Headteacher - The Whitstable School
The Whitstable School, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 1PX25 days remaining to apply
Start date details
Easter 2027 (Term 5)
Closing date
16 November 2026 at 3pm
Date listed
22 October 2026
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
Contract type
- Permanent
Full time equivalent salary
- £98,106 - £113,646
Pay scale
- Leadership Scale (L27 – L33)
What skills and experience we're looking for
Inspire Excellence in a Thriving 11–18 Coastal Community
Are you an exceptional secondary senior leader with the vision, gravitas, and drive to lead an ambitious, vibrant school on its journey to excellence?
Swale Academies Trust is seeking to appoint an inspirational Headteacher to lead The Whitstable School, a successful, oversubscribed 11–18 non-selective school situated in the highly desirable coastal town of Whitstable.
This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a school deeply rooted in its local community. Driven by our TRACK values (Tolerance, Resilience, Achievement, Courtesy, and Knowledge), The Whitstable School combines high academic ambition with a rich co-curricular offer, including dedicated Key Stage 3 specialist pathways in Performing Arts (Stage School) and STEM, alongside a thriving Sixth Form and Football Academy.
What We Are Looking For
We are seeking a leader who:
- Puts Teaching & Learning First: Possesses a proven track record of driving dynamic pedagogy and accelerating pupil outcomes at Key Stages 4 and 5 at scale
- Builds Culture & Leadership: Has the talent, empathy, and clarity to motivate staff teams, nurture leadership potential, and maintain exemplary standards of behaviour and attendance
- Drives Continuous Improvement: Demonstrates the grit, analytical precision, and resilience required to refine systems and maintain robust school self-evaluation
- Champions Community & Collaboration: Acts as an authentic, outward-facing ambassador for the school, engaging parents, local partners, and the wider Trust network
What the school offers its staff
What We Can Offer You
- Strategic Autonomy with Executive Support: As Headteacher, you will have true operational leadership of your school while benefiting from the direct support and mentorship of the Director of Secondary and a dedicated School Improvement Executive (SIE)
- A Highly Collaborative Trust Environment: Direct access to weekly secondary Headteacher briefings, cross-Trust Key Priority Groups, subject network hubs, and shared student events (from Swalestock to SwaleBot)
- A Vibrant School Community: Dedicated staff, ambitious pupils, supportive parents, and a school with strong historic foundations in the visual and performing arts
- An Exceptional Location: Situated on the scenic North Kent coast, offering an enviable quality of life with excellent transport links
Full details of the requirements of the post can be found in the accompanying recruitment pack.
This is an exciting opportunity to join our school. In return, we offer a stimulating, supporting, and rewarding working environment, where all staff are valued and where you will have the opportunity to access a range of excellent professional opportunities to support your progression.
Flexible working opportunities
We understand the importance of work-life balance and will give due consideration to requests for flexible working.
We are proud to be an inclusive employer and encourage applications from all qualified individuals.
Further information about the job
How to Apply & School Visits
We strongly encourage prospective candidates to visit the school to meet our team and experience the unique atmosphere of The Whitstable School firsthand.
To arrange an informal conversation or visit: Please contact Valentina Suma at valentina.suma@swale.at
To apply: Applications must be submitted via UK-Teach. Please note that we cannot accept CVs.
For any queries regarding the application process, please contact the Trust Recruitment Team at recruitment@swale.at or call 01795 426091 (Option 2).
Swale Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (ROA) and will require an Enhanced DBS disclosure, online checks, and satisfactory professional references prior to appointment.
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)Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About The Whitstable School
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- Size
- 1112 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Email address
- valentina.suma@swale.at
The Whitstable School is a successful and ambitious 11–18 non-selective secondary school, situated in the beautiful coastal town of Whitstable in North Kent. The school serves a thriving community and is committed to providing an excellent education that enables every pupil to achieve academically, develop their talents and prepare confidently for the future. Whitstable is renowned for its vibrant arts scene, rich cultural heritage and strong sense of community. The school benefits from close links with local organisations, providing pupils with opportunities to participate in performances, exhibitions and cultural events. An Ambitious and Distinctive CurriculumThe Whitstable School offers a broad and ambitious curriculum across Key Stages 3, 4 and 5, combining academic excellence with opportunities for creativity and personal development. The visual and performing arts are longstanding strengths of the school. At Key Stage 3, the specialist Stage School and STEM Academy provide additional lessons and enrichment opportunities for pupils with particular interests in performing arts, science, technology, engineering and mathematics. At Key Stage 4, pupils study a strong academic core alongside a wide range of options, including fine art, photography, textiles, music, drama, dance, construction, design technology and computer science. A Thriving Sixth FormThe school has a growing Sixth Form offering a broad range of academic and vocational qualifications, including A Levels and BTECs. Its Football Academy provides an additional specialist pathway, combining academic study with sporting development. The school has an established record of success at GCSE and A Level, particularly within the context of non-selective education in Kent, and remains ambitious for further improvement. Our Values and EthosThe Whitstable School believes that high ambition, challenge and opportunity lead to personal and academic excellence. Its TRACK values underpin school life and shape the expectations of pupils and staff:· Tolerance· Resilience· Achievement· Courtesy· Knowledge These values support a positive and inclusive culture where pupils are encouraged to develop confidence, character and a commitment to achieving their personal best.
Arranging a visit to The Whitstable School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email valentina.suma@swale.at.
School location
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