John Betts Primary School is a unique one-entry form school that has been serving the West London community since the 1800s, when Dr John Betts founded it with the intent of offering free education to children of no specific religious denomination. Grounded in both its rich history and liberal values (as well as a breadth of curriculum that had been envisaged by Dr John Betts himself), the school is recognised for its consistently high academic outcomes (top 7% nationally) and its ethos of equality, charity, and educational excellence.

Our highly-motivated pupils benefit from:

• an ambitious curriculum and a superb extra-curricular offering;
• a low turnover of dedicated and capable staff;
• a robust partnership between their families, their school, and the wider local community.

We are seeking an inspirational Headteacher who is keen to shape the future of a school which has been a beacon of the London educational landscape for over 160 years. The successful candidate will:

• hold a clear and ambitious vision for educational excellence, inspiring and guiding our teaching team and student body to reach their full potential;
• share our belief in the importance of inclusion and diversity, creating an environment where everyone feels valued, understood, and empowered to thrive;
• recognise the importance of community and of nurturing collaborative relationships with its stakeholders;
• promote our culture of safeguarding;
• oversee the effective use of resources and budget;
• represent the school within the wider educational community, sharing best practice with other school leaders.

In return we can offer:

• a very competitive salary with great networking and professional development opportunities;
• support from an experienced senior and middle leadership team, alongside a skilled and committed Governing Body;
• a dedicated team of teachers (including specialists for Music, PE, and Drama) and support staff;
• A safe environment with enthusiastic and confident children eager to develop their full potential and embody our school values.

Recruitment pack and Job/Person Specification documents are attached. We encourage you to visit our school and find out more about this excellent opportunity. Please contact Sue Harris, School Business Manager (admin@johnbetts.lbhf.sch.uk)  to arrange a visit during weeks commencing 19th  and 26th January 2026.  

Closing date for applications:    Tuesday 3rd February 2026 at 12 noon.

Assessment & Interviews:           Thursday 12th and Friday 13th February 2026

John Betts Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, governors, and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service. We will also carry out checks on social media for shortlisted candidates.

John Betts Primary School is committed to equality of opportunity for all colleagues, pupils and other stakeholders. Applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

John Betts Primary School Paddenswick Road London W6 0UA