Headteacher
Oakbank School, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 1ER14 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 January 2026
Closing date
9 October 2025 at 11:59pm
Date listed
25 September 2025
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: 32.5 hours, Monday to Friday
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- Headteacher Group 5 Leadership pay scale, points 21 - 25 (£84,699 - £93,424 per annum)
What skills and experience we're looking for
Qualifications and training
Degree.
Qualified Teacher Status.
Higher qualification in education and/or management
Achieved NPQH
Curriculum and pastoral experience at senior management level
Skills and experience
successful leadership at Senior, Deputy or Headteacher level
developing and implementing strategies for raising achievement and achieving excellence for students, staff and themselves
school development planning and evaluation
data analysis and target setting
using evidence-based information about effective learning and assessment for learning
resource and financial management, monitoring and evaluation
change management
leading a school from one Ofsted category to another (e.g. Good to Outstanding)
Personal attributes
Provide strategic and creative leadership to maintain and develop a school vision with quality learning for all at its centre
work in partnership with the Governing Body and the wider Trust in taking the school forward
lead by example to inspire, motivate, influence and empower staff and students
through personal commitment, maintain and develop the GLT ethos of diversity, inclusivity and equality of opportunity
set priorities and agree and achieve ambitious goals and targets
work collaboratively with others, delegating appropriately
create an environment in which staff accept their responsibility for students' learning outcomes
seek and act on feedback from others, including work colleagues and governors
build and maintain effective relationships and communicate appropriately with governors, staff, students and parents
develop, maintain and extend appropriate partnerships with the local council, other schools, children’s services, parents and the local community
demonstrate emotional resilience, empathy and flexibility when dealing with challenge
Committed to the safeguarding of children
Professional Knowledge and Understanding
current educational issues, including national policies, priorities and legislation
effective strategies for maintaining and developing high standards of attainment, behaviour and attendance
principles and practice of educational inclusion, diversity and access
developing choice and flexibility to meet the learning needs of every student
managing staff, including recruitment and selection and professional development
quality assurance systems, including school review, self-evaluation and performance management
legal issues relating to managing a school including Child Protection Procedures, Equal Opportunities, Race Relations, Disability, Human Rights, Employment and Health and Safety legislation
What the school offers its staff
We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- Professional development and career progression
- Generous pension scheme
- Blue Light Card
- Eligibility for Teacher Art Pass (teaching staff only)
- An Employee Assistance Programme
- Gym Discounts
- Free eye tests
- Cycle to work scheme
- Being part of a great team and expanding organisation
Further information about the job
The Headteacher is responsible for managing the daily operation of the school, the supervision of all students and staff, and the school premises. They provide direction and leadership and are accountable for the financial and educational performance of the school.
Greenshaw Learning Trust Headteachers work together as a leadership team, all aiming for the best for every student. An Assistant Director of Education will offer support and guidance, and Headteachers are expected to help lead the Trust, improving professional development for everyone. This is achieved through a supportive environment built on trust, open communication, and shared responsibility for success. The Trust has a set of principles that guide this collaborative approach.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
demonstrate a passion for education and a desire to improve the life chances of all students;
have the ability to build a culture of continuous learning and development throughout the school community;
adapt rapidly to the challenge of building on the existing strengths of the school to achieve all round excellence in teaching and learning;
assess their approach and style and challenge themselves to think differently about how to best align their leadership to the needs of the school;
have the ability to empower their staff to trust in their vision;
maintain and develop the school's ethos of diversity, inclusivity and equality of opportunity; and
have successful experience as a senior leader with a proven track record of success.
be part of the leadership of the Greenshaw Learning Trust, working collaboratively with other Headteachers and members of the GLT Shared Service to deliver excellence across all GLT Schools.
LEAD STRATEGICALLY
Develop the strategic vision for the school, ensuring that it is clearly articulated, shared, understood and acted on effectively by all.
Ensure a positive ethos of challenge and support to maximise the life chances of all students and promote the development of staff.
Ensure that planning takes account of the vision and policies of the Greenshaw Learning Trust, the diversity of the school and its wider community and the values of openness, inclusivity and equality of opportunity.
