Headteacher - Holsworthy C Of E Primary School

"Working together, growing together, all to flourish" - rooted in John 15:1-17, God is the vine, God is love

An exceptional opportunity to build on a remarkable period of development.

The Governors of Holsworthy Church of England Primary School are seeking to appoint an inspirational, ambitious and compassionate Headteacher to lead our school into its next phase of development.

This opportunity arises following a period of exceptional leadership and significant transformation across the school. Under the leadership of our current Headteacher, Holsworthy has evolved considerably, establishing a thriving 0-11 provision, strengthening inclusion and SEND, developing an ambitious curriculum, embedding a rich values-led culture and transforming children's experiences through initiatives such as OPAL.

Our current Headteacher will remain in post for the full academic year, giving the successful candidate a full two terms working alongside an experienced Headteacher before taking up the role in September 2027, for a thorough, well-supported handover and a confident start.

As a governing body, we are immensely proud of the journey our school has been on and the strong foundations that have been carefully established. We have a clear, dynamic and well-understood vision and strategic direction for Holsworthy. We are looking for a Headteacher who will embrace that vision and lead the school through it, bringing their own expertise, ideas and personal stamp to its delivery.

You will lead a school with a strong sense of identity, a committed and talented staff team, supportive governors and a clear sense of purpose. Together, we are united by a shared ambition to ensure every child flourishes academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually.

Above all, we want a Headteacher who will champion high aspirations for every child, nurture a culture where every pupil is known and valued, and continue to lead our school with confidence, compassion and purpose.

About our school

Holsworthy Church of England Primary School is an average-sized voluntary controlled primary school situated in the historic market town of Holsworthy, surrounded by the beautiful countryside of North Devon.

We are a school at the heart of our community, serving children from babies through to the end of primary education.

Our most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2023 judged the school to be Good, recognising our high expectations, ambitious curriculum and positive relationships. Inspectors noted:

"Pupils are proud of their school. They are happy and feel safe. Pupils treat each other and adults with respect."

Our most recent SIAMS inspection (23 September 2026) found that Holsworthy "is living up to its foundation as a Church school and is enabling pupils and adults to flourish". Inspectors highlighted a vision that "instils a strong sense of togetherness", caring relationships, tailored provision and a thriving partnership with local churches.

We are proud of the inclusive, nurturing and aspirational culture that exists throughout our school. Strong relationships between children, staff, families and governors lie at the heart of our success.

A school that has evolved

Recent, carefully planned development has been driven by a clear vision and a determination to give every child the best possible experience:

A growing 0-11 provision: we have expanded from a 3-11 school to a 0-11 setting, with nursery provision for babies, two-year-olds and three-year-olds.

Inclusion and SEND: we have invested heavily in inclusive practice, additional provision and curriculum pathways so that every child can succeed.

OPAL: we achieved the Platinum OPAL Play standard, with better lunchtime engagement, fewer break-time incidents and improved classroom behaviour.

Christian values: our vision is rooted in John 15:1-17, "God is the vine, God is love": just as a vine and its branches depend on one another to bear fruit, children, staff, families and governors flourish when rooted together in God’s love, and our values are taught through our curriculum and collective worship.

Our strategic vision

We want to build on what has been achieved, sustainably and always in the best interests of children: continuing to develop our 0-11 provision and pupil numbers, strengthening SEND provision and our ambitious curriculum, embedding our Christian vision and values, investing in staff and leadership capacity, and maintaining strong partnerships with families and the community.

The Headteacher we are looking for

We are looking for an experienced and values-led leader who shares our ambition for every child and believes in the direction our school is taking.

You will:

• Have strong strategic leadership skills and the ability to translate vision into sustainable improvement.
• Be committed to maintaining the culture, ethos and strengths that have been carefully developed while continuing to identify opportunities for growth.
• Be an inspirational and visible leader who builds trust and brings people with them.
• Value, support and develop the strengths of our staff team.
• Be passionate about inclusion and have a strong understanding of SEND.
• Understand the importance of high-quality early years provision and the opportunities presented by our 0-11 model.
• Champion an ambitious, broad and engaging curriculum.
• Recognise the importance of play, wellbeing, relationships and independence in children's development.
• Be committed to further embedding our Christian vision and values.
• Have the strategic capability to support future growth and development.
• Build strong relationships with children, staff, parents, governors, the church and the wider community.
• Have the confidence to evaluate practice honestly, celebrating success while identifying opportunities for further improvement.
  

What we can offer you

In return, we offer the opportunity to lead a school with a strong sense of purpose, an ambitious future and a community that believes in its children.

You will join:

• A welcoming, inclusive and values-led school community.
• Happy and enthusiastic children who are proud of their school.
• A dedicated and committed staff team.
• A supportive and ambitious governing body committed to working in partnership with its Headteacher.
• A developing and successful 0-11 provision.
• Strong and growing SEND provision.
• An established and successful OPAL programme.
• A deeply embedded values-based approach rooted in our Christian foundation.
• Strong relationships with families and the wider Holsworthy community.
• A school with clear strategic direction and exciting opportunities for continued development.

Could you be our next Headteacher?

We are looking for a leader who will value what has been achieved, understand the community they serve and share our determination to provide the very best opportunities for every child.

Someone who believes that successful school improvement is not simply about introducing new initiatives, but about nurturing people, embedding excellence and ensuring that every child can thrive and make outstanding progress.

If you are an ambitious, thoughtful and compassionate leader who would relish the opportunity to lead a school with strong foundations, a clear vision and exciting opportunities ahead, we would love to meet you.

Visits to the school

We warmly welcome prospective candidates to visit our school, meet our staff and children, talk to our governors and experience Holsworthy Primary for themselves. We are holding visits on Wednesday 4th and Friday 6th November 2026; if neither date works, please still get in touch and we will accommodate you.

To book a visit please contact: Vicky Berry, School Business Manager 01409 253700 or .

Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment Holsworthy Church of England Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to demonstrably share this commitment. This post involves working with children and young people and is therefore subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and the school's safer recruitment procedures. We look forward to welcoming you to Holsworthy.

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