Welcome, and thank you for your interest in our Headteacher opportunity
Dear Applicant,
Welcome, and thank you for your interest in our exciting Headteacher opportunity. We hope that the information we have provided encourages you to make an application to our warm and welcoming school.
We work together to nurture an inclusive family of hard-working, respectful individuals who have a lifelong love of learning.
“Life in all its fullness” (John 10:10)
Embsay Church of England Primary School is set in the picturesque Yorkshire Dales. We are seeking an inspirational Headteacher to lead our thriving and inclusive school community. Rooted in Christian values and a strong sense of belonging, we are proud of our nurturing environment where every child is encouraged to grow, achieve, and shine. With a dedicated staff team, engaged families, and close links to St. Mary’s Church in the village, this is a unique opportunity to shape the future of a school that values excellence, creativity, and care. If you are passionate about leading with integrity and fostering a love of learning, we would love to hear from you.
At Embsay CE VC Primary School we value the individuality of all our children. We are committed to giving all our children every opportunity to achieve the highest of standards in all that they do, underpinned by our deeply Christian ethos. We do this by taking account of pupils’ varied life experiences and needs. We offer a broad and balanced curriculum and have high expectations for all children. Our team of talented and dedicated staff all work together to provide the best possible education for the children in our care. Their achievements, attitudes and well-being matter and we offer them the opportunity to discover their gifts and talents given to them by God and experience ‘life in all its fullness’ (John 10:10).
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. We would also encourage applicants to have a look at the school website 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 Embsay Primary School.
Yours faithfully,
Chris Atherton
Chair of Governors
Learn more about our Headteacher opportunity
Post: Headteacher
Number on Roll: Up to 210
Commencing: September 2025 or January 2026
Salary: L12 - L16 £65,286 - £72,162
Contract Term: Permanent
Our Opportunity:
Are you an inspiring and compassionate leader ready to make a lasting impact?
The Headship of a village Church school is a truly unique opportunity. At Embsay Church of England Primary School, you’ll join a close-knit, caring community where you can build meaningful relationships with every child and family. We are seeking a Headteacher who combines warmth and adaptability with strategic thinking and ambition. Our new leader will not only nurture our strong ethos and high standards but also help us “future-proof” the school—developing both our buildings and our pupil numbers to ensure long-term sustainability. This role calls for a skilled professional who can balance the budget, manage and inspire staff, lead on safeguarding as DSL, analyse data to drive improvement, and maintain strong relationships with our supportive community. You will also take the lead in specific areas of school development and be the visible, trusted face of the school.
About You:
You are a confident and compassionate leader, ready to take on the unique challenge of leading a village school with a rich heritage and a forward-facing vision. You understand the importance of gaining buy-in from the local community while navigating the weight of historic expectations. With rising SEND needs and financial pressures, you bring a sharp eye for balancing budgets, deploying staffing effectively, and ensuring that every child receives the support they need to thrive. You will bring a clear and strategic approach to school improvement, with a strong grasp of curriculum leadership, financial planning, and stakeholder communication. You will not only be the face of the school but also its driving force—someone who can inspire, unite, and lead through change.
To succeed in this role, you will demonstrate:
- Confidence – to make informed, decisive choices and lead with assurance.
- Public Relations skills – to shape and maintain a positive reputation while fostering strong relationships with parents, governors, and the wider community.
- Strategic thinking – to develop and execute long-term plans that align with the school’s goals and sustainability.
- Strong communication – to articulate ideas clearly, navigate difficult conversations, and inspire trust and collaboration.
- Change management – to lead the school through necessary transformation with clarity and care.
- Adaptability and resilience – to respond effectively to shifting demands and unforeseen challenges.
- People-centred leadership – to mentor staff, build strong teams, and cultivate a positive and inclusive workplace culture.
- Pedagogical awareness – to understand and support high-quality teaching and learning across the school.
- Business acumen – to manage resources ethically and accountably.
- Innovation mindset – to drive creativity, progress, and continuous improvement.
- Wellbeing advocacy – to champion the mental health and wellbeing of staff and pupils alike.
We can offer you:
- A primary school in a picturesque setting with a dedicated and hardworking team.
- Happy and friendly children who respect each other and have a thirst for learning.
- A culture which allows all staff to thrive and develop.
- An opportunity to see the huge potential that exists and the time to make Embsay Primary School a beacon of excellence in primary education.
