Headteacher
Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH65 7AQ48 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
13 April 2026 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
24 February 2026
Job details
Job role
- Headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
Working pattern
- Full time: Full Time, all year, Monday to Friday
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- L25 (£93,422) to L32 (£110,890)
What skills and experience we're looking for
kEY: E - Essential D - Desirable
[A] Faith Commitment
Practicing Catholic - E
Involvement in parish community - D
Leading school worship - E
Ways of developing religious education and worship - E
A commitment to strategic thinking and planning thatbuilds, communicates and carries forward a coherentand shared vision for the Catholic ethos of the school - E
How relationships should be fostered and developedbetween the school, parish and its community andDiocese of Shrewsbury - E
Has completed the Catholic Leadership Programme orother approved Catholic leadership training, or has acommitment to do so - D
[B] Qualifications
Qualified teacher status - E
Degree - E
[C] Professional Development
CCRS/CTC or a commitment to obtain the certificate - D
Evidence of appropriate professional development for the role of headteacher - E
Evidence of recent leadership and management professional development - E
Up to date safeguarding training and knowledge of legislation for the protection of young people - E
Has successfully undertaken Designated Safeguarding Lead training - D
Has successfully completed approved Safer Recruitment Training or has a commitment to do so within 12 months - E
[D] School leadership and management experience
Recent successful leadership as a headteacher - D
Recent successful leadership as a deputy headteacher or assistant headteacher - E
Evidence of successfully leading school improvement - E
Evidence of the application of strategies to review, implement, evaluate and improve learning and teaching - E
Experience of curriculum leadership and development - E
Experience of working constructively with parents - E
Experience of monitoring staff performance - E
Experience of effective budget management and financial analysis - D
The ability to provide advice and support to the Governing Body to enable it to meet its responsibilities - E
An understanding of strategic financial planning in relation to its contribution to school improvement, curriculum development and pupil achievement - E
To have experience of guiding, coaching, mentoring or training individuals or teams - E
Is able to demonstrate a good awareness of current national education policy and strategy - E
[E] Experience and knowledge of teaching
Experience of teaching in a Catholic school - E
Successful teaching of pupils/students in the secondary phase - E
Experience of teaching in more than one school - D
To have a working and current knowledge and understanding of the Key Stages in the secondary phase - E
Displays commitment to the protection and safeguarding of children and young people, showing an awareness of legislation and working with other agencies where appropriate - E
Experience of providing professional challenge and support to others through the performance management process - E
To be able to effectively use data and assessment to raise standards/address weaknesses - E
To be able to exemplify how the needs of all pupils have been met through high quality teaching - E
[F] Professional Attributes
Be able to demonstrate an understanding, awareness and empathy for the needs of the pupils at the school and how these could be met - D
Be able to demonstrate a clear rationale for behaviour management and a proven track record of the effective implementation of a range of behaviour management strategies - E
To have excellent written and oral communication skills (which will be assessed at all stages of the process) - E
To be a leader of learning demonstrating, promoting and encouraging outstanding classroom practice - E
Show a good commitment to sustained attendance at work - E
[G] Professional Skills
(Based on the National Standards for Headteachers 2020)
The headteacher is expected to have a good knowledge of the National Standards for Headteachers (2020) upon which the job description is based and be willing to work towards the achievement of these standards. In addition, the Headteacher will be expected to work with the governors to set annual personal objectives within the framework of these standards:
Ø Culture and Ethos
Ø Curriculum and Teaching
Ø Organisational effectiveness including Governance and Accountability
[H] Personal Qualities
All of the following are considered essential for the post and will be assessed through interview and reference:
Ø Continue to promote the school's strong educational philosophy and values
Ø Inspire, challenge, motivate and empower teams and individuals to achieve high goals
Ø Demonstrate personal enthusiasm and commitment to leadership aimed at making a positive difference to children and young people
Ø Build and maintain quality relationships through interpersonal skills and effective communication
Ø Demonstrate personal and professional integrity, including modelling values and vision
Ø Manage and resolve conflict
Ø Prioritise, plan and organise themselves and others
Ø Think analytically and creatively and demonstrate initiative in solving problems
Ø Be aware of their own strengths and areas for development and listen to, and reflect constructively and act upon as appropriate, feedback from others
Ø Demonstrate a capacity for sustained hard work with energy and vigour
Ø Uphold the 7 Nolan principles of public life
[I] Confidential References and Reports
A positive and supportive faith reference from a priest where the applicant regularly worships -E
Positive recommendation from all referees, including current employer. -E
A supportive reference from the Local Authority, if possible, or a further supportive professional reference -E
The governors reserve the right in exceptional cases to seek additional references from other former employees where this seems appropriate.
