17 days remaining to apply

  • Start date details

    September 2026 (or earlier) 

  • Closing date

    1 December 2025 at 11am

  • Date listed

    14 November 2025

Job details

Job role

  • Headteacher

Visa sponsorship

Visas cannot be sponsored

Working pattern

Full time

Contract type

Permanent

Full-time equivalent salary

£103,030.00 - £118,169.00 Annually (FTE)

Headteacher job summary

The Cooper School are seeking an ambitious, values-led and strategic leader to take our school into the next stage of its development. This is an excellent opportunity for a serving Headteacher, or a successful Deputy Headteacher ready to step into headship. 

We are an inclusive 11-18 school at the heart of the growing community of Bicester. We are proud to serve our town and to work in close partnership with families to ensure every student is known, valued and supported to thrive academically and socially. 

The Cooper School is at a pivotal stage in its journey, seeking a Headteacher with empathy, clarity and drive to lead the next phase of improvement and stability. Supported by the Acer Trust, you will shape a strong leadership team, embed a positive and empowering culture, and secure lasting success for every student. 

As Headteacher at The Cooper School, you will also be a key leader within the Acer Trust, working as part of the Trust Executive Group to shape strategy across five primary and four secondary schools. You will be supported by collaborative colleagues, well-established Trust networks and strong local governance, while retaining the professional scope to lead your school in a way that reflects your vision and expertise. 

Our Strategic Priorities 

Over the next three years, the school will focus on: 

  • investing in the professional development of staff at all levels 

  • improving attainment and progress outcomes for all students 

  • increasing and sustaining pupil numbers, particularly in our Sixth Form 

  • strengthening communication and engagement with all stakeholders 

You will lead this work, building on clear progress already made, and inspiring staff and students to realise the school’s full potential. 

We are looking for a Headteacher who: 

  • leads with integrity, optimism and high expectations

  • creates a positive school culture in which students, staff and stakeholders thrive

  • places inclusive education and strong safeguarding at the centre of school life

  • can motivate, empower and develop others

  • is committed to strengthening partnerships with families and the wider community

  • can balance strategic vision with practical and effective leadership.

We offer:

  • a warm, ambitious and caring school community

  • motivated students and committed staff

  • a Sixth Form with further potential to grow and flourish

  • strong Trust-wide support and professional collaboration 

  • the opportunity to shape and influence Trust-wide direction through the Trust Executive Group.

Visits and Applications

We warmly encourage prospective applicants to visit the school. The CEO, Nathan Thomas, is also happy to offer an informal conversation (in person or online).

Apply via: My New Term

Closing date: 12:00 on Monday 1st December 2025

Interviews: 8th and 9th December 2025

For further information or to arrange a visit please contact our North Hub HR Team: hrnorth@acertrust.org.uk

The Cooper School and the Acer Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and preventing extremism; all staff must ensure that the highest priority is given to following the guidance and regulations to safeguard children and young people. The successful candidate will be required to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and obtain any other statutorily required clearance. Employment will also be conditional on the receipt of at least two acceptable references (one from current/last employer) and evidence of the formal qualifications required for the role.

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.

View advert on external website (opens in new tab)

About The Cooper School

School type
Academy, ages 11 to 18
Education phase
Secondary
School size
1228 pupils enrolled
Age range
11 to 18
Ofsted report
View Ofsted report
School website
The Cooper School website
See more jobs
teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/the-cooper-school-bicester

At The Cooper School, we pride ourselves on being forward thinking in terms of curriculum decisions which support our students; focused on improving learning through the use of new technologies and determined to continuously refine our approaches to teaching and learning. Investing in the Media Suite reflects a small part of our approach to making learning engaging, relevant and active for our students.

Joining us as a member of staff at The Cooper School means being able to see the big picture for the students here. It means that whilst we always strive for academic excellence, we also place great value upon students becoming adaptable, resourceful and enquiring. These are the sort of skills that will enable them to become effective citizens, just as much as their academic results will. As such, we encourage independent learning, enrichment initiatives and House-based teamwork and co-operation.

Working here is an opportunity to flourish as a professional. We ‘grow our own’ leaders. Many new staff have taken on additional responsibilities which is a mark of their quality and commitment to making progress in their own careers as well as their desire to become part of a successful and positive organisation.

School location

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