- Significant levels of support from the Local Authority, Diocese, 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 Cluster where the Headteachers meet regularly. This provides a support network for sharing ideas and best practice.
For an informal, confidential conversation about the role please call Ashley Benford on 07814 932 389 or email. Ashley has been engaged to support us with recruitment to this exciting opportunity.
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. We will be holding open an open afternoon and evening separately on 9th June 2025 between 1pm and 6pm. If you would like the opportunity to visit, please email Ashley Benford to book your space
Key dates
Application closing date: 15th June 2025
Shortlisting: 18th June 2025
Interviews: 23rd and 24th June 2025
When applying please take into account the following supporting documents:
Person Specification [128kb doc.]
Job Description [54kb doc.]
Information About Our School
Embsay Church of England Primary School is situated in a charming village setting, surrounded by the scenic beauty of the Yorkshire Dales. This tranquil environment provides an ideal backdrop for learning and community engagement.
The catchment area primarily includes Embsay and the neighbouring village of Eastby. The school has good connectivity to Skipton, a town with fascinating history and a culture of independent shops, restaurants and bars. Embsay itself is a thriving and close-knit community. The village is popular with walkers and cyclists exploring the southern Dales. It is known as being one of the main stops on the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway heritage line.
Our Pupils
Embsay CE VC School serves children from the school year in which they are five years old, up to the age of eleven. The school has a pupil roll of approximately 200, organised into seven classes.
Our children are compassionate, responsible and engaged with the school's Christian ethos. They understand our vision for the school, using it to guide their actions and helping them lead meaningful lives. Their behaviour reflects the school's nurturing culture, and they flourish socially and emotionally within this all-embracing community. We aim for all our children to feel happy, fulfilled and challenged in a rich learning environment that aims to cater for their individual needs and develops a love for learning.
We believe that good behaviour and discipline are essential to successful teaching and learning, and so we promote a respectful, inclusive environment where children are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions and support one another’s learning.
Children also take part in fun local events such as Young Voices, Skipton Music Festival, Skipton Santa Fun Run and Village Fetes.
As you might expect for children of a rural village school, our children eco aware and are advocates for the environment with a strong sense of responsibility to protect and nurture it. The school also supports and raises donations for the Homeless Not Helpless charity in Bradford as well as schools in Africa.
Pupil premium numbers are 3.5% of the population and SEND/EHCP 15% currently on role with a range of needs. The next intake is not full, having an intake for September 2025 of 25. A priority for the new Headteacher will be to drive recruiting new pupils to join the school.
Ofsted wrote (March 2025):
‘Pupils are happy in this welcoming school. Relationships across the school are warm and respectful. This reflects the school’s positive culture and vision that includes ‘working together to develop respectful individuals who have a lifelong love of learning.’
Our Staffing Team
We are proud of our dedicated and hardworking team of staff who are committed to bettering the school for our children and community. The team is led with a focus on inclusivity and academic excellence.
Currently we have a Deputy Headteacher who is the Acting Headteacher. Our wider SLT consists of our SENDCO and Curriculum Lead, both of whom are also teachers. As with every school, SEND resource is always a challenge however we have a fantastic team of dedicated support staff who support our teachers to ensure teaching is in the classroom and that children receive equality in their curriculum.
Our staff is made up of our Acting Head who is DSL, 8 teachers with 1 Teacher as SENDCo and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, 8 Teaching Assistants, 1 Art Specialist, 2 Administrative officers.
We try to have an open and honest culture within the school, including staff where possible to ensure their voices and opinions are heard. We are exploring academisation which may help provide additional stability and support for the SLT.
Our Governing Body
The Headteacher at Embsay Primary School is supported by a committed and proactive Governing Body that works closely with school leadership to uphold high standards, champion the school’s vision, and ensure the best outcomes for all pupils.
Life in all its fullness” (John 10:10)
Embsay Primary School has a strong culture rooted in its Christian values, which serve as the foundation for everything it does. The school's vision is to nurture an inclusive family of hard-working, respectful individuals who develop a lifelong love of learning. This ethos is reflected in their commitment to creating a secure and supportive environment where children feel valued, respected, and encouraged to achieve their full potential. The school emphasizes the importance of mutual respect, kindness, and understanding, fostering a sense of community among students, staff, and families.
