Headteacher

Anston Brook Primary School is seeking to appoint an exceptional Headteacher who will provide thoughtful, ambitious and values-led leadership for our children, staff and community.

Our ambition is to nurture confident, curious and compassionate learners who aspire to achieve their very best. We are proud of our school, our children and the community we serve. We are looking for a leader who will recognise and build upon our strengths, while leading the school’s continued improvement with clarity, integrity and purpose.

The successful candidate will put children and the quality of their everyday classroom experience at the heart of every decision. They will understand Anston Brook’s unique identity and context, develop strong and trusting relationships, and work collaboratively with staff, families and the wider community to shape the school’s next chapter.

Anston Brook is proud to be part of White Woods Primary Academy Trust: a family of 16 primary schools across Rotherham, united by a shared commitment to improving children’s lives. Established in 2013, the Trust’s work is guided by its four core values—the 4Cs: Child-centred, Collaborative, Curious and Challenging.

As part of White Woods, the Headteacher will work closely with other school and Trust leaders, benefiting from shared expertise, professional challenge and collective support. We are committed to developing exceptional leaders who can deliver excellence while keeping classroom practice at the forefront—keeping the main thing the main thing.

The leader we are looking for:

We are seeking a relational, child-centred and curious leader who understands that successful schools are built on strong relationships, a positive culture, excellent teaching and an unwavering belief in the potential of every child.

Our new Headteacher will be visible and approachable. They will take the time to know our children, value and develop our staff and build genuine partnerships with parents, carers and the wider Anston community.

They will be someone who listens, asks thoughtful questions and seeks to understand. They will bring intellectual curiosity to teaching, learning and curriculum and will model the qualities of a lifelong learner. They will create a culture in which staff feel trusted and valued, where professional learning is encouraged and where people are confident to reflect, collaborate and continually improve.

Being relational does not mean avoiding challenge. Our Headteacher will combine warmth and compassion with clarity, courage and high expectations. They will be able to have honest conversations, make well-informed decisions and bring people together around a shared commitment to improving outcomes for children.

Above all, they will keep children at the heart of every decision. They will be interested in how children experience their school, listen to their voices and maintain high expectations for every pupil, including those with SEND, disadvantaged pupils and those who need additional support to thrive.

Culture matters

Our six values — Respect, Responsibility, Resilience, Resourcefulness, Risk Taking and Reciprocity — reflect the culture we want for our school.

We want Anston Brook to be a place where children and adults feel that they belong; where people are known and valued; where kindness and high expectations sit comfortably alongside one another; where positive relationships provide the foundation for excellent learning.

Our next Headteacher will protect and strengthen that culture. They will understand that sustainable improvement is achieved by working with people, developing others and creating a strong sense of collective responsibility.

About you

You may be an experienced Headteacher or a highly successful Deputy Headteacher or senior leader ready for your next step. What matters to us is not simply what you have achieved, but how you lead and how you bring out the best in others.

We are looking for someone who:

• puts children firmly at the centre of their leadership;
• builds authentic, trusting and respectful relationships;
• combines warmth and compassion with ambition and high expectations;
• is curious about learning and committed to their own continued development;
• develops others and creates a culture of professional learning;
• has an unwavering commitment to inclusion and the potential of every child; and
• leads with integrity, humility, optimism and courage.

Come and meet us

We warmly encourage visits to the school to meet our children and staff. Information regarding arranging visits is within the Application Form.