Develop effective relationships and communications with parents and the local community that underpin a professional learning community that enables everyone in the school to achieve.
Create an inspiring professional environment consistent with the values and aspirations of the school and the Greenshaw Learning Trust.
Work with, and in support of staff across the wider Trust and realising the benefits of school-to-school collaboration and the wider Trust.
LEAD THE SCHOOL
Ensure that quality of learning is at the centre of the organisation and management of the school.
Ensure that the school’s systems, organisation and processes are well considered, efficient, fit for purpose and uphold the Greenshaw Learning Trust principles of transparency, integrity and probity.
Develop and propose the school’s annual budget consistent with the school’s priorities and in line with the policies and decisions of the Greenshaw Learning Trust.
Monitor and review the use of premises and resources to ensure they contribute effectively to providing an efficient and safe learning environment consistent with the values of the school and the Greenshaw Learning Trust and propose priorities for expenditure.
Produce, propose and implement agreed, evidence-based plans for the development of the school and its facilities in the light of changing requirements and priorities.
Ensure that systems and styles of communication within the school are effective and appropriate.
Use a process of self-review to set targets for personal development and to manage their own work-life balance.
LEAD TEACHING AND LEARNING
Ensure that the school’s curriculum is broad, balanced, diverse, flexible and offers opportunities for all students to be successful and engaged.
Set appropriate and challenging curriculum targets for all students.
Maintain and develop an effective system for monitoring and evaluating teaching and learning and for improving practice, drawing on relevant research evidence and robust data analysis.
Contribute to the wider teaching and learning developments across the Greenshaw Learning Trust.
Create the conditions for creative, responsive and effective approaches to teaching and learning that enable students to become effective, enthusiastic and independent learners.
Maintain and develop an effective assessment, recording and reporting system that promotes and celebrates all forms of student achievement.
Promote a culture that encourages every student to become self-confident and to show respect for others.
Maintain and develop strategies to secure high standards of behaviour and attendance.
Provide a safe, calm and well-ordered environment for all students and staff, focused on safeguarding students and developing their exemplary behaviour in school and in wider society.
LEAD STAFF
Proactively develop among all school staff the effective professional relationships, good order and high morale and understanding of accountability that lead to the best possible student outcomes.
Create an environment that encourages ideas and contributions from staff and values the achievements of individuals and teams.
Ensure that the systems for induction, performance management and professional development of school staff lead to the maintenance of high standards, to a professional learning culture for all staff and to the identification of the potential for leadership.
Lead in the recruitment and selection of all school staff.
Manage the effective deployment of all staff within the school, recognising issues related to work-life balance.
Manage the work of the school leadership team, promoting autonomy and delegating appropriate tasks and ensuring the support needed for each member’s development is in place.
Identify emerging talents, coaching current and aspiring leaders in a climate where excellence is the standard, leading to clear succession planning.
Support the work of the wider Trust through the strategic deployment of staff where appropriate.
LEAD IN THE COMMUNITY
Represent and promote the school and the Greenshaw Learning Trust to its stakeholders and partners.
Maintain and develop an effective partnership with parents and carers to support students’ achievements and personal development.
Collaborate with other agencies to tackle the barriers to learning, to safeguard the health and happiness of every student, and to promote positive strategies for challenging prejudice.
SAFEGUARDING
Be keenly aware of the responsibility for safeguarding children and to help in the application of the Safeguarding Policy within the school.
Comply with the school’s Safeguarding Policy to ensure the welfare of children and young persons.
Greenshaw Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people therefore this appointment will be subject to vetting, including an enhanced DBS disclosure.
Greenshaw Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
The duties and responsibilities in this job description are not restrictive and you may be required to undertake any other duties that may be required from time to time. Any such duties should not however substantially change the general character of the post.
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)Upload additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Oakbank School
- School type
- Free School, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- Up to 560 pupils
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Email address
- shall@greenshawlearningtrust.co.uk
Arranging a visit to Oakbank School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email shall@greenshawlearningtrust.co.uk.
School location
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