To read more about our school’s vision and ethos please click here
Learning at Embsay Church of England Primary School
A key part of our school culture places a strong emphasis on high-quality learning experiences.
We view learning as a collaborative and reflective process, where children are taught to view mistakes as opportunities for growth. Pupils are encouraged to give constructive feedback to peers, celebrate each other’s achievements, and develop problem-solving skills.
The curriculum is designed to support the spiritual, moral, cultural, and physical development of all children, underpinned by the school’s Christian ethos and a commitment to treating each child as a valued individual.
Learn more about our curriculum overview here
Wellbeing of Staff and Pupils
We are deeply committed to promoting positive mental health and wellbeing among pupils, their families, staff members, and governors. This commitment is an intrinsic part of the school ethos: “Life in all its fullness” for everyone.
We adopt a whole school approach to wellbeing, which goes beyond teaching and learning to influence all aspects of school life. This approach is based on evidence and experience, aiming to support the emotional and mental health of the entire school community. We encourage open communication, inviting parents to speak with staff if they have concerns about their child’s wellbeing, and provide named contacts for support.
Read more about our Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing policy here
Relationships with parents, carers and the local community
Embsay Primary has a wide and inclusive community, which is a real strength of our school. We have a dedicated and active PTA who organise events to raise money for the school including summer fairs, discos and movie nights. Parents and carers are invited to Parent Forum Meetings, Open Classroom Events as well as to take part in workshops and courses. As a school, we are always looking at how we can improve communication to parents and carers and are open to new ways of doing this.
We benefit from an active parent partnership, with events including discos, fairs, bake sales and movie nights led by our parents and carers. We enjoy inviting our families in to join us for opportunities such as special curriculum learning days, sharing assemblies and parent coffee mornings.
As part of a small village, we recognise the important part played by the school. Our community wants a happy, welcoming school with strong results and for us to play an active part in the village.
The school has close links with the village church and enjoys good relations with the Diocese of Leeds, supporting our church links and spirituality within the curriculum and community.
Relationship with LA
North Yorkshire Council have supported the school this year on school improvement driven by the needs within school. The school is actively improving links with the various LA teams to ensure that the focus and momentum for change is not lost after our recent Ofsted Inspection.
Wider networks
Embsay Primary is part of the Craven Castle Alliance of Schools, a partnership of 38 primary school in the Craven district of North Yorkshire. The new Headteacher will be able to link into this group for support. We anticipate that as we look to academise, we can draw upon a wider network of schools across a Trust.
Ofsted
We have recently had an Ofsted inspection in March 2025, and are very proud to report that Embsay School was deemed to have taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.
The school has been praised for maintaining high standards and making effective improvements. Inspectors highlighted the warm and respectful relationships across the school, reflecting a strong, positive culture. Pupils are achieving well in reading and mathematics, supported by a well-implemented phonics programme and confident teaching. The school also excels in personal development, with pupils showing respect for different cultures and enjoying representing their school. Attendance and behaviour are strong, and leadership and governance were commended for having a clear understanding of the school’s strengths and areas for growth. Staff feel well-supported, particularly in managing workload and wellbeing.
The main area identified for improvement is writing, particularly in the early years. The school is working to enhance pupils’ early writing skills, handwriting fluency, and writing stamina. While actions are already underway—including a new reading scheme and increased monitoring in English—this remains a key focus for development. In addition, we are looking to ensure pupils with SEND can consistently access the full curriculum alongside their peers.
Prospective new Headteachers can see from our recent inspection what we are doing well and where there is still room for improvement in the school. We are looking for someone with the capacity to develop and execute long-term plans that align with goals and long-term strategy of the school.
SIAMS
The latest SIAMS report for Embsay School highlights the pupils as compassionate, responsible, and deeply engaged with the school's Christian ethos. The report emphasises that the school's vision is well-understood by the pupils, guiding their actions and helping them lead meaningful lives. Their behaviour reflects the school's nurturing culture, and they flourish socially and emotionally within this inclusive community.
Read the Full SIAMS report here
Pupil achievement, attainment and progress
Current school strengths: Maths, Reading and RE. We are an inclusive community with a strong engagement across this.
Current areas needing improvement: Writing, curriculum cohesion, finance and SEND support are all areas that the next Headteacher will need to lead on, continuing the improvement the school has started.
