Head of School – Lead Primary Excellence & Innovation

Company: Oxford Diocesan Bucks Schools Trust
Apply for the Head of School – Lead Primary Excellence & Innovation
Location: Kidlington
Job Description:

The Oxford Diocesan Bucks Schools Trust (ODBST) is an ambitious and aspirational family of 15 schools united by a clear focus on school improvement. Our mission is to empower our unique schools to excel, enabling our children and young people to “experience life in all its fullness.”

We are proud to serve communities of all faiths and none, with our schools existing to provide exceptional education and care to their local communities. We foster a deep sense of belonging across our Trust, where pupils, parents, staff, and the wider community feel proud to be part of our family.

The Role

We have an exciting opportunity to join Great Horwood C of E School as a Head of School, working alongside a strong and confident ODBST Executive Headteacher and a supportive local governing body. The ODBST has a strong school improvement team who work alongside leaders to inspire and promote great practice, working collaboratively to enable everyone to be the best that they can be.

Great Horwood C of E School has recently been inspected by OFSTED, March 26, and has secured at least expected in all aspects, with areas of real strength identified. The last SIAMS inspection was very strong and the school is in the right place for fresh and exciting leadership direction.

Great Horwood C of E School is a wonderful place to live and learn and our school community is waiting for the right leader to come and join us.

The Head of School will promote and support the vision and direction of Great Horwood C of E School by providing the day-to-day leadership and support for the school that will enable it to build success and provide high quality education for its pupils.

The Oxford Diocesan Bucks Schools Trust is seeking to appoint a committed leader who can build on the good reputation and high standards in our school and wider MAT. Our new Head of School should be able to provide clear direction and demonstrate experience and impact of leadership at primary level. The Head of School will report directly to the Executive Headteacher to secure school improvement and best practice for the benefit of all pupils.

You will demonstrate resilience and commitment in securing positive outcomes for all pupils and possess excellent inter-personal skills, communicating effectively at all levels. Furthermore, you will be able to demonstrate a strong understanding and awareness of pedagogy and research to improve outcomes for pupils of all abilities and learning needs. It will be essential to maintain a positive culture with high regard for pupil and staff well-being.

What We Offer

  • The opportunity to make a significant impact across a growing family of schools
  • A collaborative, supportive team committed to educational excellence
  • Competitive salary and benefits package
  • The chance to work with passionate educators dedicated to transforming young lives
  • Being part of a Trust, makes you part of the family and this comes with many opportunities from CPD training and networking to in-house support and career development. We want everyone to be able to thrive!

We are committed to our staff and offer benefits which include:

Employee Assistance Programme with Schools Advisory Service – through this programme, staff can access a wide range of support including a GP service, menopause support, counselling and mindfulness, chronic illness support, physiotherapy, fitness services and so much more!

Free flu vaccination vouchers

Free eye test for computer users

Cycle 2 Work Scheme

Access to the Teachers Pension Scheme (TPS)

Extensive CPD opportunities including (not-exclusively) Trust wide subject leadership groups, mentoring including safeguarding supervision, networking opportunities and apprenticeships

Full commitment to sustainable ways of working, green energy and reducing our Trust emissions to reach net zero by 2035.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All post holders in regulated activity are subject to appropriate vetting procedures and a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced check. The ODBST is an Equal Opportunities employer.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exemptions) Order 1975 because it is a post which involves working directly with children or young people and the applicant is required to declare any criminal convictions (or cautions or bind-overs) including those which are “spent”. The amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013, 2020) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’ and are not subject to disclosure to employers, and cannot be taken into account. Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the Disclosure and Barring Service website: Guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975. It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

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Posted: June 1st, 2026