Headteacher

Newstead Wood School, Orpington, Kent, BR6 9SA

28 days remaining to apply

• Closing date

  3 July 2026 at 9am

• Date listed

  5 June 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: Competitive salary plus benefits package
• Additional allowances:

  Competitive salary plus benefits package

Headteacher job summary

Newstead Wood School is a selective girls’ grammar school, with a co-educational sixth form, and a long and distinguished history. Founded in 1957 and located in Orpington, it is widely recognised as one of the highest-performing state schools in London and nationally, with a strong track record of exceptional outcomes at both GCSE and A-Level.

This success is underpinned by an ambitious curriculum, expert teaching and a culture of intellectual curiosity and aspiration that enables pupils to thrive and progress to leading universities and professions. Alongside this academic strength, the school offers a rich breadth of opportunity beyond the classroom, ensuring that pupils develop as confident, articulate and well-rounded young people.

While Newstead Wood School has many strengths, we are equally ambitious about its future. We believe there is significant potential to build on the school’s success: strengthening teaching and learning, widening access to its excellent provision - particularly for disadvantaged pupils - and extending its influence within the Trust and beyond. This is an outstanding opportunity for a leader with the vision and determination to shape the school’s next phase. The new Headteacher will bring a strong track record of excellence alongside the integrity, tenacity and compassion to lead this exceptional community, sustaining its success while driving further improvement.

United Learning is a big group of schools - with over 75,000 pupils and more than 10,000 staff - so we have the capacity to support you educationally and operationally. At the same time, we are values-led and base all that we do on good relationships, so you will be joining a big family. Reporting directly to the Regional Director, you will be supported both personally and professionally, benefitting from the strength of a national Group who will support your development and that of your staff and school. United Learning values local governance and you will be working with the Local Governing Body to deliver continuous school improvement.

We are committed to fairness, diversity and inclusion. We are currently working hard to improve representation of black, Asian and minority ethnic leaders at headship level and to raise our proportion of women leaders to match their representation in our wider workforce. Whoever you are, if you have a strong track record of improving young people’s education and a drive to do more, we very much look forward to hearing from you.

Prospective candidates are encouraged to explore the school website to gain further insight into its ethos and values. We strongly recommend arranging an informal visit prior to application. To arrange a visit or confidential discussion, please contact Geoff Morris, Head of Leadership Recruitment, on 07811 345 638 or at geoff.morris@unitedlearning.org.uk

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 Newstead Wood School

• School type: Academies, None, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 1262 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Newstead Wood School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/newstead-wood-school

School location

Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed

Find more school jobs in Kent and Medway