Principal

Oundle Church of England Primary School, Peterborough, Northamptonshire, PE8 5HA

19 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  1 September 2026

• Closing date

  3 February 2026 at 5pm

• Date listed

  15 January 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £75,049.00 - £82,654.00 Annually (FTE) L16 to L20

Principal job summary

The Trust is seeking to appoint an inspiring, talented and dynamic leader to join Oundle CE Primary School in September as their new Principal.

The successful candidate will be a senior leader who is ready to take their next step in their career in a strong values-led school, and who displays a strong commitment to professional growth and the flourishing of all.

As Principal, you will have responsibility for the leadership and management of the school. You will be able to inspire and motivate staff to share the ambitions and high expectations for the school and for the children. You will be able to work in partnership with parents to ensure the school serves its community. You will promote the vision and direction of this successful primary school enabling it to build on its achievements to date.

Oundle CE Primary School is situated within an extremely large, inviting site with fantastic facilities.

Oundle CE Primary School is a warm and happy school with a highly committed team of staff, polite and hardworking children and supportive parents. The school is proud to support the children to ‘be the best they can be’. Staff seek to enable all pupils, regardless of their starting points, to flourish as individuals and reach their full potential. By aspiring to ‘be the best they can be,’ the children achieve well and strive for more.

Following a successful Ofsted inspection in November 2023, inspectors reported that the three threads of ‘joy, kindness and resilience are weaved throughout life at school’. These apply to the staff too - the success of the school is due, in no small part, to their dedication and professionalism. Ofsted inspectors reported that ‘there is a calm yet excited feel around the school and the relationships between pupils and staff are highly respectful.’

Oundle CE Primary School is proud to be a member of Peterborough Diocese Education Trust (PDET), a forward thinking academy trust which is fully committed to the ‘flourishing of all’. The Trust regards developing people as a key priority in order to achieve educational excellence. Hence, the Trust invests in people to develop their individual skills and talents; all members of staff are appreciated and valued for the part they play in a highly effective team.

The Trust is looking to recruit someone who:

• Has recent, successful senior leadership experience looking for an opportunity to take the next step in their leadership career
• Is an excellent communicator and is able to build effective partnerships with families, staff, school forums and the wider community
• Ensures all children feel safe, happy, and able to learn
• Shows excellence in teaching and learning
• Embraces and is knowledgeable about inclusion
• Has an understanding of the curriculum and pastoral needs of primary aged children
• Is confident in using a range of behaviour management strategies
• Has the ability to work effectively, flexibly, and independently and above all is a committed team member
• Has the skills to lead, improve and sustain achievement for all children and is willing to embrace and promote the Christian ethos of the school
• Has a flexible approach to working
• Is driven, ambitious and enthusiastic.

In return, we can offer you:

• A school that is committed to the importance of developing children’s creativity, imagination and love of learning
• A forward thinking school that prides itself in supporting and encouraging professional development to ensure you are successful and continue to grow as an educator and leader
• A school that believes in kindness, love and Christian values that underpin its approach to the whole school community.
• A high quality, committed staff team who are passionate about ‘making a difference’
• A large trust, spanning Northamptonshire, Rutland and Peterborough, that is highly committed to professional development and provides access to a range of developmental and career opportunities.

Visits to the school are warmly welcomed and encouraged.

The Trust welcomes interest from any senior leader / teacher from a church school / non-church school who shares the school’s values.

If you would like to discuss the role in more detail please contact Gill Broughton, Director of Education, by email to gill.broughton@pdet.org.uk.

To arrange a visit, please feel free to contact the current Headteacher Jo Griffin, who will be more than happy to show you around the school. Jo can be contacted by email to head@oundle.pdet.org.uk

More information about the school can be found on the following website: https://www.oundleceprimary.org/

Closing Date - 5pm on Tuesday 3rd February 2026

Interviews Scheduled - Tuesday 10th & Wednesday 11st February 2026

The Trust is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and successful applicants will need to provide two references and undergo a DBS and medical check provided by the 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.

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 Oundle Church of England Primary School

• School type: Academy, Church of England, ages 3 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• School size: 361 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 3 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Oundle Church of England Primary School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/oundle-church-of-england-primary-school

School location

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