Headteacher in Birmingham

Salary: Leadership Pay Scale L18 – L24 (dependent on experience).

Contract: Permanent, full-time headship commencing on 1st September 2026.

Due to the retirement of our current Headteacher, the governing body of St Rose of Lima Catholic Primary School are seeking to appoint a practising Catholic to the position of Headteacher. “Learning, Living, Loving together in Christ.” This is the mission at the heart of Our Lady & St Rose of Lima Catholic Primary School – a thriving, inclusive community in Weoley Castle, Birmingham. We are a warm and welcoming voluntary-aided Catholic primary school with a strong family ethos and a commitment to nurturing every child’s spiritual, academic, and personal growth. We hold our Catholic values central to everything we do and we strive to live out the Gospel each day in our classrooms and playground.

The Opportunity – Lead Our Catholic School Community

We are seeking an inspirational Head Teacher who is a practising and committed Catholic to lead our school on the next phase of its journey. This is a unique opportunity for a faith-filled leader to uphold and advance our Catholic ethos and build on the school’s successes by “Learning, Living, Loving together in Christ” with our pupils, staff, and families. By personal example and professional leadership, you will ensure that our Catholic identity permeates all aspects of school life. If you have a passion for nurturing young minds and hearts, and the vision to lead a dedicated team of staff in providing outstanding education, we would love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

• Catholic Ethos & Vision: Providing strategic, Gospel-inspired leadership to maintain and strengthen the school’s distinct Catholic ethos. You will ensure our mission statement is lived daily, with Christ at the centre of all decisions and actions.
• Excellence in Teaching & Learning: Leading by example to deliver high-quality teaching and learning across the school, enabling every child to achieve their God-given potential. You will set high expectations, champion effective curriculum development, and support staff to raise standards for all learners.
• Spiritual Development: Fostering the spiritual and moral development of pupils and staff. This includes leading the school’s religious education and collective worship in accordance with Catholic tradition, and nurturing an environment where faith is lived and celebrated daily.
• Safeguarding & Pupil Welfare: Ensuring a caring, inclusive culture where the safeguarding and wellbeing of every child is paramount. You will promote and safeguard the welfare of all pupils, maintaining robust child protection and safer recruitment practices in line with national requirements.
• Community Engagement: Strengthening the school’s partnership with parents, the parish, and the wider community. You will actively engage with our parish priest and parishioners, local Catholic schools, and external agencies to build community cohesion and enrichment opportunities.
• Continuous School Improvement: Driving ongoing school improvement through effective strategic planning, self-evaluation and innovation. You will identify priorities, set ambitious targets, and implement initiatives to build on our excellent achievement and school performance. This includes maintaining high standards of behaviour and fostering a love of learning in every child.
• Inspirational Leadership & Management: Managing and developing our team of staff and working closely with the Governing Body. You will inspire, motivate, and support staff, delegating responsibilities and promoting their professional development. By building a strong, collaborative culture, you will ensure that all staff are valued and empowered to give their best for our pupils.

Person Specification – About You

We are looking for a faith-filled, ambitious leader with the vision and skills to build on our strengths and lead our school to new heights. The successful candidate will meet the following criteria:

Essential Criteria:

• Faith Commitment: A practising Catholic with a deep personal faith and a clear understanding of the distinctive nature of Catholic education. You actively participate in the faith life of the community and appreciate the role of the school in the parish and wider Church.
• Proven Leadership Experience: A qualified teacher (QTS) with substantial and successful experience in primary education. You have served effectively as a senior leader (e.g. Deputy Head or Assistant Head), demonstrating the ability to lead teams and drive whole-school initiatives.
• Strategic Vision: The ability to articulate and share a compelling vision for excellence in primary education within a Catholic context. You have proven success in translating vision into reality at whole-school level, with strategic planning skills to implement and evaluate school improvement strategies.
• Curriculum & Teaching Expertise: A strong knowledge of the primary curriculum (including the National Curriculum and Religious Education) and a thorough understanding of effective teaching and assessment practices. You can demonstrate a track record of raising standards and achievement for all pupils through innovative, high-quality teaching and learning.
• Staff Development & Pupil Achievement: A motivational leader who inspires staff and pupils alike. You are committed to the professional development of colleagues and foster an environment where teachers thrive. You set high expectations for pupil achievement and personal development, and you have the skills to mentor and manage staff to achieve these goals.
• Safeguarding Focus: A thorough understanding of, and unwavering commitment to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. You ensure that all school policies and practices meet the highest standards of safety and well-being.

Desirable Criteria:

• Catholic Leadership Qualifications: Possession of or progress toward the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies (CCRS) or equivalent, and/or the NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headship).
• Broad Educational Experience: Experience in a Catholic voluntary-aided school or academy. Teaching experience across multiple key stages (EYFS, KS1, KS2) and in more than one school setting is an advantage, as is experience leading a core curriculum subject or teaching mixed age classes.
• Community and Worship Involvement: Active involvement in parish or community faith initiatives. Experience of leading acts of worship or prayer in a school setting, demonstrating an ability to nurture the spiritual life of the school.
• Innovation and Collaboration: Experience of working with other schools, agencies, or partnerships to enhance educational provision. An openness to new ideas and the ability to collaborate effectively with governors, parents, and external partners for the benefit of the school community.

Closing Date for Applications: Monday 16th March 2026 at 9:00am.

Interviews: Scheduled for Tuesday 24th March 2026.

How to Apply: Interested candidates are warmly encouraged to visit our school to experience our community first hand. Join us in our mission of “Learning, Living, Loving together in Christ.” If you feel called to lead our wonderful school community and make a lasting difference in the lives of our children, we look forward to receiving your application. Come and lead our school family on its faith-filled journey of growth and excellence!