Headteacher (with SENDCo responsibility)

Kenton Primary School, Exeter, EX6 8JT

16 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  1st September 2026

• Closing date

  9 March 2026 at 9am

• Date listed

  19 February 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £58,569.00 - £66,368.00 Annually (Actual) Leadership scale L6-11

Headteacher (with SENDCo responsibility) job summary

As the face of our school, you’ll be at the heart of its daily life, fostering a nurturing learning environment, and building strong relationships with pupils, families, staff, and external partners. You’ll champion our school’s vision and values, raising its profile and impact within the community.

Working closely with the Director of Primary Education (your line manager), you’ll play a key role in driving school improvement and delivering high-quality education. You’ll lead by example, supporting staff to deliver engaging lessons, modelling outstanding practice, and inspiring others to grow.

You will also hold SENDCo responsibility, ensuring the needs of our pupils with special educational needs and disabilities are identified, met, and effectively supported. You’ll oversee SEND provision across the school, work closely with staff and families, and lead the strategic development of high quality, inclusive practice to secure the best outcomes for all pupils.

We are looking for someone who:

• Delivers high-quality inclusive teaching that promotes pupil progress.
• Uses robust assessment and tracking to inform learning.
• Has strong curriculum knowledge across all Key Stages.
• Embodies the ethos and values of our school and Trust.
• Sets high expectations for achievement and behaviour.
• Is reflective, resilient, and committed to continuous improvement.
• Can demonstrate experience of successful outcomes for pupils as a result of their interventions in a SENDCo role.
• Has experience of running a pre-school.
• Builds positive relationships with pupils, staff, families, and stakeholders.

Your key responsibilities will be:

• Creating an inclusive and positive classroom culture.
• Building a sense of belonging and mattering for all.
• To embed a culture of peer collaboration, coaching and growth for staff.
• Lead the implementation of the School Improvement Plan with consistency and clarity.
• To hold SENDCo responsibility for the school.
• Supporting the delivery of our newbuild project, a new permanent school building for Kenton
• To drive forward standards through engagement.
• To maintain high expectations for all pupils.

We offer:

• The opportunity to consolidate and grow great practice and grow your team in a supportive environment.
• Freedom to shape a school.
• Trust wide support. Be part of a Trust connected by our shared values as well as our geography. Work alongside experienced leaders and a responsive central team.
• Professional growth. As one of our Trust Leaders, learn alongside us and have the opportunity to influence how we grow together.
• The opportunity to build strong links with families and our wider community in and around Kenton.
• The opportunity to work in a team who are invested in growing the potential of others.

How to apply

If you’re ready to lead with integrity, inspire with vision, and make a lasting impact in a close-knit school community, we would love to hear from you.

For an informal discussion and/or to arrange a school tour, please contact Paul Cornish, Executive Director of Education, on 01626 870317 or via email @ paul.cornish@ivyeducationtrust.co.uk

Please do come and visit us to experience the joy in our small school, hear our laughter and see the curiosity that sparks in every classroom.

To learn more about our school please visit: Kenton Primary School

To read our most recent Ofsted inspection report please visit: Kenton-Ofsted-Report-2024.pdf

To learn more about our priorities as a Trust please read our Trust Game plan 2025-2028 included with this pack.

Please take the opportunity to learn more about the role by viewing the detailed job description included on the following pages. To apply please complete our application form share with us how your skills and experience meet the person specification in the job description.

The closing date for applications is Monday 9th March 2026 at 9.00am.

The selection process and interviews will be held on the 19th and 20th March 2026.

If you have any questions about this recruitment process, our People team will be happy to help, they can be contacted via your account on my new term or at people@ivyeducationtrust.co.uk

We are committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all our pupils, and we expect you to be too. We follow safer recruitment statutory guidance (Keeping Children Safe in Education). If you’re successful, you’ll be required to complete thorough pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check and references that are satisfactory to our Trust. All posts in our Trust are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974.

Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy

Data Protection Policy

Recruitment of Ex-offenders Policy

Recruitment Selection Disclosure Policy

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.

About Kenton Primary School

• School type: Academy, ages 2 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• School size: 53 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 2 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Kenton Primary School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/kenton-primary-school

School location

Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed

Find more school jobs in Exeter