Budget position
The school has had a recent restructure to balance the books, however falling pupil numbers and increased SEND demand are causing strain and a deficit on the budget. The school itself is an old building requiring some maintenance and the IT infrastructure requires updating. The school PTA is very active and the community raises funds to support the school. The next Headteacher will need to navigate these financial complexities with clarity and purpose.
Short and Mid-term Priorities
- Improvements in general presentation across all books, all year groups and all subjects.
- Maintaining clear communication with the school community
- Specific roles for the right staff
- Clearly laid out housekeeping/non-negotiables
- Ensuring those with barrier to learning are supported by teachers, not just support staff
- Curriculum cohesion
- Writing performance
Long term Ambitions
- Support the governing body in exploring academisation, and manage any process we undertake smoothly and effectively
- Data matches or goes above national averages in Phonics and SATS.
- Balanced budget
The core aim and purpose of Leeds Diocesan Board of Education is to ensure that the services and support we offer make a real difference in helping our schools improve the outcomes for the pupils in their care, delivered in the spirit of the Diocesan values of Loving Living Learning.
The Diocese of Leeds Education Team provides advisory support and training to over 236 church schools across nine local authority areas and eleven multi-academy trusts. We are proud of our family of schools, which continue to improve and offer rich learning experiences. Our advisory team comprises experienced church school headteachers, each school having a named adviser to support its priorities and tackle inevitable challenges.
The Diocesan Education Team's primary role is to preserve and enhance the religious foundation of church schools. The church has a long history in education, providing free schooling before the state's involvement. Currently, around 25% of primary schools have a Church of England foundation, with an estimated 15 million people in the country having attended a church school at some point.
We work alongside our school leaders to:
- Ensure distinctive education that enables pupils and adults to flourish.
- Ensure every church school is effective.
- Recruit, retain, develop, and sustain inspiring teachers and leaders.
- Support strong links between church schools and their wider parish communities.
- Provide effective opportunities to encounter the Christian faith through collective
- worship, chaplaincy, spiritual development, and mental health and well-being
- Be a voice of influence in education and the church locally, regionally, and nationally.
Support for schools is provided through the Enhanced Service Plan, our service level agreement, which includes a named adviser, a broad training offer and many helpful resources.
We know that being appointed to the role of Headteacher is an exciting and critical time in your career, and we will be there to support you with every step. Transitions are unique and the first few months in a new leadership role are particularly significant. Recognising this, we offer structured bespoke support for all headteachers in their first year and beyond. Please be assured that we are there for you.
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is England's largest county and one of the most rural. The area comprises the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a stunning coastline around Scarborough and Whitby. There are ruined castles and abbeys, serene gardens, unique breweries, thrilling rides and industrial heritage. The area hosted the phenomenal Tour de France ‘Grand Depart’ in 2014 and has since created the Tour de Yorkshire, an annual event with global recognition. Our success in supporting these events led to Harrogate hosting the UCI Cycling World Championships in 2019.
North Yorkshire has plenty to offer the outdoor enthusiast. From the hard gritstone of Almscliff and Brimham rocks to the limestone of Malham, Gordale and Kilnsey climbing venues are in abundance. The Yorkshire Dales is the premier area for caving and for mountain biking; there are the bridleways of the Dales and North York Moors as well as the renowned trail centre at Dalby Forest. There are a small number of sailing clubs on reservoirs around the county and fantastic surfsport venues and sea kayaking on the east coast.
While the county is rightly known for its wide open spaces, it also incorporates attractive market towns including Pickering and Helmsley, traditional seaside towns, the Spa town of Harrogate and the ancient city of York - the most visited city outside of London. There are a wide range of shopping, leisure and cultural facilities as well as excellent schools, universities, road and rail links, there really is everything to offer you and your family as a place to work, live and enjoy!
Travelling further afield we have convenient connectivity, with close proximity to metropolitan cities of Leeds and Newcastle, with little over two hours commute on the main train line to London. We border the Lake District, Lancashire, County Durham, and Yorkshire & Humber regions with all they have to offer.
Information About Application and Guidance
When applying please consider the following supporting documents:
Download Person Specification - Headteacher (.docx) [128 KB] (opens in a new tab)
Download Job Description - Headteacher (.docx) [54 KB] (opens in a new tab)
Application guidance, including policy statement on the recruitment of ex-offenders
The supporting information section of your application should clearly evidence your ability to meet the requirements we have outlined in the person specification. This will be used to shortlist applicants for this role and therefore it is imperative that you provide evidence as requested.
