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Welcome, and thank you for your interest in our Headteacher opportunity

Dear Applicant,

We hope that the information we have provided encourages you to make an application to our vibrant and welcoming school.

This is a unique opportunity to lead our school through a pivotal phase of growth and transformation. The post is offered on a fixed-term basis from January 2026 to August 31st 2028, with a clear focus on shaping the future through a period of demographic change. During this time, the successful candidate will help define the path forward, laying the foundations for a permanent appointment once future trends are established.

This role is about more than financial stewardship — it’s about inspiring innovation in teaching approaches, responding to evolving pupil needs, and building on the strong progress recognised in our 2022 Ofsted report. We are seeking a visionary leader who can guide our school community with confidence, creativity and care.

Clifton Green is, above all, a school at the beating heart of its community. We serve a wonderfully diverse catchment area and thrive on the rich mixture of support and challenge that we offer to our children and families. Our pupils are enthusiastic, curious, and full of potential — and our dedicated staff team is passionate about nurturing every child to thrive both academically and personally.

We are proud of our inclusive ethos, creative curriculum, and strong pastoral care. Our commitment to equity and opportunity is reflected in everything we do, from our engaging classroom experiences to our wide range of enrichment activities. We believe in developing confident learners who are ready to make a positive contribution to the world around them.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a visionary leader who shares our values and is ready to build on our strengths while shaping the next chapter of our journey. You’ll be joining a school with a strong foundation, a supportive governing body, and a community that values education deeply.

We now have a period of time where a falling demographic will have an impact. Our PAN has stepped down from 60, through 45 to 30 for 2027. A gradual adaptation to ‘smaller’ school principles will be necessary and governors are fully engaged in supporting and guiding school leadership in managing this likely transition.  This presents both challenges and opportunities.  We are seeking a Headteacher who can lead this transition with vision, creativity and strategic clarity.

At the same time, the school continues to be the recipient of significant capital investment from the City of York. Successive years of classroom and building refurbishment are at present expressed in a complete kitchen refurbishment which will, by 2026, give us a state of the art kitchen facility.

We are a collaborative Governing Body with high engagement in school strategy and are determined to build on some superb foundations as well as to learn from the past challenges that we have overcome. We have implemented a new leadership structure to underpin our values and have an open mind in this recruitment process to empowering a new visionary and inspiring leader. This is a true and transparent opportunity to lead our school to an outstanding future.

For an informal, confidential conversation about the role please email Ashley Benford, who has been engaged to support us with recruitment to this key role, or call on 07814 932 389. We would encourage you to come and visit in advance of your application and see for yourself the enthusiasm that our pupils have for their education. Such a visit is not part of the selection process, and whether applicants have visited will not influence the outcome. Please also look at the school website, Inspection Reports and newsletters to get a feel for our school.

I hope you find the information provided useful and informative and that it will encourage you to apply. On behalf of the governing body, thank you again for your interest in Clifton Green Primary School.

Yours faithfully,

John Kesterton

Chair of Governors

 

 

 

Learn more about our Headteacher opportunity

Post: Headteacher
Location: York
Number on Roll: 373
Commencing: January 2026
Salary:  LPR pt14 Fixed Point (£71,330 per year)
Contract Term: Fixed Term Contract 2 years and 2 terms Commencing asap from January 2026 concluding August 31st 2028

Our Opportunity:

“Clifton Green Primary School is at a pivotal moment in its journey, with a falling roll that will reshape the school’s structure and strategy over the coming years. We’re looking for a visionary Headteacher who can lead us through this transition, ensuring that our values, standards and community spirit remain strong while adapting to a smaller intake.”

About You:

You are a strategic and compassionate leader, ready to guide Clifton Green Primary School through a period of significant change. With strong managerial skills, you’ll oversee the school’s transition to a smaller intake, following the reduction of the PAN from 60 to 45 in September 2025, with the possibility of further reduction. You’ll bring experience in leading teams through periods of change, with a thoughtful and strategic approach to organisational development. As the school transitions to a smaller intake, you’ll ensure that staffing structures and responsibilities are aligned with the evolving needs of the school, balancing financial sustainability with a continued focus on high-quality teaching and learning.

Your ability to manage budgets and reduce deficits will be critical and you’ll work closely with the Deputy Head, School Business Manager, and Governors’ Resource Committee to make informed, transparent decisions. You’ll be a skilled communicator, able to keep staff, parents, and carers informed and engaged throughout this journey, creating opportunities for them to contribute to the decision-making process and feel part of the school’s future.

You’ll have a proven track record of forging strong relationships across the school community and beyond, working collaboratively with families, local services and council teams to improve outcomes for all pupils. You’ll uphold ambitious educational standards, using effective evaluation to identify barriers to progress and lead targeted improvements.

Above all, you’ll be a people-focused leader who inspires trust, supports professional development, and carries staff with you, ensuring that Clifton Green remains a nurturing, inclusive, and high-achieving school.

We can offer you:

  • A happy and friendly school at the centre of its community, with children who respect each other and have a thirst for learning.
  • A culture which allows all staff to thrive and develop.
  • An opportunity to unlock the immense potential at Clifton Green Primary School and lead it on a journey to becoming a beacon of excellence in primary education.
  • Significant levels of support from the Local Authority, Governing Board and a staff team who are experienced, committed and passionate about our school.
  • A Governing Body committed to providing support on all matters including more sensitive or difficult issues and including the wellbeing of all staff members.
  • The school is part of a number of networks where Headteachers meet regularly.

For an informal, confidential conversation about the role please call Ashley on 07814 932 389 or email. Ashley has been engaged to support us with recruitment to this exciting opportunity.

Key dates:

Application closing date: Applications close on Sunday 23rd November 2025
Shortlisting: Wednesday 26th November 2025
Interviews: Assessment days to take place on Tuesday 9th and Wednesday 10th December 2025

Visits

We strongly recommend that you visit us so we can share with you why we are so proud of our school, and you will have the opportunity to see what we have to offer.  Dates when we can accommodate visits are detailed below - if these are not possible for you please contact Ashley, as we may be able to offer alternatives.

 

Wednesday 5th November - 2:15pm and 3:30pm

Wednesday 12th November - 1:30pm

Friday 14th November - 10am and 11:30am

Thursday 20th November - 10am and 2pm

Friday 21st November - 10am and 2pm

After school visits could be accommodated on Wednesday 12th or Friday 21st November.

 

Information About Our School

Information About Application and Guidance

We are committed to meeting the needs of our diverse community and aim to have a workforce reflecting this diversity. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We have a robust child protection and safeguarding policy. and all staff will receive training relevant to their role at induction and throughout employment at the school. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Please note this post is in regulated activity and exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and subject to satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS criminal records and barred list check for work with children. An online search may be undertaken as part of the recruitment process on information available in the public domain. Candidates should disclose anything that may be relevant in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

Posted in Current Vacancies, Senior leadership position, Vacancies