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

Richmond Methodist Primary and Nursery School was founded in the mid-1800s by the Methodist Church and is located in the beautiful Georgian market town of Richmond, North Yorkshire (dubbed the Gateway to the Dales).  The local area is semi-rural, and within five miles of the UK’s second largest Army Base – Catterick Garrison.  There are excellent road links with the A1 and A66 within 10 minutes’ drive, mainline train stations at nearby Darlington and Northallerton (20-30 minutes by car), and airports at Teesside, Newcastle and Leeds/Bradford.

Richmond is a welcoming and active community, with opportunities locally in arts, crafts, sports (rugby, football, hockey, cricket, swimming, triathlons, running, outdoor pursuits), music and a thriving social scene, often driven by the strong community churches, including our wonderful Methodist Church.

Our Pupils

Our pupils are thoughtful, kind and responsible. Behaviour for learning is excellent, rooted in consistent relational practice and the school’s Christian ethos of agape love. Pupils actively look out for one another, ensuring everyone feels included and supported. Exclusions are rare because inclusion, nurture and belonging sit at the heart of school life.

A recent SIAMS inspection shared that: “The Christian vision is lived out through a tangible and readily understood expression of love which permeates throughout the school, creating a profound sense of belonging and enabling pupils and adults to flourish.”

Our children come from a changing and mixed catchment area and represent a broad mix of social backgrounds. Overall levels of deprivation are lower than national averages, with both the school’s location and pupil base sitting in quintile 2 (less deprived). Around 20% of pupils are eligible for Pupil Premium, a figure rising year on year, and 11.7% receive Free School Meals. We also proudly serve 8.3% Service Children, enriching the school’s sense of community and respect.

RMS is an inclusive school where every child is known, valued and supported. SEND need is below national averages, with 9.5% of pupils on SEND support and 1.3% with an EHCP. Needs are wide-ranging, with the highest proportions linked to Specific Learning Difficulties and Autism Spectrum Disorder. A small number of pupils have physical disabilities, and several children are both SEND and disadvantaged.

The school is predominantly White British (90.8%), though pupils represent 10 of 17 recognised ethnic groups, including pupils from Ukraine. A very small proportion of pupils (1.9%) speak English as an additional language, well below national levels. Pupil stability is high at 90.2%, reflecting strong community roots and continuity.

Attendance and behaviour are exceptional. Whole‑school attendance stands at 96.6%, above national averages for the past four years, with similarly strong attendance for disadvantaged and SEND pupils. Persistent absence is significantly below national levels at 6.2%. Where challenges arise, staff work collaboratively with families and external agencies to secure support and maintain engagement.

Ofsted recognised Dec 2022 - Pupils are proud to attend Richmond Methodist Primary School. This is an inclusive and caring school. Pupils are eager to share how everyone is equal and valued here.

Our Staffing Team

Our school has a committed, experienced and stable staff team who embody the school’s inclusive ethos and aspirational culture. Professional development is a clear strength, with the school investing in growing talent from within. Over the past two years, two HLTAs have been successfully supported through the Assessment‑Only route into teaching, reflecting the school’s dedication to developing future educators.

Leadership is made up of the Headteacher (who is also our Safeguarding Lead) and Deputy Headteacher. The School Business Leader, appointed in September 2022, is now an integral member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing strong operational and strategic oversight.

RMS has navigated recent periods of staff absence with professionalism and teamwork, ensuring the school remained stable, nurturing and focused on high‑quality teaching. A number of staff have engaged in national professional qualifications, supported and encouraged by the school. In 2024–25, the Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher and a Senior Teacher successfully achieved NPQEL, NPQH and NPQSL. The SENCo also achieved a distinction in her master’s degree in Educational Psychology, strengthening expertise in SEND practice.

The school continues to build capacity in early career development, currently supporting a Year 1 ECT through the UCL Early Career Teacher and Mentor Development programmes. In addition, the recognition of the expansion and success of the Early Years Foundation Stage has been reflected in the allocation of a TLR, supporting the leadership of a high‑performing team that has grown from two to four classes.

Across the school, staff are dedicated, relational and deeply committed to the wellbeing, progress and flourishing of every child. RMS is a place where professionals can grow, collaborate and feel valued, making it an exciting environment for our next Headteacher to lead and thrive.

Our Governing Body

We benefit from a supportive and motivated Governing Board from a range of backgrounds who bring their skills and knowledge to support the school.

Governors are deeply committed to the school’s Christian ethos and vision, and they work proactively to ensure the very best outcomes for pupils, staff and families.

The Governing Body is both supportive and ambitious for the school, providing thoughtful challenge, strategic oversight and a genuine partnership approach with the senior leadership team. Collaborative working practices are well‑established, enabling governors to contribute meaningfully across all areas of school development, including safeguarding, curriculum, finance, SEND and community engagement.

