Location: School Street (off Alma Street), Darlaston, West Midlands, WS10 8DL 

REQUIRED SEPTEMBER 2026 

Salary Range L18 – L24 (£78,702 - £91,158) 

Due to the retirement of the current Headteacher, the Trustees of St. Bartholomew’s CE Multi-Academy Trust are seeking to appoint an inspirational, values-driven and child-centred Headteacher, who will lead Old Church CE Primary School on the next stage of their journey.

Old Church CE Primary School is an oversubscribed two-form entry primary school serving approximately 446 pupils aged 3-11 situated in Darlaston, Walsall. The school is closely linked to St. Lawrence Church and positively promotes a Christian ethos and values.

The school was graded as Good overall in May 2024, with the Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development and Leadership and Management graded as Good and Early Years provision being graded as Outstanding. Outcomes in 2025 were in-line with national figures.

The successful candidate will be working closely with the local governing board and successfully leading the dedicated and committed staff team, to build upon the school’s successes and further enhance continued and rapid school improvement, so that all staff and children continue to thrive and flourish. 

You will be part of our child-centred team who are committed to ensuring that each and every child at Old Church receives a high quality education and the very best opportunities – as this is what all children deserve.

For more information about the school, and St. Bartholomew’s CE Trust, please see the supporting documents.

We are seeking a child-centred leader with: 

• a track record of raising standards and improving outcomes for all pupils, as a direct result of their leadership contribution and support (at a senior leadership level); 

• the proven ability to ensure that standards of teaching, learning and progress are consistently exceptional;  

• a commitment to championing inclusion, ensuring the needs of all learners are met with ambition, precision and compassion; 

• proactive and inspirational leadership who will sustain excellence, demonstrating the highest standards in curriculum leadership, staff development, governance, safeguarding, inclusion, and the quality of education across all areas; 

• the ability to inspire and develop staff to be exceptional practitioners; 

• a commitment to nurturing the whole child - academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually; 

• demonstrates strategic thinking combined with strong operational management skills; 

• a proven, continual desire to improve their own leadership practice and respond with enthusiasm to developmental support; 

• high expectations for the achievement and success of every child and member of staff; 

• the proven ability to support, lead and inspire colleagues by example; 

• the ability to develop positive, collaborative relationships with all stakeholders; 

• a commitment to upholding the Christian distinctiveness of the school and Trust. 

We can offer you:  

• well behaved, kind, polite and considerate children;

• a committed, child-centred and dedicated staff team; 

• supportive governors and Trust leaders, who want the very best for the school’s children, staff and parents; 

• excellent community engagement;  

• access to Trust-wide professional development, collaboration and support networks;  

• exceptional Trust-wide support; 

• executive leadership support;

• opportunities to contribute to Trust initiatives and share best practice; 

• wider, future promotional opportunities within St. Bartholomew’s CE Multi-Academy Trust, and beyond. 

To discuss the role further, or to arrange visits to the school, please contact Katy Kent (CEO) via email at kkent@stbartsmat.co.uk / telephone: 07876 560125, or Jo Harrison (Director of Education) via email at jharrison@stbartsmat.co.uk. 

Visits to the school are warmly encouraged. 

Please make reference to the person specification criteria, and where possible cite personal examples, in your application.

Closing date for applications: Monday 9^th March 2026, at 9.00 am 

To apply: Please complete the application form and equality and diversity recruitment monitoring form and submit to jobs@stbartsmat.co.uk quoting reference SBMAT351 in the subject line of your email. Further information is available at www.stbartsmat.co.uk/vacancies

St Bartholomew’s CE Multi Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to necessary pre-employment checks, including: an enhanced DBS, Prohibition List, Barred List, Childcare Disqualification (where applicable); qualifications (where applicable); medical fitness; identity and right to work. All applicants will be required to provide two suitable professional references.

It is an offence to apply if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. For further information, please refer to the Trust's policy on ex-offenders.

Safeguarding and Child Protection Policies for all schools within St Bartholomew's CE Multi Academy Trust are available on the respective schools' websites. Links to all of our schools are available from the homepage.

With effect from September 2022 and in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education, shortlisted candidates may have their publicly available social media profiles (where applicable) checked by the Trust for posts going back up to 5 years and those candidates will therefore be expected to provide their social media “handles/platforms” if shortlisted.