Headteacher - Knuzden St Oswald's Church of England Primary Academy Full Time Permanent Leadership Pay Scale: L11-L16 All Year Round, 52.143 weeks Do you have what it takes to lead St Oswald’s into its next exciting chapter? Knuzden St Oswald’s Church of England Primary Academy is a warm, welcoming and inclusive school with a strong Christian identity and a deep commitment to the wellbeing and personal development of every child. Rooted in our community chosen scripture, ‘Stand firm in the faith and do everything with love’ (1 Corinthians 16:13), St Oswald’s is a place where pupils feel valued, supported and encouraged to thrive. We are proud of our pupils, their achievements and the positive relationships that shape our caring school community. Guided by our ‘Fruits of the Vine’, politeness, kindness, patience, respect and self-control, our ethos promotes high expectations, personal growth and a strong sense of belonging for every child. We welcome applications from experienced senior leaders who are ready to take the next step in their career. Whether you are currently a Deputy Headteacher, Assistant Headteacher or an established senior leader with a proven track record of impact, this is an opportunity to lead a thriving school community, supported by an experienced central Trust team and a committed Local Governing Committee. OVERVIEW We are looking to appoint a dedicated and dynamic Headteacher to lead our school community. You will have recent, successful experience in school leadership and will be confident in driving forward whole school improvement. You will bring passion and clarity to curriculum, teaching and learning, and be committed to ensuring inclusion and high outcomes for all learners. Above all, you will model and develop the Christian ethos of the school and lead by example through integrity, visibility and compassion. WHAT WE OFFER A caring, welcoming school community with engaged children and a supportive staff team A culture of collaboration, where staff are motivated and professional development is encouraged Opportunities to work with and learn from colleagues across the Trust Central support from HR, School Improvement, Finance, Estates and IT, allowing you to focus on educational leadership A governing committee and Trust team who are ambitious for the school and committed to your success Teachers’ Pension Scheme Employee Assistance Programme Access to wellbeing support for you and your family Perkbox employee benefits platform Cycle to work scheme KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Lead the strategic direction of the school, underpinned by a clear Christian vision Work closely with the Trust and Governing Committee to deliver sustainable school improvement Oversee the quality of education, with a strong focus on curriculum development and teaching Embed high standards of behaviour, inclusion and safeguarding Maintain and strengthen the Christian distinctiveness of the school, including collective worship and Religious Education Build positive relationships with families, the parish, the Diocese and the wider community Manage resources effectively, ensuring efficiency, compliance and impact Support the professional development and wellbeing of all staff THE RIGHT CANDIDATE WILL Hold Qualified Teacher Status and have significant, successful leadership experience Be an active member of a church aligned to Churches Together in England, the Evangelical Alliance, or the North West Gospel Partnership Be passionate about the Christian distinctiveness of church schools Be strategic, reflective and committed to continuous improvement Be knowledgeable about safeguarding, SEND, inclusion and current national policy Be skilled at building strong teams, coaching others and modelling professional standards Communicate clearly and confidently with all stakeholders Be resilient, positive and driven by moral purpose Visits and Conversations You are strongly encouraged to visit the school or have an informal conversation with the current leadership team or central colleagues before applying. Closing date: Friday 27th March 2026 at 1pm Proposed interview date: Thursday 16th April 2026 Please note: in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025, an online search will be carried out as part of our safer recruitment pre-employment checks on shortlisted candidates. We are proud to be part of Cidari Multi Academy Trust, a family of Church of England schools committed to high-quality education shaped by Christian values. Cidari Multi Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Any offer of employment will be subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check.