The governors reserve the right to withdraw the offer of an interview should a positive and supportive faith reference not be received.
[J] Important advice regarding faith references
You have applied for a position in one of our Catholic schools which is reserved for a practising Catholic. This means that the person specification will state that is essential that you meet this criterion, and you must be able to evidence this with a positive faith reference from the priest(s) of the parish(es) where you attend the Sunday Eucharist and receive the sacraments. It is also vital that this reference is current and that the priest’s knowledge of your practice is not historical. Priests will be asked to confirm a minimum of 12 months continuous practice. A period of 12 months practice will also be required for those recently received into the Church.
It is vital that the priest can verify your attendance at Sunday Mass and is not simply the priest linked to the school that you currently work in.
We are seeking to appoint a practicing Catholic who joins in the parish celebration of the Sunday Mass and receives the sacraments regularly as well as living in accordance with the teachings of the Church.
At a time when priests are increasingly assuming responsibility for larger pastoral areas it is becoming increasingly common for priests not to know parishioners as well as they might have in the past. In the light of this we offer the following advice when seeking faith references prior to making an application.
1. Speak to the priest before completing your application and ask if he agrees to your including him as a referee. (Do not simply email or leave a message on the parish answer phone)
2. Provide him with an outline of
Ø your involvement in parish life e.g., Eucharistic minister, reader, etc (it may be that currently you are not heavily involved in parish life due to other commitments)
Ø your present post – school, areas of responsibility
Ø the post to which you are applying – name of school, post, etc
3. If you worship in more than one parish, then in order to satisfy weekly attendance of Mass you may need to specify more than one referee.
By following the above advice, you are able to prepare the priest for the reference request and so ensure it will be completed as fully as possible.
[K] Application Form and Supporting Statement
The form must be fully completed. The supporting statement should be clear, concise and related to the specific post, following the guidance outlined in section G above.
The CESEW Leadership Application Form must be fully completed. The supporting statement should not exceed 1300 words in length, be clear, concise and related to the post and setting applied for.
What the school offers its staff
Ø A school at a transformative point in its improvement journey
Ø The opportunity to lead within a strong Catholic ethos and supportive diocesan family
Ø A committed and dedicated staff team
Ø Enthusiastic pupils who are proud of their school
Ø Investment in first-class facilities through our new build development
Ø The chance to shape the long-term future of Catholic education in Ellesmere Port
Ø Good opportunities for continuing professional development
Ø Excellent support from our Trust and partner schools within it
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
EPCHS is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. This position is subject to an enhanced DBS check.
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)Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy
- School type
- Academy, Roman Catholic, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 969 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Email address
- ceo@olhoc.org.uk
- Phone number
- 07389163361
Ellesmere Port Catholic High School is a school with a unique sense of community, where every student is known, where there is exemplary student behaviour, a culture built on striving for excellence and where there are exceptionally high aspirations for everyone.
With nearly 1000 students on roll at Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, we are a successful, oversubscribed school situated in Ellesmere Port. We are approximately 7 miles from Chester and approximately 14 miles from Liverpool making commute times short.
Arranging a visit to Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email ceo@olhoc.org.uk.
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