Grove Road Community Primary School
Interim Headteacher
Location: Grove Road Community Primary School, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Contract: Fixed Term – 1 term with the potential option to extend
Salary: L15 - £70,293
Commencing: September 2025
Are you an experienced Headteacher with a strong track record of driving school improvement, eager to take on an interim role where you can make an immediate and meaningful impact?
About us
Grove Road Community Primary School, nestled in the heart of Harrogate, is seeking an Interim Headteacher to guide our vibrant and inclusive school community. With a strong ethos of “living and learning together with PRIDE,” we are proud of our nurturing environment, dedicated staff, and commitment to every child’s success. This is a unique opportunity to lead a school that values creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Our Opportunity
This Interim Headship at Grove Road Community Primary School offers a unique and rewarding opportunity for an experienced leader seeking a short-term but impactful role (with the potential option for extension). It’s an ideal role for an established Headteacher looking for a new challenge on an interim basis and provides the chance to lead a vibrant, inclusive school community with a strong ethos and a commitment to excellence. You’ll have the opportunity to shape the school’s strategic direction, inspire and support high-quality teaching and learning across the school, and make a real difference in the lives of pupils and families in the heart of Harrogate.
We are looking for:
You will be an experienced Headteacher with a strong history of driving school improvement, raising educational outcomes, and cultivating a culture of ambition and achievement. Your insight and experience will allow you to swiftly assess the school’s needs, implement impactful strategies, and deliver measurable progress that benefits both pupils and staff.
With outstanding leadership and communication skills, you will build trust and foster collaboration across the school community. Whether engaging with pupils, staff, parents, governors, or external partners, your ability to connect, listen, and lead with empathy will inspire confidence and shared purpose.
This role will appeal to someone who thrives on challenge and is energised by the opportunity to make a meaningful difference. You’ll bring determination and clarity to complex situations, adapting quickly and leading with purpose. Your resilience and strategic mindset will ensure that your leadership not only addresses immediate priorities but also lays the foundation for lasting improvement. Above all, you will be guided by the school’s values and values, ensuring that every decision supports the best outcomes for children and the wider community.
We can offer you
- Strength in our vision and values and the ethos these inspire in our community of children, staff and parents.
- An excellent opportunity to provide strategic leadership and direction in a supportive environment.
- A happy, positive and supportive school, with children who respect and care for each other and have a thirst for learning.
- A Governing Body who are committed and passionate about our school and eager to support your work.
- Significant support from a dedicated staff team ready to grow under your leadership, in addition to ongoing support from the Local Authority.
Queries
For an informal, confidential conversation about the role please call Ashley Benford on 07814 932 389 or email ashley.benford@northyorks.gov.uk. Ashley has been engaged to support us with recruitment to this key role.
Application Process and key documents
Please note we do not accept CV’s. Please apply via NYC Jobs. However, please contact us if your need to apply in a different format.
Closing date: Tuesday 10th June
Interview date: w/c 16th June (TBC)
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 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.
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 here.