Headteacher

St Matthew's CofE Primary School, London, SW20 0SX

34 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 September 2026

• Closing date

  21 January 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  18 December 2025

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: Fulltime Position
• Contract type: Permanent
• Pay scale: Merton L12 – L18

What skills and experience we're looking for

The Governors of St Matthew’s Primary school seek to appoint a head teacher with vision and proven leadership skills to take forward this successful, growing school. They seek to appoint someone who will:

• Provide dynamic and professional leadership within the context of the Christian ethos of the school, supporting the Christian distinctiveness of the school by word and example

• Have a clear vision for the school that will ensure its continued success and growth

• Lead the school forward into the next cycle of Ofsted and SIAMS inspections; promoting high academic standards and ensuring inclusivity in learning for all, seeking to remove barriers to learning where they exist

• Build positive relationships with staff, pupils, governors and families to ensure all feel valued and diversity is celebrated

• Train and retain, motivate and inspire staff, including regular feedback, development opportunities, empowerment and performance management in line with current HR practice, to ensure staff wellbeing and an appropriate life-work balance

• Maintain positive relationships with the SDBE, Merton, St Matthews Church, and the local community; and sustain the school’s desire to be a good “Global Neighbour”

• Work closely with all stakeholders, local partners and outside agencies

• Manage the school’s resources effectively, appreciating the particular challenges facing a single-form entry school

• Create an inclusive culture which enables all pupils to experience a positive and enriching school life in which they may grow academically, socially and spiritually

• Ensure that the staffing structure supports optimum pupil learning within an agreed budget

• Maintain high standards of pupil behaviour and attitudes to learning

• Ensure the protection and safety of pupils and staff as Senior DSL, implementing effective approaches to safeguarding and safer recruitment

• Take the lead on Collective Worship and, together with the Vicar of St Matthew’s Church, develop a culture of collaboration in this area amongst the staff

• Carry out the duties set out in the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document and with regard to the Headteacher Standards 2020

This job description is not exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the range of duties and responsibilities of Headteachers as set out in the Teacher’s Pay and the National Standards of Excellence for Head Teachers (2020)

What the school offers its staff

• A Salary in the range L12-L18

• A supportive and engaged governing body committed to your success

• Comprehensive support from the Southwark Diocesan Board of Education,including their new heads' induction programme

• Access to the West Wimbledon Schools' Cluster for peer support and sharedprofessional development

• A motivated, experienced staff team who are committed to the school's Christianvision

• Strong partnerships with St Matthew's Church and our active parent community

• Recently refurbished facilities

• Excellent transport links and proximity to Wimbledon Common

• Competitive London-based salary and benefits package

• Ongoing professional development opportunities

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 job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Upload additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

SDBE-Application-Forms-Headteacher_2025.doc - 122 KB (opens in new tab)

St_Matthews_SchoolInformationPack2025.pdf - 1.71 MB (opens in new tab)

St_Matthews_HT_JobDescription2025.pdf - 506 KB (opens in new tab)

St_Matthews_HT_PersonSpec2025.pdf - 428 KB (opens in new tab)

About St Matthew's CofE Primary School

• School type: Local authority maintained school, Church of England, ages 3 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• School size: 201 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 3 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: St Matthew's CofE Primary School website
• Email address: finance@st-matthews.merton.sch.uk
• Phone number: 0208 947 7227
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/st-matthew-s-cofe-primary-school-london

Arranging a visit to St Matthew's CofE Primary School

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email finance@st-matthews.merton.sch.uk.

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