Interim Headteacher (Westfield School)

Job Description

Hours of work: 26 hours per week, ideally worked over 4 days

Working pattern: Part-time

(As the position is part-time/term-time only, the above salary will be pro rata)

Fixed term: 01 January 2027 to 11 April 2027

Closing date: 12:00pm, 30 October 2026

For more information and to apply for the above post, please contact:

Westfield School
Main Rd, Westfield, Hastings TN35 4QE

Phone: 01424 751404

Email: office@westfield.e-sussex.sch.uk

Website: https://westfield.e-sussex.sch.uk/

Please note, we do not accept CVs.

At Westfield School, we focus on the whole child and skills for life. Our school vision is that all members of our school community will be:

• Kind, respectful citizens

• Positive, resilient individuals

• Inquisitive, creative thinkers

We are a charming village school, set in the countryside around 5 miles north of Hastings, with a grading of ‘good’ ( Ofsted September 2023). We aim to create confident, curious, and compassionate learners who are healthy, happy and supported to achieve the best they can.

Our board of Governors are seeking to appoint an Interim Headteacher for January 2027 until Easter 2027 in the first instance.

This is an exciting opportunity for an aspiring and experienced senior leader to gain Headship experience to support their professional development.

We are looking for a Headteacher who will:

• Demonstrate strategic oversight of all areas within the school and a commitment to achieving best outcomes for all pupils

• Possesses excellent interpersonal skills with an approachable style of leadership

• Motivate, coach, challenge and nurture all staff.

• Continue to foster good relationships with parents and the wider community.

Westfield can offer you:

• Happy, confident, caring and hardworking children.

• An inclusive curriculum.

• Staff who are dedicated, supportive and ambitious for their school.

• Strong links between home and school with supportive and engaged parents.

• A governing body who is committed to supporting the school’s vision.

• Support as part of a strong Alliance of schools.

We have 173 children, ages 4-11, on roll and some mixed age classes. We are well equipped with a spacious field where our weekly forest school is run and we have sole daytime use of an adjacent community hall. We also have a team of well-trained staff alongside dedicated pastoral support.

Visits to our school are strongly encouraged and welcomed and can be arranged by contacting the school office either via email or via phone.

For further information, including an application pack and an insight into our school, please visit our website.

Please send completed application forms to personnel@westfield.e-sussex.sch.uk.

Applications will be considered upon receipt, and suitable candidates may be shortlisted and invited to interview at any stage. The school reserves the right to close this advertisement early should a suitable candidate be identified and appointed.

Interviews: Week commencing 16 November

This post is covered by the Childcare Disqualification Regulations 2018.

The school will need to ensure that they are not knowingly employing a person who is disqualified under the 2018 Regulations in connection with relevant childcare provision. Accordingly, the successful candidate will be required to demonstrate to the school, by completing a self-declaration form as part of the pre-employment checks process, that they have not been disqualified under the 2018 Regulations.

If the preferred candidate is found to be disqualified under the 2018 Regulations, the offer of employment will be subject to the application by the preferred candidate to Ofsted for a waiver and the receipt of a waiver from Ofsted.

About us

Additional Information
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All staff will be expected to hold or be willing to obtain Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced check for Regulated Activity with the Disclosure & Barring Services (previously the Criminal Records Bureau). For further information about what is required in this process please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-check-applicant-criminal-record.
All school based staff have the responsibility for promoting the safeguarding and welfare of children. All school staff should be aware of the school’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and work in accordance with this document at all times.