Co-Headteacher

🍎📚 Join our Team as a Co-Headteacher (0.5 FTE) at King's Forest Primary School! 📚🍎

Salary: Leadership L16-22

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date for Applications: 5th February 2026 - We recommend early application as the school reserves the right to close the advert prior to the stated deadline date

Interview Date: 10 & 11th February 2026

The Role

Kings’ Forest Primary School is delighted to invite applications for the post of Co-Headteacher, offered as a job-share. This is an exceptional opportunity to contribute to the strategic leadership of a thriving, inclusive and ambitious school while benefiting from the shared insight, professional support, and balanced workload that co-headship provides.

The school has recently achieved a highly successful Ofsted inspection outcome under the new framework, with its inclusive ethos recognised as a significant strength. Kings’ Forest also benefits from a thriving nursery, an excellent local Governing Body, and a highly active PTA that plays a valued role in school life.

Why Co-Headship at Kings’ Forest?

Co-headship brings the advantages of two dedicated leaders working in close partnership, combining their strengths to deliver a clear, consistent and ambitious vision for the school.

In this role, you will benefit from:

• Shared strategic leadership and joint decision-making

• A balanced and sustainable workload

• Weekly crossover time to ensure effective communication, continuity and shared presence

• Joint attendance at staff meetings and leadership meetings

• A collaborative leadership model that welcomes diverse perspectives

• Strong backing from The Leaf Trust, which actively champions flexible leadership arrangement

We are seeking a leader who:

✅Demonstrates unwavering commitment to securing the highest quality of education for every child

✅Has a strong record of leading successful school improvement and achieving excellent outcomes

✅Shows confident decision-making, strategic acuity, and outstanding communication skills

✅Embodies our values of kindness, courage, and belief in every child’s potential

✅Enjoys working in partnership — both with their co-headteacher and across The Leaf Trust

The candidate will be joining a joyful and supportive school: ‘Staff have high morale and say they feel ‘very lucky’ to work at Kings’ Forest. Leaders have created a culture where staff feel well supported to achieve excellent outcomes for pupils in their care’ (Ofsted March 2023)

 Please refer to the candidate information pack for further details about the role. 

Fluency Duty 

This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to converse at ease with pupils, parents and other users and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

The Trust and School

King's Forest Primary School is a proud member of The Leaf Trust, a family comprising 17 schools (13 primary, 2 junior, and 2 infant school), all united in our common goal of creating outstanding learning environments deeply rooted in our local communities. 

Why join our school and the trust? 

• Positive Work Environment: Be part of a skilled, hard-working team renowned for its positive and good-humoured ethos.​
• Collaborative Community: Engage with a friendly school that maintains strong connections to the wider community, offering opportunities to work alongside colleagues across the Trust, specialists in SEND, and external agencies.​
• Exceptional Support for Early Career Teachers (ECTs): Benefit from coaching and mentoring by our experienced team, who have a proven track record of fostering improvement.​
• Outdoor Learning Space: Inspire young minds with access to a large field, pond, wooded areas, and more. 
• Commitment to Professional Growth: Access tailored Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities, apprenticeship programs, and support for both personal and professional development.​
• Pathways for Progression: As part of a network of 17 schools, you'll have opportunities for career growth and exciting challenges.
• Employee Wellbeing: We prioritise staff wellbeing with annual surveys, Wellbeing Committees, a dedicated staff wellbeing day, and a focus on maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
• Attractive Financial Benefits: Enjoy excellent pension packages, a Cycle to Work Scheme, and access to a retail discount platform to help you make savings

 Visits to the school are encouraged. Please contact the school office to arrange a visit. We also invite you to browse our websites for more information about Kings Forest Primary School and The Leaf Trust.

📝 How to Apply

All applicants are advised to refer to the candidate information pack, which includes the job description and specification, before submitting an application. If you feel that your skills and experience match the requirements of this post then please submit an Application Form outlining reasons for applying and suitability for the role. In order to do so, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button. Please be advised, in accordance with our Safeguarding Policy, we do not accept CV’s.

If this job isn't quite the perfect fit for you at the moment, why not set up a job alert for The Leaf Trust or the school via Eteach? This way, you'll stay updated on our latest opportunities as soon as they arise. We're always on the lookout for passionate individuals to join our team. Whether it's now or in the future, seize the chance to be part of a supportive community where personal growth and success are celebrated through an unwavering commitment to excellence. Your next fulfilling chapter could be just around the corner!

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates, particularly those from underrepresented groups, as we strive to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.