Headteacher at Hawridge and Cholesbury Church of England School

Hawridge and Cholesbury Church of England School is seeking an inspirational and forward-thinking Headteacher to lead our thriving village school. We are looking for a dynamic and creative leader who will lead by example, build on our many strengths, and inspire every child to achieve their full potential.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of a unique Church of England school with a strong sense of community, a clear Christian vision, and a commitment to helping every child flourish academically, socially and spiritually.

If you are a passionate educational leader whose values align with our vision, and who is committed to nurturing high aspirations, inclusion and excellence, we would love to hear from you.

Salary Type: Leadership

Salary details: L9-L15 (London Fringe)

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: Full Time

Closing date:  Noon on 14th September 2026

Interview date: 24th September 2026

Start Date: 1st January 2027

We welcome applications from aspiring as well as experienced heads, with evidence of achievement and insight in teaching, learning and leadership.

About us

Hawridge and Cholesbury Church of England School is a small, thriving voluntary aided primary school set within the beautiful Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, near Chesham. Surrounded by extensive grounds, our school provides a rich, inspiring and creative environment where children can learn, grow and flourish. We are particularly passionate about outdoor learning and the opportunities it brings to enrich our curriculum and develop children's confidence, curiosity and wellbeing.

At the heart of our school is a strong Christian vision which encourages our children to grow, flourish and “have life and have it more abundantly.” We are proud of our warm, supportive and inclusive community, where enthusiastic children are nurtured by a dedicated and experienced staff team.

Our curriculum provides opportunities for children to be:

· Fascinated

· Rounded

· Eager to make a difference

· Spiritual

· Have high aspirations

This personalised FRESH approach ensures that every child is encouraged to reach their full potential academically, socially and emotionally. For more information about our school please visit Hawridge and Cholesbury CE School

About you

We are seeking a Headteacher who is:

· A dynamic and creative leader, keen to lead from the front.

· Committed to bringing our Christian vision and values to life through every aspect of school life.

· A strategic thinker with a clear focus on school improvement and the continued development of our school community.

· Experienced in leading sustainable school development, making informed and effective decisions that ensure the best outcomes for pupils

· An excellent communicator who can build strong relationships with pupils, staff, governors, parents and the wider community.

· Passionate about inclusion and responsive to the changing landscape of educational provision including SEND.

· Enthusiastic about strengthening partnerships with parents, prospective families, local schools, the Church and the wider community.

· Dedicated to ensuring every child receives an outstanding education within a nurturing and supportive environment.

We can offer:

· Delightful, enthusiastic children who enjoy learning and are proud of their school.

· A welcoming and committed staff team.

· Supportive governors who are ambitious for the future of the school.

· A strong Christian ethos and clear vision.

· Beautiful school grounds and excellent opportunities for outdoor learning.

· An opportunity to lead a unique village school at the heart of its community and shape its next chapter of success.

For more information about the role please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification within the Application Pack.

Other information

Visits to the school are warmly welcome. We encourage potential candidates to visit the school and this can be arranged via the school office office@hcschool.uk

For enquiries/application questions please contact the Chair of Governors, Sue Walton on swalton@hcschool.uk

Please submit your completed application form by email to the Chair of Governors, Sue Walton on swalton@hcschool.uk by  noon on 14th September. Interviews will be held on 24th September 2026. Please allow the whole day if invited. Candidates will be required to undertake a variety of tasks relevant to assessment against the job description and personal specification. The selection panel will notify all candidates of the outcome as soon as possible.

Safeguarding statement

At Hawridge and Cholesbury Church of England School, the health, safety and wellbeing of every child are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory references, an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and all other pre-employment checks required in line with safeguarding legislation and guidance.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare: - All unspent convictions and conditional cautions - All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance and the guidance published by the Ministry of Justice (see, in particular, the section titled ‘Exceptions Order’).

It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. All shortlisted applicants will be required to complete a self-disclosure form and return it prior to interview. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education, online searches will be carried out on all shortlisted candidates.