Headteacher

Swinnow Primary School, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS13 4PG

28 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 September 2026

• Closing date

  17 April 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  20 March 2026

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 to L21

What skills and experience we're looking for

Our new Headteacher will be someone who:

• Can provide proven, effective leadership with a strong strategic vision for whole-school improvement.
• Has high expectations for pupil attainment, behaviour and attendance, ensuring sustained success from early years onwards.
• Is committed to nurturing students’ personal development and championing a strong meaningful student voice across the school community.
• Is an inspiring, inclusive leader who motivates, challenges and supports staff to perform consistently at a high level and champions staff wellbeing and professional development.
• Is a collaborative and highly effective communicator who builds strong partnerships with parents, carers and the wider community.
• Has a proactive, resilient and forward-looking attitude, with the ability to respond effectively to challenge and change.
• Has a strong commitment to safeguarding, statutory responsibilities and resource management.
• Has a passion to continue the collaborative and effective relationship between the school and the Governing Body fostering a positive school culture.

What the school offers its staff

At Swinnow Primary School, we are proud to offer:

• Enthusiastic and engaged children who are full of character, love to learn, and are taught to show respect and consideration for others.
• A committed, caring and experienced staff team with a passion for raising standards and improving the lives of all children.
• The opportunity to continue to develop our caring and nurturing ethos and the wide range of opportunities we provide to support pupils’ personal development.
• Supportive parents and carers who want to be partners in the education of their children.
• A supportive and pro-active Governing Body who recognise the importance of continued professional development.
• Outstanding school grounds, including expansive green space, a dedicated outdoor learning area and well-maintained facilities.
• A well-established local cluster of primary schools who work together at key points throughout the year.

This is an exciting opportunity for a candidate who is passionate about inclusive education, to work in close partnership with an experienced and committed Governing body to lead the next phase of improvement at Swinnow Primary School.

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.

The Governors, staff, children, and families of Swinnow Primary School are seeking to appoint an inspirational leader with a passion for education and aspiration.

Our school is a caring and nurturing environment where relationships between staff and pupils are strong and children feel safe, supported and encouraged to succeed. We are proud of our inclusive ethos, our commitment to the whole child and the strong partnerships we have built with families and the wider community.

Our current headteacher is retiring, so we are now looking for a Headteacher who shares our belief that every child deserves the absolute best opportunities, who will build on our existing strengths, while also generating new ideas to lead the school forward with ambition, clarity and compassion.

For an application pack, please email: educ.headteacher@leeds.gov.uk

Commitment to safeguarding

Swinnow Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

References will be sought for shortlisted candidates prior to interview. Appointments made are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. If shortlisted, you will be required to disclose relevant information regarding criminal history, and an on-line search will be conducted. This includes only information publicly available on-line.

Applying for the job

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Additional documents

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

Swinnow Primary School - Headteacher Advert - 2026.pdf - 137 KB (opens in new tab)

About Swinnow Primary School

• School type: Local authority maintained school, ages 2 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• School size: 242 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 2 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Swinnow Primary School website
• Email address: recruitment@swinnowprimary.com
• Phone number: 01133783100
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/swinnow-primary-school

Swinnow Primary School is a welcoming and inclusive school in the west of Leeds. We are proud of our positive ethos and child-centred approach to everything we do. In addition to being a one form entry school, Swinnow Children’s Centre is on site, which provides services for families with children aged 0 - 5. Our nursery takes children from the age of 2. We also host Meadow – a provision to support children with SEMH needs from schools within the West of Leeds.

Arranging a visit to Swinnow Primary School

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email recruitment@swinnowprimary.com.

School location

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