What skills and experience we’re looking for
We are seeking an experienced, inspirational leader to develop the ACE Small schools group on the Somerset border. Comprising five village schools, each with between 20 and 80 pupils, every school sits at the heart of its community while working in partnership to provide exceptional experiences for their pupils. The Executive Head will oversee the school lead teachers and directly manage a small cross‑group team that provides support in areas such as SEND, safeguarding and other shared functions. This role offers a significant opportunity for innovation, enabling the development of approaches that allow small schools and their pupils to flourish at the centre of their communities.
Job Purpose
To ensure that all five schools in the group are providing excellent provision for all pupils through developing high‑quality leadership at all levels. The Executive Headteacher will provide strategic leadership across the schools ensuring that Trust improvement plans are fully implemented. The Executive Headteacher, along with the Assistant Executive Head, will develop strong pedagogy, leadership development, safeguarding and a culture that reflects the ACE curriculum and values.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategy and Improvement
o Analyse changes in the educational landscape and incorporate findings into improvement planning.
o Lead whole‑school change using research and established models of improvement.
o Promote the excellence approach through reflection, coaching and collaboration.
o Maximise opportunities for cross‑school collaborative working.
2. Pedagogy and Curriculum Excellence
o Lead and develop high‑quality teaching across the five schools using national and international evidence.
o Ensure ACE curriculum and pedagogy integrate knowledge, character and metacognition.
o Support ongoing development of the ACE curriculum.
o Strengthen teaching through coaching, mentoring and modelling practice.
o Ensure all pupils achieve well, including SEND, disadvantaged, EAL and the most able.
o Ensure statutory responsibilities such as Equality Act and SEND reporting are met.
o Evaluate provision for vulnerable pupils.
3. Leading with Impact
o Distribute leadership effectively and work collaboratively with the Assistant Executive Head.
o Adapt leadership approaches to different contexts and stakeholders.
o Communicate clearly to secure progress.
o Use stakeholder perspectives to inform decisions.
4. Working in Partnership
o Strengthen partnership working between the five schools and a single Local Advocate Board.
o Work with clergy and diocesan partners across the Church of England schools.
o Share expertise with other ACE schools.
o Build external partnerships to enhance provision.
5. Increasing Capability
o Hold staff to account through a clear culture of excellence and Individual Personal Aspiration plans.
o Promote professional development that improves outcomes for staff and pupils.
o Contribute to Trust‑wide leadership development.
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).
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