Headteacher - St Michael’s C of E, Voluntary Aided Primary School
| Posting date: | 13 December 2025 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 12 January 2026 |
| Location: | Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 2BP |
| Company: | Teaching Vacancies |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | d2cb1a88-7d02-4f0e-b4ef-8f9521a4ae5a |
Summary
What skills and experience we're looking for
The Headteacher will provide strategic leadership and vision, ensuring high standards of teaching, learning, and pupil outcomes. They will foster a culture of inclusion, innovation, and collaboration, while proactively promoting the Christian ethos and values that define St Michael’s.
School Culture
• Uphold and extend the Christian ethos of Honesty, Respect, and Love, ensuring it permeates all aspects of school life.
• Create a joyful, inclusive environment where curiosity, creativity, and individuality are celebrated.
• Promote pupil voice and leadership, empowering children to contribute to decision-making and community initiatives.
• Ensure wellbeing and safeguarding remain central to the school’s culture, with clear systems and accountability.
Teaching and research-led improvements
• Embed evidence-based practice across all teaching, drawing on the latest educational research by remaining inquisitive and close to research resources, conferences, and published literature.
• Champion innovative approaches such as continuous provision, OPAL play, and Forest School, ensuring they are delivered at consistently high-quality.
• Monitor and evaluate teaching standards, providing constructive feedback and support to staff.
• Share best practice with other schools and networks, maintaining St Michael’s as a leader in research-led education.
Curriculum and assessment
• Continue to iterate and deliver a broad, balanced, and ambitious curriculum that nurtures academic excellence, creativity, and spiritual growth.
• Ensure progression and continuity across year groups, from Early Years through Key Stage 2.
• Maintain rigorous assessment systems that track progress, identify gaps, and inform teaching.
• Balance high standards in core subjects with enrichment opportunities in sport, arts, STEM, and outdoor learning.
Behaviour
• Establish clear expectations and consistent approaches to behaviour management.
• Promote positive behaviour through restorative practices, respect, and responsibility.
• Ensure pupils feel safe, supported, and confident to take risks in their learning.
• Celebrate achievements and model resilience, encouraging children to learn from mistakes.
SEND and disadvantaged pupil provision
• Work closely with SENCO, SLT and Teaching staff to strengthen provision for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, ensuring access to the full curriculum wherever possible.
• Lead targeted interventions and personalised support, working closely with families and external agencies.
• Ensure disadvantaged pupils benefit from enrichment opportunities, closing gaps in attainment and experience.
• Monitor progress rigorously, celebrating achievements and adapting provision where needed.
Professional development
• Provide high-quality CPD opportunities, tailored to staff needs and career aspirations.
• Encourage reflective practice, coaching culture through Walk-throughs, coaching triads, reading fluency, and peer-to-peer learning.
• Build leadership capacity within the team, supporting succession planning and career progression.
• Prioritise staff wellbeing, fostering a supportive and collaborative working environment.
Organisational management
• Lead efficient and effective operations, managing budgets, staffing, and resources strategically.
• Ensure compliance with statutory requirements, safeguarding, and health and safety.
• Balance long-term strategic planning with day-to-day operational excellence.
• Use data and evidence to inform decision-making and drive improvement.
Working in partnership
• Build strong relationships with parents, governors, the church, and the wider community.
• Collaborate with local schools, the Marlborough hub, and the local authority to share expertise and resources.
• Represent St Michael’s with pride and integrity in wider educational networks.
• Strengthen partnerships with Aldbourne Pre-School, ensuring smooth transitions and continuity of care.
Governance and accountability
• Work closely with governors to ensure transparency, accountability, and strategic alignment.
• Provide clear, accurate reporting on performance, progress, and priorities.
• Drive continuous improvement, setting ambitious targets and monitoring outcomes.
• Ensure the school remains compliant with Ofsted and statutory frameworks, while safeguarding its ethos and vision.
What the school offers its staff
St Michael’s is an Ofsted Outstanding school (2016) at the heart of Aldbourne village, Wiltshire. Rooted in Christian values of Honesty, Respect, and Love, we are a joyful, research-led community of 191 pupils where curiosity is celebrated, individuality is nurtured, and children develop a lifelong love for learning. With this unique opportunity we are seeking an inspiring Headteacher to lead our school from April 2026, building on our strong foundations and guiding us into the future.
