Job Description
Download printable version
Please Note: The final salary for the role will be based on the successful candidate's experience and the value they bring to our school. The Governing Body is willing to consider a salary and future progression beyond the stated pay scale for the right candidate.
KES, as it is better known to staff and students, is a truly wonderful Ofsted rated 'Good' secondary school and sixth form in Essex.
We are a Single Academy Trust and the Governing Body have no plans to become part of a Multi Academy Trust. We believe many of our strengths lie in our ability to make autonomous decisions and shape our own future.
We are seeking a strong and experienced leader who is a strategic thinker, confident in innovating and driving change to improve the school. The ideal candidate will possess excellent communication skills, be empathetic, and empower staff to reach their full potential. With experience in managing performance effectively and improving outcomes, you will be ambitious, inspirational, and dedicated to achieving excellence.
We offer excellent staff benefits, including a relocation package for the right candidate, to support their transition into the role.
The new Headteacher will lead the school in a brand-new state of the art two storey building, opening at the start of the new academic year. This is a huge new building, with 17 general classrooms, Art and Technical rooms alongside new office space, meeting rooms and new school hall. It is a state-of-the-art development and forms part of the Department of Education's Rebuilding Schools for the Future initiative.
And this is just phase one. Phase two begins this year and will redevelop the remainder of the school site over the next few years. You will have the opportunity to guide the implementation of the project, which is already planned, and you will be well supported by a wider team within the school who have worked alongside Kier and the DfE on planning and delivering phase one over the last few years.
We encourage you to explore our candidate information pack for a detailed overview of the role. Additionally, visit our website and check out our social media pages for an in-depth look at our school.
We would be delighted to welcome you to KES before the closing date, giving you the chance to meet our staff and students, take a tour, and experience the school first-hand.
For more information about this exciting opportunity, or to book a visit to the school, please call Andrea Atkins, HR Manager, on 01702 560904 or via email to recruitment@kes.essex.sch.uk.
You will need to complete an application form and provide a covering letter. The candidate information pack, application form and application guidance notes can be downloaded below.
Please email your completed application form and cover letter to Andrea Atkins, HR Manager, at recruitment@kes.essex.sch.uk by the closing date.
The closing date for applications is midday on Monday 3rd March 2025.
Formal interview and assessment days will take place on Wednesday 19th March and Thursday 20th March 2025.
CVs alone are not accepted.
Visas cannot be sponsored.
The King Edmund School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment and undergo an enhanced DBS check as part of our Safer Recruitment & Selection Procedures. Online checks and Safer Recruitment guidelines will be adhered to.
Information about the School
The King Edmund School is a co-educational comprehensive school for students aged 11 to 19. KES, as it is better known to staff and students, is an Ofsted rated ‘Good’ single academy trust in Rochford, Essex, which serves a geographically and socially diverse area.
In the school's last Ofsted report in 2024, KES was awarded ‘Good’ and their values and ethos were clearly recognised in the findings. Students learn a well-designed and balanced curriculum that meets their needs and teachers have strong subject knowledge.
The school's values foster a supportive environment where everyone is encouraged to achieve their Personal Best. High aspirations, academic success, and a commitment to excellence are promoted. The inclusive community celebrates diversity, ensuring all students feel valued and respected. A safe, caring space is provided for students to grow, taking pride in their achievements both inside and outside of school.
Phase one of a multi-million-pound project to renovate the school, part of the Department of Education’s Rebuilding Schools for the Future initiative, is set to open in September 2025. The new two-storey building will feature 17 general classrooms, Art and Technical rooms, as well as new office space, meeting rooms, and a modern school hall, providing state-of-the-art facilities for students to learn in. Phase two begins this year and will redevelop the remainder of the school site over the next few years.
The school provides exceptional pastoral care and SEND provision through its dedicated teams, who are committed to helping students achieve their best results. With a traditional approach to uniform, behaviour, and work, the school maintains high standards while also prioritizing strong support for students and actively involving parents in these aspects of school life.
Students are rewarded for their achievements, inside and outside of school, through a House system. Each July those students who have displayed the most effort and progress over the past year are celebrated at an Awards Evening held at the prestigious Cliffs Pavilion in Southend. The school also takes part in the Jack Petchey Achievement Awards scheme.
Sixth Form students have their own block with a common room, canteen and IT Suite. Students have the choice of studying A levels, Level 2 and 3 vocational courses, as well as a T level in Education and Early Years.
Staff strive for every student to have high aspirations and they are relentless in their drive to support students to achieve well academically. However, their deeper passion is for all students, regardless of their ability, to reach their full potential.
Students leave KES ready to embrace the next chapter of their young lives, whether that be studying a degree at a Russell Group university when they leave Sixth Form, or starting an apprenticeship when they leave at the end of Year 11.
In the next academic year, KES will have facilities amongst the finest in the country and certainly nothing comparable locally, a huge incentive for both new staff and students to join the school.
To find out more about Life@KES, please visit our Social Media pages:
www.facebook.com/thekingedmundschool
www.instagram.com/thekingedmundschool