Governors actively invest in their own development, undertaking training to strengthen their knowledge and impact. This commitment to continuous improvement ensures they remain effective, informed and confident in fulfilling their responsibilities. Their engagement contributes to a culture where staff and leaders feel valued, encouraged and well supported.

United by a shared belief in the school’s vision of “doing all the good we can,” our Governing Body plays a vital role in shaping the strategic direction of RMS, championing inclusion, and ensuring the school continues to flourish at the heart of the community.

Ofsted recognised: Governors and school staff are proud of the work they do for their school community. Governors are knowledgeable about their roles. They provide challenge to school leaders. This work means both leaders and governors know the strengths and development points of the school. – December 2022

Read more about the School’s Governing body here

Our school vision – Proud to be Richmond Methodist School – Ready, Mutually Respectful, Safe.

Doing all the good we can – for all

Our school was founded by the Methodist Church in the mid-1800s and today still provides education for all. Our ethos is based on Methodist values and the Methodist principle of "for all" is reflected in the inclusive nature of our school. Our vision for our whole school family is ‘Doing all the good you can’  “for all”- “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”  Methodism within Christianity, provides our school vision which is centred within the Methodist belief and bible teachings; that all people are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and all people are of equal value/are equally loved by God (Galatians 3:28).

At our School, we know we are all welcome; willing to learn and receive; to reflect and respond; to deepen and develop and thereby to flourish. Jesus teaches Christians to: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul mind and strength… and love your neighbour as yourself.” (Matthew 22, verses 35-40). This is our agape school vision.

Jesus calls Christians to focus upwards, towards God. Then outwards to serving others. Finally, he wants Christians to reflect inwards, in their own hearts, so they can know how to be the best possible version of themselves.  We present this transformational model as a window to look out, a mirror to reflect inwards and a door leading towards transformation.  This is the core ethos of our Richmond Methodist Primary and Nursery School ‘family’ and is omnipresent in every conversation or choice we make as members of our school community.

We encourage all to take part in our Collective Worship; to consider what this means to them, and what it may look like in their interactions as they navigate each day.

We believe that doing ‘all the good you can’ at all times and to all people, is best for the flourishing of both individuals and all of our communities.

Read more about our ethos and what it means to be a Methodist School here

Learning at Richmond Methodist School

Our curriculum is designed to build pupils’ knowledge step by step, helping them to “know more and remember more”. From Early Years through to Year 6, learning is introduced in manageable stages and regularly revisited so that key concepts are securely retained. Through purposeful practice and frequent opportunities to recall prior learning, children develop strong long-term understanding. This approach enables them to become confident, fluent learners who can make meaningful connections and apply their knowledge in a range of contexts.

As a school, we celebrate that Christian values are not exclusive to Christianity and are valued by the wider community as they provide a moral compass for all. This is the basis for our citizenship curriculum.  Our Collective Worship is organised to enable the exploration and reflection of the values listed below. They are taken from the teachings of Jesus and are by no means exhaustive. Through these and our Religious Education, we teach children to ask and take time to reflect upon the really big questions they may have, some of which may not have an answer!

Wellbeing of Staff and Pupils

At Richmond Methodist Primary School, the wellbeing and mental health of pupils and staff are central to our ethos. We create a compassionate, inclusive environment where everyone feels safe, supported and able to express themselves.

Our approach promotes positive relationships, emotional resilience and a strong sense of belonging, ensuring that children are happy, confident learners and staff feel valued and empowered. There is exceptional SEND provision at RMS that supports all children and families with SEND including the most vulnerable pupils in school.

We are committed to prioritising mental health through proactive support, open communication and a culture where every individual is cared for and able to flourish.

Ofsted recognised: Leaders and governors consider the well-being of staff. With this, staff are positive about the way in which they can work to support their workload - Dec 2022

Relationships with parents, carers and the local community

We recognise the importance of strong, positive relationships with parents, carers and the wider community as fundamental to our success. We prioritise open communication and meaningful engagement, working closely with families through regular updates, supportive partnerships and active involvement in school life, including FORMS events (PTA), performances, charity initiatives and church celebrations.

Our leadership team is trusted by parents and the community, with a reputation for ensuring high standards of behaviour, safety and inclusion, and for providing compassionate support to vulnerable families. We remain outward-looking and community‑focused, responding proactively to local challenges such as attendance, and collaborating openly and transparently with Governors to ensure a shared vision. Through these strong partnerships, we create a community within school that works together for the benefit of every child.

Relationship with LA

As a locally maintained, Methodist school, we have strong and trusted relationships with both the local authority (North Yorkshire Council) and Methodist Academies and Schools Trust (MAST).  We also have good relationships with other Methodist Schools – especially Melsonby and Gunnerside Methodist Schools who are local to Richmond.

Wider networks

As well as the Governing Body and local community, our next Headteacher will have further support from:

• Swaledale Alliance
• Red Kite Teaching School Hub
• MAST
• When the Adults Change
• OPAL
• HART Alliance

Ofsted

The last Ofsted report in December 2022 confirmed that the school, “continued to be GOOD”.

