Headteacher

Job Introduction

St John’s CofE (VA) Primary School

Headteacher

 Closing Date: (Noon) Thursday 16 April 2026

Interview Date(s): Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 April 2026

Job Start Date:  September 

Contract/Hours: Permanent, Full-time

Salary Type: Leadership Scale

Salary Details:  The indicative pay salary is set at £78,702 (L18) - £90,255 (L24*)

Hours of Work: Full time

Location of Role: Basingstoke

Contact e-mail address: htrecruitment@hants.gov.uk 

Job/Person Summary

St John’s Primary School is excited to be recruiting a new Headteacher to join our thriving, high‑achieving community from September 2026.

At St John’s, we believe in nurturing the whole child, academically, socially, and spiritually. We are proud of our reputation as a well‑behaved, kind and respectful school, where children are eager to learn and demonstrate strong Christian values in everything they do.

We are seeking an aspirational, dedicated and experienced leader who shares our commitment to providing an excellent, inclusive education for every child. The successful candidate will be an outstanding teacher with substantial leadership experience and a passion for ensuring that children flourish both inside and outside the classroom.

What makes St John’s special?

• Exceptionally well‑behaved, polite and considerate children who love learning and support one another.
• High academic outcomes driven by a culture of ambition, curiosity and high-quality teaching.
• A wide variety of extra‑curricular opportunities, enriching children’s experiences beyond the classroom.
• A team of supportive, committed governors who work collaboratively with leaders and staff.
• Strong Christian values that shape our ethos, relationships and daily school life.
• A warm, welcoming and inclusive school community with a clear sense of purpose.

We are seeking a leader who:

• Is a strategic and imaginative leader who brings creativity and confidence in transforming a school’s vision into effective strategy and measurable action.
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with mixed‑age classes.
• Holds high ambitions and expectations for all children, regardless of their starting points or needs.
• Has experience in managing a budget effectively to maximise the quality of educational experiences for every pupil.
• Thinks beyond the classroom and is committed to providing a rich programme of extracurricular opportunities that broaden children’s experiences and personal development.
• Is prepared to deliver acts of Christian worship and uphold and enhance the Christian distinctiveness of the school.
• Is a clear and adaptable communicator, comfortable working collaboratively across the entire school community, fostering positive relationships with staff, students, and families.

If you are an enthusiastic, reflective and visionary leader who wants to inspire children, empower staff and build on our school’s strong foundations, we would love to hear from you.

Application Procedure

Visits to the school are warmly welcomed. Please contact adminoffice@st-johnscofe.hants.sch.uk

Please find attached the Headteacher information pack and equalities monitoring form,

To apply, click the ‘apply’ button to complete your application.

You should provide a full statement in support of your application, which should not exceed two sides of A4 paper. Please do not restate the factual details already included elsewhere on the application form.

Selection Procedure

The shortlist will be drawn up on Monday 20 April 2026 and the selection process will take place on Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 April 2026. Further details will be sent to those candidates called for interview.

Applicants will be advised after the shortlisting date whether they have been successful. 

Equality Monitoring

All applications will be required to complete an Equality Monitoring form.

Safer Recruitment

St John’s CofE VA Primary School and Hampshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.