by the parable of the mustard seed, we believe that from small beginnings, great things can grow.
Closing Date: Friday 24th April, 12 noon
Interview Date: Wednesday 29th April
For further information and to apply for this role, please click the link below to the Trust's recruitment portal (where you will find the full advert, a recruitment pack and job description):
https://recruitment.initiolearning.org/Jobs/Advert/4160704?cid=3256&t=Headteacher
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
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)About Bridport, St Mary's Church of England Primary School
- School type
- Academy, Church of England, ages 4 to 11
- Education phase
- Primary school
- School size
- 196 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Email address
- recruitmentwest@initiolearning.org
- Phone number
- 01308 422846
About our School
St Mary's is located on the edge of Bridport, just a short walk from West Bay and the beautiful Jurassic coastline! Once located across three sites in the town the current school was opened in 1991 by Dick King Smith. Visitors regularly comment on the friendly, family feel that is tangible when you spend time in the school.
Our vision at St Mary's is to 'build a caring community where all can learn and shine!' We are very blessed to have a highly experienced and dedicated team of staff who care deeply about nurturing and encouraging children to achieve their very best. We aim to work in partnership with parents, to ensure all the children in our care achieve their full potential.
Each child is unique and our staff work together to deliver a broad curriculum with many varied and exciting opportunities to enable children to learn in different ways, achieve their best and develop their talents and abilities. We want children to be proud of, and enthusiastic about, being part of our school.
We hope that by visiting our school and looking at our website you will feel this is a team that you want to join, bringing your strengths and experience to St Mary's. If you would like to arrange a visit please refer to the contact details above.
For more information please visit our school website: https://www.stmarybridport.co.uk/
Initio Learning Trust offers a welcoming and supportive environment and can provide:
a genuine commitment to supporting professional development
a supportive and flexible working environment which offers equal opportunities for all
free onsite parking
access to the local government or teachers pension scheme
a range of employee benefits including Cycle to Work and Health Cash Plan
About Initio Learning Trust
Initio Learning Trust comprises 19 schools across Dorset, with our head office based in Wimborne. Formed in February 2023 from the merger of The Minerva Learning Trust and Wimborne Academy Trust, we offer outstanding education through every stage of schooling, from nursery through to upper sixth form. We believe in enabling every person to thrive within their role, and our core values of Ambition, Collaboration and Respect underpin the pride we take in offering genuine professional development opportunities for all our staff; and in our focus on staff wellbeing.
Working for Us
Professional Development
Health Cash Plan
Cycle to Work
Flexible Working
Pension
Staff Wellbeing
Initio Learning Trust is a Disability Confident Committed Employer and aims to provide an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment process. If you would like to discuss any changes or support you may need as part of this process, please call or email the recruiting manager (see contact details above).
Initio Learning Trust values and respects the diversity of our workforce, and encourages employees to be their unique selves. Having a diverse and inclusive workforce underpins our core values of collaboration, ambition and respect, and we welcome applications from all sectors of the community regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, social background, religion or belief. Applicant shortlisting is done without reference to any personal data including your name.
Applying for a job with us - other things you need to know
This role is UK based and your Right to Work will need to be verified.
Initio Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
In line with current safer recruitment guidance, we may collect further information for applicants who are shortlisted for interview including criminal record and social media checks, references and verification of qualifications.
All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, and, where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2023). This means that certain convictions and cautions are considered ‘protected’ and do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-guidance-on-the-rehabilitation-of-offenders-act-1974.
Fluency in English is required for all student and public-facing roles, in accordance with the “fluency duty” (Immigration Act 2016). Please refer to the Job Description for further details.
Arranging a visit to Bridport, St Mary's Church of England Primary School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email recruitmentwest@initiolearning.org.
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