About this Role 

Headteacher 

Abbey Woods 
Full time, Permanent 
Salary: L6-L12 (£58,569 - £67,898) 

Location: Berinsfield, Oxford OX10 7LZ 
 

Abbey Woods is at an important point in its journey, and the new Headteacher will be central to securing its long term success. With strong trust support, the Headteacher will help to grow pupil numbers by enhancing the school’s offer, strengthening its reputation, and deepening relationships with the local community. 

As a values-driven school, Abbey Woods places a strong emphasis on nurturing the whole child. The curriculum is designed to be engaging, inclusive and aspirational, supporting pupils to develop confidence, independence and a love of learning and is in the early stages of implementation. There is a clear focus on creating a safe and supportive environment where every child is known, valued and encouraged to succeed. 

As part of Anthem Schools Trust, Abbey Woods Academy is a mixed-gender primary academy for children aged 3 to 11, located in Berinsfield, Oxfordshire. The school serves a diverse community and plays a central role in local life. Through a strong pastoral approach and a commitment to high expectations, the school supports pupils both academically and personally. 

Abbey Woods is characterised by its inclusive ethos and strong relationships between staff, pupils and families. The school is committed to continuous improvement, with a focus on raising standards, strengthening teaching and learning, and ensuring that all pupils are equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to thrive in the next stage of their education and beyond. 

 
Why Join Abbey Woods? 

Abbey Woods Academy offers a strong sense of community, coupled with clear ambition for continued improvement. The school benefits from a committed staff team who are dedicated to supporting pupils both academically and pastorally, alongside positive and developing relationships with families and the wider community. 

The school plays a central role within Berinsfield and is well placed to strengthen its reputation locally. There is a clear opportunity to build further confidence among families by continuing to raise standards and ensuring consistency in teaching, behaviour and outcomes. Its inclusive ethos and focus on meeting the needs of all learners, including those with SEND, underpin the school’s approach. 

The Anthem Community Council is supportive and engaged, and the successful Headteacher will benefit from strong Trust backing, including access to experienced leaders, professional networks and targeted school improvement support. 

This is a role with real opportunity: to bring clarity, stability and momentum, and to lead Abbey Woods into its next phase as a confident, high-quality school at the heart of its community. 

The opportunity 

We are seeking a Headteacher who will build on the foundations in place at Abbey Woods Academy, bringing clarity, consistency and a strong sense of direction. This includes embedding high expectations across all areas of the school, strengthening the culture of accountability, and ensuring that every pupil benefits from a high-quality, consistent educational experience. A key priority will be re-establishing the school’s position at the heart of the community, building trust with families and ensuring the school is visible, inclusive and outward-facing. 

Strategic priorities for the next Headteacher: 

Future growth 

The school is at an important point in its development, with a clear opportunity to strengthen its position within the local community. The incoming Headteacher will play a central role in shaping the next phase of improvement, ensuring that curriculum, staffing and resources are aligned to deliver sustainable, long-term impact. 

This is a strategic leadership responsibility, requiring a clear, future-focused approach that balances pace of improvement with a strong, inclusive school culture. 

You will be joining a school where: 

We strongly encourage candidates to review the attached Recruitment Pack and Job Description, which provide further detail on the role and opportunity. 

About Anthem 

Thank you for your interest in joining Anthem. 

Anthem is a growing and ambitious Multi Academy Trust, united by a clear moral purpose: to create ambitious and successful schools where everyone thrives. Through our family of 15 schools, 11 primary and 4 secondary, serving nearly 8,000 students across the East Midlands, London and the Thames Valley. 

First and foremost, Anthem is a school improvement organisation. We exist to ensure that the public funding entrusted to us is used intelligently, ethically and relentlessly in the service of better outcomes for children and young people. Everything we do is focused on strengthening the quality of education, leadership and professional practice across our schools, while preserving each school’s unique identity and community. 

We believe to achieve excellence in our schools we must have excellent leaders. That is why we invest heavily in our staff, valuing expertise, collaboration and professional curiosity. We work hard to create environments where colleagues feel supported, trusted and challenged to be their best, whether they work in the classroom, in school leadership, or within our national teams. 

Anthem is bound together by three strongly held values: 

By joining Anthem, you become part of a Trust that combines high expectations with genuine care. A Trust that values professionalism, thoughtful leadership and continuous improvement. And a Trust that is committed not only to educational success, but to creating places where people are proud to work and proud to belong. 

Employee Benefits 

At Anthem, we value our employees and are committed to providing a rewarding and supportive working environment. As part of our team, you’ll have access to Anthem Perks, which includes a range of fantastic benefits designed to support your well-being, professional growth, and financial security. 
 
Two week half term - Staff benefit from a two-week half-term break in the autumn term, recognising and supporting wellbeing and retention. 

Cycle Scheme – Get a new bike and accessories through our tax-efficient salary sacrifice scheme. 

Tech & Home Scheme – Spread the cost of the latest tech and home essentials through convenient payroll deductions. 

Corporate Health Cash Plan – Reclaim the cost of everyday healthcare, from dental check-ups to physiotherapy. 

Eye Care – Support towards eye tests and glasses for screen users. 

Employee Assistance Programme – Free, confidential support for personal and work-related challenges. 

Employee Referral Scheme – Recommend a friend and receive a bonus when they join our team. 

Anthem Institute - Immerse yourself in amazing CPD opportunities for all roles, networking and learning from specialists in their field. 
 

At Anthem, we believe in supporting our staff, fostering a positive workplace culture, and helping every team member thrive. Join us and enjoy these great benefits as part of your career with Anthem! 

Anthem Schools Trust is committed to creating a diverse workforce. We’ll consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, religion, belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy, maternity, age, disability, marriage or civil partnership. 

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and require all staff and volunteers to share and demonstrate this commitment. The successful candidate will have to meet the requirements of the person specification and will be subject to the relevant pre-employment checks which will, where applicable, include a health check, an enhanced DBS check, the Children’s Barred List check and satisfactory references.  

It is an offence for an individual who has been disqualified from working with children to knowingly apply for, offer to do, accept, or do any work in a ‘regulated activity’. The position advertised is a ‘regulated activity’ and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 [Exceptions] Order 1975.  

Anthem will undertake a basic online check for all shortlisted candidates.