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.
The Headteacher will provide strategic leadership and vision, ensuring high standards of teaching, learning, and pupil outcomes. They will foster a culture of inclusion, innovation, and collaboration, while proactively promoting the Christian ethos and values that define St Michael’s.
School Culture
• Uphold and extend the Christian ethos of Honesty, Respect, and Love, ensuring it permeates all aspects of school life.
• Create a joyful, inclusive environment where curiosity, creativity, and individuality are celebrated.
• Promote pupil voice and leadership, empowering children to contribute to decision-making and community initiatives.
• Ensure wellbeing and safeguarding remain central to the school’s culture, with clear systems and accountability.
Teaching and research-led improvements
• Embed evidence-based practice across all teaching, drawing on the latest educational research by remaining inquisitive and close to research resources, conferences, and published literature.
• Champion innovative approaches such as continuous provision, OPAL play, and Forest School, ensuring they are delivered at consistently high-quality.
• Monitor and evaluate teaching standards, providing constructive feedback and support to staff.
• Share best practice with other schools and networks, maintaining St Michael’s as a leader in research-led education.
Curriculum and assessment
• Continue to iterate and deliver a broad, balanced, and ambitious curriculum that nurtures academic excellence, creativity, and spiritual growth.
• Ensure progression and continuity across year groups, from Early Years through Key Stage 2.
• Maintain rigorous assessment systems that track progress, identify gaps, and inform teaching.
• Balance high standards in core subjects with enrichment opportunities in sport, arts, STEM, and outdoor learning.
Behaviour
• Establish clear expectations and consistent approaches to behaviour management.
• Promote positive behaviour through restorative practices, respect, and responsibility.
• Ensure pupils feel safe, supported, and confident to take risks in their learning.
• Celebrate achievements and model resilience, encouraging children to learn from mistakes.
SEND and disadvantaged pupil provision
• Work closely with SENCO, SLT and Teaching staff to strengthen provision for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, ensuring access to the full curriculum wherever possible.
• Lead targeted interventions and personalised support, working closely with families and external agencies.
• Ensure disadvantaged pupils benefit from enrichment opportunities, closing gaps in attainment and experience.
• Monitor progress rigorously, celebrating achievements and adapting provision where needed.
Professional development
• Provide high-quality CPD opportunities, tailored to staff needs and career aspirations.
• Encourage reflective practice, coaching culture through Walk-throughs, coaching triads, reading fluency, and peer-to-peer learning.
• Build leadership capacity within the team, supporting succession planning and career progression.
• Prioritise staff wellbeing, fostering a supportive and collaborative working environment.
Organisational management
• Lead efficient and effective operations, managing budgets, staffing, and resources strategically.
• Ensure compliance with statutory requirements, safeguarding, and health and safety.
• Balance long-term strategic planning with day-to-day operational excellence.
• Use data and evidence to inform decision-making and drive improvement.
Working in partnership
• Build strong relationships with parents, governors, the church, and the wider community.
• Collaborate with local schools, the Marlborough hub, and the local authority to share expertise and resources.
• Represent St Michael’s with pride and integrity in wider educational networks.
• Strengthen partnerships with Aldbourne Pre-School, ensuring smooth transitions and continuity of care.
Governance and accountability
• Work closely with governors to ensure transparency, accountability, and strategic alignment.
• Provide clear, accurate reporting on performance, progress, and priorities.
• Drive continuous improvement, setting ambitious targets and monitoring outcomes.
• Ensure the school remains compliant with Ofsted and statutory frameworks, while safeguarding its ethos and vision.
What the school offers its staff
St Michael’s is an Ofsted Outstanding school (2016) at the heart of Aldbourne village, Wiltshire. Rooted in Christian values of Honesty, Respect, and Love, we are a joyful, research-led community of 191 pupils where curiosity is celebrated, individuality is nurtured, and children develop a lifelong love for learning. With this unique opportunity we are seeking an inspiring Headteacher to lead our school from April 2026, building on our strong foundations and guiding us into the future.
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.