Chief Executive Officer / Headteacher

Posting date:	28 July 2025
Salary:	Not specified
Additional salary information:	Competitive
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	27 August 2025
Location:	Ashton-in-Makerfield, WN4 9PQ
Company:	inploi
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	75719712

Summary

Please note the employer for this position is Makerfield Academy Trust not Wigan Council

Makerfield Academy Trust

Byrchall High School

Warrington Road

Ashton in Makerfield

Wigan

WN4 9PQ

Leadership Pay Spine L33-L39B

Full Time

Required for 1st January 2026

Makerfield Academy Trust is based in the North West of England and is seeking an exceptional and visionary leader. This exciting opportunity has arisen due to the retirement of our long-standing Chief Executive Officer / Headteacher.

We need a dynamic leader who is committed to ensuring that our young people are fulfilled academically and socially, and make a positive contribution to their community.

We are committed to providing a rich education for every young person in our Trust, maximising each pupil’s academic achievement through the creation of an exceptional environment where personal abilities and individual talents are fully developed and celebrated.

Our vision is to:

nurture an ethos that promotes academic and personal growth.

ensure high quality teaching and learning with high expectation.s of individual pupil performance

provide an outstanding curriculum that inspires pupils to develop academically and personally, whilst equipping them for adult life in the 21st century and life beyond school.

offer a modern, well-resourced learning environment, within which pupils feel valued and learn to respect and co-operate with one another.

We pledge to achieve our vision for our pupils’ education by:

treating everyone justly regardless of religious belief, ethnic origin or social background.

promoting excellence academically, in sport, in the performing arts and in behaviour.

supporting pupils to develop their personalities, talents and abilities to the full.

recognising and respecting the important partnership between home and school.

We are dedicated to enabling our pupils to achieve academic success, but we also want them to develop enquiring minds, a balanced outlook on life and to be fully confident adults.

Currently, there is one school within the Trust, Byrchall High School. Formerly the Ashton Grammar School, Byrchall High School is now an 11-16 co-educational comprehensive school of approximately 1,000 students. The school takes its name from Robert Byrchall, the original founder of the school in 1588.

Byrchall High School is a modern, forward-looking establishment; the school’s substantial new-build programme opened in September 2024. We aim to be at the forefront of teaching and learning developments and are highly committed to CPD. Our emphasis on learning and achievement is allied to a strong moral and ethical dimension that reflects our founding principles.

Currently graded Good in all areas by Ofsted, Byrchall High School has high expectations of what pupils should achieve. They have a clear and ambitious strategy for school improvement. This has put the pupils’ best interests at heart. Recent improvements that leaders have put in place have made a real and positive difference to the quality of pupils’ education”.

Why work for Makerfield Trust?

The Makerfield Trust provides a collaborative and supportive leadership structure. This allows the Headteacher to focus on educational outcomes while being backed by sustained professional networks. Byrchall High School has an established reputation within the community, with solid values, committed staff, and a strong student ethos. As Headteacher, you'd be building on this strong foundation, with scope to drive further school improvement, academic excellence, and pupils' personal development.

Trustees are looking for an inspirational leader to lead our trust on the next stage of its journey and who:

has a proven leadership track record.

is pupil centred, ensuring pupils are safe and have a positive learning experience.

is committed to equalities, ensuring pupils with SEND and disadvantage thrive and make the best progress.

is inspirational and committed to high standards across the whole organisation.

is committed to making a difference in the community.

is committed to playing an active role in the wider Wigan community, working collaboratively with our local partner organisations.

We strongly encourage prospective candidates to visit our website, browse our social media channels and to come and see us in action. If you feel this may be the opportunity you are looking for, please contact Michelle Foster, Clerk to the Selection Panel, Governor Services, 2nd Floor, Life Centre South, College Avenue, Wigan WN1 1NZ, or by e-mail at michelle.foster@wigan.gov.uk Application packs are also obtained from the Clerk to the Selection Panel.

Your application must include two professional references. Failure to provide these will result in your application not progressing.

Closing date for applications: Midnight on 7th September 2025

Shortlisting: 9th September 2025

Selection days: 22nd and 23rd September 2025

Makerfield Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

As part of the shortlisting process, online searches will be carried out on shortlisted candidates in accordance with the requirements of Keeping Children Safe in Education.

Applications forms are returnable to Michelle Foster, Governor Services

This position is subject to Enhanced Disclosure Procedures plus child barred list check

The employer is committed to safeguarding

To view the details relating to this position and to access the application form, please click the links below:

↗ Application Form
↗ Job Description
↗ Person Specification
↗ Letter from Chair
↗ DBS Policy Statement Schools
↗ Guidance for Safer Work Practices
↗ Childcare Disqualification Requirements

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