DescriptionSupporting documentsEmployerLocation
CO-HEADTEACHER 0.4 FTE
at
Ysgol Gynradd Gatholig Padarn Sant
(St Padarn’s RC Primary School)
Salary Range: L8 to L14 [£62,612 to £72,579] pro rata
Term: One-year fixed-term contract
Starting date: 13.04.2026
The Governors of Ysgol Gynradd Gatholig Padarn Sant are seeking to appoint an aspiring inspirational individual to share the headship of the school for one year, from 13 April 2026, on a 0.4 FTE basis (which includes a 0.1 teaching commitment), working on Thursdays and Fridays. (The current 1.0 FTE HT will begin as a 0.6 FTE (including a 0.2 teaching commitment) co-headteacher, working Mondays to Wednesdays from the same starting date.) Candidates must hold the NPQH. Though having Welsh language skills would be desirable they are not essential for this post.
“Ysgol Padarn Sant” / “St Padarn’s” is an ambitious and forward-looking school. It is the only Roman Catholic school in the county of Ceredigion. The school is a diverse and inclusive community and is part of the lively Catholic Parish of the Welsh Martyrs, Aberystwyth, in the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia. The pupil roll is 142 at the present time.
The school enjoys high standards, delivers the Curriculum for Wales (CfW) and received a positive report from ESTYN in March 2023. Religious Education is a core subject delivered in accordance with To Know You More Clearly – the Religious Education Directory (RED) for Catholic Schools, Academies and Colleges in England and Wales. The school enjoys a strong Catholic ethos and received a positive report from the Catholic Schools Inspectorate in October 2024.
The school is committed to the development of the Welsh Language and is progressing well in its transition to becoming a Category 2 (dual language) school. It participates in two all-Wales projects supported by Welsh Government: Camau i’r Dyfodol (Steps to the Future) and the National Professional Enquiry Project (NPEP), for which it was a lead school for the second year running in 2024-25.
Though shared headship is new to us, the Governors believe that having two co-heads for a year will enable the school to maintain the necessary management and operation of our school whilst continuing to drive school improvement and raise standards. As well as sharing the general duties and responsibilities of the headship role, the person appointed will have particular responsibility for: Religious Education (RED); curriculum planning and assessment. The Governors are committed advocates for the school and work closely with the Senior Leadership Team.
It is a genuine occupational requirement, as defined by Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010, for this role to be held by a practising Catholic. This is because it’s a proportionate means of achieving our legitimate aim to ensure that the role of headteacher can preserve and develop the school’s Catholic character.
Closing date: Wednesday 14 January at midnight.
Shortlisting date: Thursday 15 January
Interviews: Monday 26 January 2026
The successful person will be appointed by the governing body to the Catholic Education Service contract.
This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check.
Under the Education (Wales) Act 2014, all School Learning Support Workers must be registered with the Education Workforce Council (EWC).
Safeguarding Statement
St Padarns RCP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.We particularly welcome applications from under represented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.