Headteacher

Job overview

Cheshire West & Chester

Start date: 01/01/2026

Salary: L12 - L21

Contract term: Full Time

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About the role

St. Werburgh’s and St Columba’s is a happy, vibrant and successful primary school in the outskirts of Chester in the Diocese of Shrewsbury. Rooted in Gospel values, we provide a warm, nurturing environment, with committed staff, supportive Governors, enthusiastic learners and a wide school community. We are committed to developing the whole child academically, spiritually and socially to follow in Jesus’ footsteps to love, learn and laugh.

Our much loved Headteacher is due to retire in December 2025 and Governors are looking to appoint an ambitious, creative and determined leader to continue driving our school forward.

Our school enjoys a strong reputation, with a supportive community that embraces its vision and Catholic ethos. This is an excellent opportunity for a practising Catholic who is dynamic, forward-thinking, and able to collaborate effectively with staff, pupils, senior leaders, and governors to help lead our school.

We are seeking a Headteacher who:

● Is a committed and practising Catholic with a strong personal faith.

● Will be a visionary leader, capable of building upon our existing strengths while driving forward further improvement.

● Strong strategic vision and excellent communication skills

● Has the ambition, creativity and determination to ensure every child receives the best education.

● Will inspire and support staff, value collaboration and maintain strong partnerships with parents, the parish and wider community.

Please find our most recent reports and awards below:

- Consistently strong and above average SATS outcomes

- RE inspection April 2025

- OFSTED inspection July 2024

- Eco school with Distinction

- Arts mark Gold

- Gold school games award

We are very proud of our most recent inspection (July 2024) where inspectors made the following judgements:

- Pupils relish being part of the happy school community. They do their best to live up to the school motto and ‘love, learn, laugh’ as much as possible.

- Pupils enjoy welcoming new friends into their school. Pupils build exceptionally strong relationships with each other and with staff.

- Behaviour is exemplary. Pupils play well together, making sure that everyone is included.

- Pupils are curious and committed learners. They have a thirst for knowledge. There is an industrious atmosphere in school. As a result, pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve highly across the curriculum.

There is a lot of information about our school within this application pack and on our school website: https://www.lovelearnlaugh.org.uk/

Visits to our school are most welcome and can be booked by appointment with Mrs Sarah Farrell our School Business Manager admin@lovelearnlaugh.org.uk

Links

Chair of Governors invitation letter

Here is the Application form, please ensure you make a copy before attempting to complete it.

Job description

Person specification

Guidance for securing a faith reference here

Completed application forms should be returned via email to Julie.English@dioceseofshrewsbury.org no later than 9am on September 19th 2025.

Interviews will be held on the 25th & 26th September 2025

Get in touch

St Werburgh's and St Columba's Catholic Primary School

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