References
When completing your application, please provide two employment referees.
Your application plays an important part in your selection. As part of the application process, you may have been asked to demonstrate within this application form how you meet some or all of the criteria or key competencies outlined in the person specification. The supporting information section of your application should clearly evidence your ability to meet these requirements. This will be used to shortlist applicants for this role and therefore it is imperative that you provide evidence as requested. Rather than simply repeating your career history, look at the skills and experience required by the job and provide evidence that you possess them by giving specific and detailed examples which include a focus on outcomes and on your own contribution to the scenario. Try to use different and varied examples wherever possible.
When completing these sections, do not forget the skills and experience you have gained outside full-time work. Outlining your previous work experience or other responsibilities may help you to uncover skills which you have taken for granted and which are clear signs of your ability to do the job.
Should you require the application form in a different format, please contact Resourcing Solutions.
Canvassing
Should your application be for a local authority school, you must not try to influence an elected Council Member, any council employee or a member of the school governing body, to act in your favour, as this will disqualify you. If you are related to a Councillor, a Council employee or a governor you must indicate this in the relevant section of the application form.
Data Protection
North Yorkshire Council (NYC) advertise vacancies and process applications on behalf of schools and external organisations (third parties) in North Yorkshire. NYC are not responsible for the recruitment/employment practices of third parties and accept no liability in relation to the vacancy and any subsequent recruitment/employment processes. Further information on how we process your data can be found by reading our privacy notice.
Rehabilitation of Offenders
The post you are applying for requires you to have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service criminal records check for work with children, with a barred list check if you work in regulated activity. This check for disclosure of criminal history will include spent convictions, pending prosecutions / current court proceeding and police enquiries.
Should you be shortlisted, you will be asked to disclose full details of your criminal history prior to your interview. This includes any information deemed relevant as part of Keeping Children Safe in Education which may arise in an online search undertaken on shortlisted candidates. This information may be discussed with you at your interview in order to assess job related risks, but we emphasise that your application will be considered on merit and ability and you will not be discriminated against unfairly. Failure to disclose this information will result in any offer of employment being withdrawn.
Please also see the policy statement on the Recruitment of Ex-offenders below.
Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-offenders (Source www.gov.uk)
- As an organisation assessing applicants’ suitability for positions which are included in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order using criminal record checks processed through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), this school complies fully with the DBS code of practice and undertakes to treat all applicants for positions fairly.
- This school undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a criminal record check on the basis of a conviction or other information revealed.
- This school can only ask an individual to provide details of convictions and cautions that it is legally entitled to know about. Where a DBS certificate can legally be requested (where the position is one that is included in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) order 1975 as amended, and where appropriate Policy Act Regulations as amended) this school can only ask an individual about convictions and cautions that are not protected.
- This school is committed to the fair treatment of its staff and potential staff, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, responsibilities for dependents, age, physical/mental disability or offending background.
- This school has this written policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders, which is made available to all DBS applicants at the start of the recruitment process.
- This school actively promotes equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential and welcome applications from a wide range of candidates, including those with criminal records. Candidates are selected for interview based on their skills, qualifications and experience and criminal record information is only requested from short-listed candidates.
- A disclosure is only requested from the DBS after a thorough risk assessment has indicated that one is both proportionate and relevant to the position concerned. For those positions where a criminal record check is identified as necessary, all application forms, job adverts and recruitment briefs will contain a statement that a DBS certificate will be requested in the event of the individual being offered the position.
- This school ensures that all those who are involved in the recruitment process have been suitably trained to identify and assess the relevance and circumstances of offences.
- This school also ensures that they have received appropriate guidance and training in the relevant legislation relating to the employment of ex-offenders, e.g. the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
- At interview, or in a separate discussion, this school ensures that an open and measured discussion takes place on the subject of any offences or other matter that might be relevant to the position. Failure to reveal information that is directly relevant to the position sought could lead to withdrawal of an offer of employment.
- This school makes every subject of a criminal record check submitted to DBS aware of the existence of the code of practice and makes a copy available on request.
- This school undertakes to discuss any matter revealed on a DBS certificate with the individual seeking the position before withdrawing a conditional offer of employment.
References
When completing your application, please provide two employment referees. One of these must be from your most recent employer.
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.