Head

Are you ready to lead Heywood Prep, one of Wiltshire's best performing prep schools? Set in the pretty market town of Corsham, on the edge of the Cotswolds, Heywood Prep is thriving. This is a school with a hugely strong community. Parents and staff work collaboratively to ensure that every child achieves great success. With a clear and differentiated position, solid financial performance and the support of a vibrant and entrepreneurial group, this is an opportunity for a dynamic, inspirational Head to lead a school to ever greater heights.

We’re looking for someone with:

• A clear educational vision consistent with the school's ethos and values;
• High standards and expectations of colleagues and pupils
• A clear understanding of customer service and exceeding parent expectations;
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and team-building skills;
• Natural leadership skills, and the ability to engage and motivate the whole school community;
• Strong commercial instincts, to lead the further development of the school; and
• Resilience, adaptability and a good sense of humour.

Sounds like you? Read on!

THE SCHOOL

Heywood Prep is a co-educational day prep school for pupils aged 2 to 11, located in the heart of Corsham, a pretty market town on the edge of the Cotswolds and a short drive from Bath and Chippenham. Set in a handsome Georgian manor house on a deceptively spacious 2 acre site, the school enjoys a reputation for high academic standards within a caring, happy environment. Pupils make good use of the town's facilities and sports pitches to enhance learning.  

At the heart of our ethos is learning tailored to every child, and this is built into the curriculum through our Individualised Learning sessions. In this way, children at every level are supported, enthused and challenged to broaden their interests, maximise their learning and achieve their very best. With opportunities ranging from the academic and the arts to entrepreneurship and leadership challenges, our children benefit from an outstanding team of committed and imaginative teachers.

Heywood Prep’s most recent inspection took place in December 2025. In addition to meeting all required standards, we are proud that our Individualised Learning programme was identified as a significant strength. Inspectors praised the way it enables pupils to make excellent academic progress while supporting their emotional and social wellbeing. They also described the programme as “a cornerstone of the school’s curriculum provision”, offering tailored strategies and enrichment that nurture pupils’ skills and passions.

Children are prepared for entry to a wide range of secondary schools including Westonbirt, Dauntsey's, the Bath independents schools, local maintained schools and occasionally grammar schools in Gloucestershire and Salisbury. The school has a highly successful track record of achieving school of first choice and great care and consideration is given to ensure each child enters the senior school best suited to their needs.

Heywood Prep has a clear ethos. Every moment of the school day, we seek to:

• Provide a safe and happy environment for all;
• Expect and reward good manners, responsible behaviour and a positive attitude in all our pupils;
• Engender a love of learning in every pupil through an exciting, engaging and relevant curriculum;
• Provide every pupil with the opportunity, the confidence and the support to achieve amazing things; and
• Prepare children for life after Heywood Prep.

Since joining the Wishford Schools group, the school has undertaken an extensive programme of investment and refurbishment, with improvements to classrooms and the common parts of the school, as well as upgraded IT facilities and investment in staff. 

Fees are very competitive, providing excellent value for money, ranging from £4,655 per term in Reception to £5,295 in Year 6.

Budgets are set annually in conjunction with the Wishford Schools team and allow the school's senior leadership team considerable flexibility in setting priorities and allocating resources to best promote the aims of the school. The school is in a strong financial position, resulting from careful financial management, good planning and the support and oversight of the group. The school remains full despite the challenges of VAT and is well placed to maintain this strong position.

A full job description can be viewed on the Wishford Education website.