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Headteacher

St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Wigan, Lancashire, WN4 9AZ

30 days remaining to apply

Start date details
1st April 2026 or sooner if possible
Closing date
23 November 2025 at 11:59pm
Date listed
23 October 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
Contract type: Permanent
Pay scale: L15-L21

What skills and experience we're looking for

Due to the retirement of our highly valued and successful Headteacher, the Governors are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, inspirational and dedicated person to lead our school community and to continue to develop our wonderful school.

We wish to appoint:

- a practising Catholic with a strong, lived faith and deep commitment to Catholic Education and the Catholic ethos of the school

- a person who values all children as individuals and ensures that all children are confident and able to achieve their full potential

- a role model with the vision and creativity to inspire and motivate others through their commitment and dedication to raising and maintaining high standards, ensuring that all children are able to flourish and reach their full potential;

- an experienced, and effective leader, with interpersonal skills to develop strong working relationships with our staff, pupils, parents, parish and governors;

- an aspirational leader who in ensures high-quality teaching and learning for all pupils using proven effective teaching methods whilst also prioritising importance of pupil and staff wellbeing.

Our Children would like someone who has all the qualities that are most important to them. They are looking for a leader who is kind, fair, and respectful, someone who treats everyone with equal care and respect. It is important that they have a generous spirit, are always helpful, and show them how to be hardworking by setting a good example. Our children would love a Headteacher who is fun, friendly and approachable, so they feel comfortable sharing our ideas and thoughts. Of course, they need to follow our school’s mission statement and rules, but they also hope they bring new ideas to help our school become even better. Most of all, the children want a Headteacher who listens to them and takes their opinions seriously, showing that their voices really matter.

What the school offers its staff

In return we can offer:

- a school that nurtures and celebrates the Catholic faith and ethos, where faith and learning are intertwined;

- An experienced and dedicated family of teachers and support staff who are committed to supporting, nurturing, and providing quality education to our pupils’

- Happy, confident and enthusiastic children who enjoy learning;

- strong support from a highly effective and supportive Governing Body.

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.

You will need to be able to demonstrate a commitment to Catholic faith, further information can be found in the ‘Catholic schools’ definition of a practising Catholic’.

Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to visit the school. Please contact the school office on 01942 724820 to make an appointment.

Application packs are available from and returnable to michelle.foster@wigan.gov.uk or Michelle Foster, Clerk to the Selection Panel, Governor Services, 2nd Floor, Life Centre South, College Avenue, Wigan WN1 1NZ.

Closing date: Sunday 23rd November 2025 at 12 midnight

Shortlisting: Wednesday 26th November 2025

Interviews: Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th December 2025

The post is likely to come under the requirements of the Childcare (Disqualification) 2009 Regulation, and the successful applicant will be required to complete a declaration form to establish whether they are disqualified under these regulations.

St Oswald’s Catholic Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Enhanced checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) will be required for this post. Online searches may also be undertaken for shortlisted candidates.

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.