Assistant Headteacher - Achievement

St Mary’s Menston is delighted to offer an exciting opportunity to appoint a new Assistant Headteacher from September 2026.  We are looking to further strengthen our senior leadership team by recruiting a leader with responsibility for Achievement – someone with vision, passion and the ability to inspire others through strategic thinking and effective practice.  The position is equally suited to those seeking their first senior leadership role and for current Assistant Headteachers looking for a new challenge within an Outstanding school.

What are we looking for?

The successful candidate will a be a highly visible, collaborative and aspirational leader who will model the highest levels of professionalism and inspire, motivate and develop staff and students.

The successful applicant will join a strong Senior Leadership Team who will be instrumental in shaping the future of the school, guided by our Mission, Vision and Values.

 The Governing Body and Headteacher are seeking candidates with:

• a clear commitment to nurturing and promoting the school’s distinctive Catholic ethos
• a passion for providing the best possible holistic education for all students
• substantial and successful middle or senior leadership experience in a secondary setting with a proven track record of raising standards in teaching and learning, delivering whole school improvements, and developing a culture of accountability
• a clear vision for promoting the highest standards of behaviour, attitudes and attendance
• a high degree of personal integrity, strong personal drive, and resilience

 What can we offer you?

• Employee discount scheme (offering cycle to work scheme, gym membership, money saving offers across hundreds of the UK’s favourite high-street and online retailers, home and electrical items).
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (Education Support) offering confidential counselling and wellbeing services.
• On-site parking and access to canteen.
• Access to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
• A warm, caring Catholic community, where relationships, dignity and faith are at the heart of school life.
• A supportive organisation with the commitment to professional development and wellbeing.
• Opportunities to shape a growing Trust, working alongside leaders in both primary and secondary settings across Bishop Wheeler Catholic Academy Trust.
• A genuine commitment to staff wellbeing, workload reduction and a healthy work–life balance.
• Access to high‑quality leadership development, including opportunities to undertake National Professional Qualifications (NPQs), subject to DfE funding arrangements.

St Mary’s is a highly successful and oversubscribed school located on the north‑west fringe of Leeds, close to the stunning Yorkshire Dales. As a proud member of the Bishop Wheeler Catholic Academy Trust - comprising two high schools and fourteen primary schools - our community benefits from rich collaboration across all phases. The June 2019 Section 48 judged St Mary’s as an outstanding school and the February 2025 Ofsted inspection judged St Mary’s to be outstanding in all areas.

Visits to the school are warmly welcomed, please contact Jo-Anne Hughes, PA to the Senior Leadership Team on 01943 883000 to make an appointment.

Further details including a job description, person specification and how to apply are available via the Trust website https://www.bishopwheelercatholicacademytrust.org/Trust-Academy-Vacancies/ or the school website www.stmarysmenston.org in the vacancies section.

We invite applications from leaders who share our values and ambitions for our students. We look forward to welcoming you to St Mary’s.

The Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy for applications or withdraw the vacancy at any time at its absolute discretion. 

St Mary’s is committed to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of all children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. 

In line with KCSiE 2025, we will carry out an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted candidates. This may help identify any matters that are publicly available online, which we might want to explore with you at interview.

This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK-either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

We value diversity and seek a workforce that reflects the communities we serve.