St. Joseph's Catholic Primary : Headteacher

St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School Clydach is a Voluntary Aided Primary School in the Swansea Valley; pupils are drawn from a wide area from Ystradgynlais to Morriston. The school provides education for pupils aged three to eleven. There are 237 pupils aged three to eleven currently on roll, including 27 nursery pupils.

Due to the retirement of our highly respected and successful Headteacher, the Governors of St. Joseph's School wish to appoint a dynamic and inspirational leader who as a practising Catholic will continue to raise aspirations and ensure consistently outstanding learning opportunities and experiences for all students.

All at St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School understand and embrace the Catholic identity and mission of their school, living out the school mission statement; 'Together in Christ, Living, Learning & Growing.' The school is a welcoming, inclusive Christ-centred learning community. The recent CSI report (25th & 26th January 2024) stated that, "St. Joseph's has a lived sense of community, evident in the quality of relationships, welcome and inclusivity....... Through the development of knowledge, skills and experiences in the expressive arts and the study of the pupils' Cynefin in humanities, authentic and purposeful opportunities have also been taken to reflect the rich Catholic culture of the school."

This role is an exciting opportunity for a new leader to build on our current success, including further developing our creative approach to the curriculum and to enhance our student and staff experiences. Staff are committed to developing and learning together. School Governors are highly ambitious for their staff and students.

We are looking for a committed professional who can demonstrate evidence of improving performance and raising standards for every member of the school community. We wish to appoint an exceptional Headteacher, with excellent leadership skills and high aspirations for our students, staff and parents/carers, who will continue to maintain the Catholic ethos and character of our popular school.

The ideal candidate will be a collaborative leader, fully committed to Catholic education, pastoral care and welfare of all our students and staff. The successful candidate must be able to articulate a vision of teaching and learning, and health and wellbeing that meets the needs of our diverse community. The school was inspected in October 2019 and received Good overall judgements. The CSI inspection of January 2024 awarded us outstanding in most areas. Governors aim to support the successful candidate in all aspects of school life, thereby creating a practice of creative effective learning and development throughout the school and its community.

For more information regarding the post please contact Mrs. M. Houston School Clerk, on 01792 842494.

Interested candidates are welcome to make an informal visit to the school on Tuesday 10 December; Please contact Mrs. M. Houston to arrange a mutually convenient time.

Tour of School: 10 December 2024
Closing date for applications: 10 January 2025 4pm
Shortlisting date: 17 January 2025
Interviews scheduled: 4 & 5 February 2025
Start Date: 1 September 2025 or sooner if possible.

St. Joseph's Catholic Primary Headteacher Job Description ( PDF, 199 KB )

St. Joseph's Catholic Primary Headteacher Person Specification ( PDF, 234 KB )

Please submit completed applications via the Catholic Education Service Application form. Copies can be requested from the school via email FAO Maureen Houston to houstonm10@hwbcymru.net

Candidates must hold or expect to achieve the National Professional Headteacher Qualification (NPQH) by the time of appointment.
The successful candidate will be appointed by the governing body to the Catholic Education Service Contract.

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Within Swansea Council there is a "Safeguarding is Everybody's Business" principle, and this applies to all Swansea Council employees, elected members, volunteers and contractors. Further details can be found at https://www.swansea.gov.uk/corporatesafeguarding

We are legally obliged to ask you to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK. If you are invited to interview, you will be asked to provide appropriate documents such as your full birth certificate/passport/work permit in accordance with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and a comprehensive screening process will be undertaken on all applicants. This will include an enhanced check with the Disclosure and Barring Service.