Ofsted praised the school’s welcoming environment, high pupil and parental satisfaction, strong safeguarding, and effective leadership. Areas for development focus on deepening pupils’ subject knowledge in some wider curriculum subjects and further strengthening curriculum leadership.

We are looking for our next Headteacher to lead the school confidently through its next Ofsted inspection and build upon its successes to secure a Strong Standard across the new Ofsted report card.

SIAMS

Our last SIAMS inspection was carried out in January 2025.  The report found the following:

Strengths:

• The Christian vision is the natural, unenforced language of the school. It is lived out through a tangible and readily understood expression of love which permeates throughout the school. This creates a profound sense of belonging, enabling pupils and adults to flourish.
• This is an exceptionally inclusive school where pupils and adults are known and loved as the unique person they are. Staff carefully adapt the curriculum and provide specialist input creating an equity of provision. The impact of this on pupils is highly beneficial and can, at times, be truly transformational.
• Collective worship is an uplifting and valued time for adults and pupils. Worship enables spiritual development through meaningful moments of reflection, combined with joyful singing and opportunities to consider Bible teachings. This is enriched through effective partnerships with the Methodist Church.
• Modelled and exemplified by ambitious school leaders, including governors, nurturing relationships are at the heart of the school. They are a powerful expression of the Christian values of the school, creating a culture of love and acceptance. Pupils and adults feel listened to and heard which enhances their personal wellbeing.
• Religious education (RE) is passionately and effectively led. The curriculum is carefully balanced and highly relevant to the needs of the pupils, extending their knowledge and understanding of a range of worldviews.

Read more about our Ofsted and SIAMs reports here

Pupil achievement, attainment and progress

At Richmond Methodist Primary School, all pupils are supported to achieve strong outcomes through high‑quality, inclusive teaching and a carefully structured offer of targeted interventions. Staff use a wide range of evidence‑based strategies across literacy, maths, SEMH, communication and sensory needs, to remove barriers to learning and enable every child to make meaningful progress.

Continuous assessment, personalised support and close partnerships with families ensure that pupils’ attainment is strengthened over time, and that they are equipped with the skills, confidence and resilience needed to thrive both academically and personally.

Budget position

The school’s financial position is secure, with a strong budget and a significant carry‑forward that provides stability for the years ahead. This healthy reserve enables the school to confidently offset the projected deficit for 2026–2027 and maintain high‑quality provision without compromising educational priorities. Strategic financial planning, careful resource management and a clear understanding of future pressures ensure that the school is well‑placed to continue investing in its curriculum, staffing and wider opportunities for pupils. The next Headteacher will inherit a well‑managed budget and the opportunity to build on this robust foundation.

Short and Mid-term Priorities

Development of inclusive culture and practice to be further embedded within school for children and all staff, promoted within through strong exemplary role modelling – quick and unobtrusive awareness of barriers to learning, and strategies for sensitivity in supporting children around those barriers

High quality curriculum development with a particular focus on Maths and strengthening the foundation subject curriculum, providing enrichment to develop subject enthusiasm with solid foundational knowledge

Improving pupil outcomes, across the whole breadth of learners, with focus on those with SEND, SEMH, Pupil Premium and middle band children

Strategic Priorities

Our vision — Proud to be Richmond Methodist School: Ready, Mutually Respectful, Safe — guides all strategic decisions and underpins the school’s ambition to grow confident, compassionate, and knowledgeable young people with a lifelong love of learning.

The school’s governing body has set out a clear and ambitious three‑year strategic plan focused on driving school improvement, strengthening leadership, and enhancing the experiences and outcomes of all pupils.

Strategic Priorities (2025–2028)

1. Strengthen Governance Effectiveness and Strategic Oversight

• Clarify and embed robust governance monitoring processes.
• Improve governor training, particularly around SEND, curriculum leadership, and effective challenge.
• Ensure strong monitoring of the School Improvement Plan and alignment with Ofsted expectations.

2. Ensure Rigorous Accountability for Educational Performance

• Strengthen challenge and support for the Headteacher and senior leaders through structured termly reports and performance review.
• Maintain clear strategic oversight of curriculum development, including literacy, maths mastery, and writing.
• Deepen focus on outcomes for disadvantaged, SEND and vulnerable learners.

3. Strengthen Strategic Safeguarding

• Ensure all governors receive up-to-date statutory safeguarding training.
• Scrutinise termly safeguarding reports to maintain a culture of vigilance and strong practice.
• Ensure safeguarding policies and procedures remain compliant, effective and well understood.

4. Enhance Strategic Oversight of SEND, Inclusion and Wellbeing

• Promote a whole‑governance responsibility for SEND, inclusion and equality.
• Monitor wellbeing initiatives for pupils and staff, supporting positive mental health and workload management.
• Track attainment gaps and ensure strategic support for SEND and disadvantaged pupils.

5. Oversee Financial Stewardship and Effective Use of Resources

• Align budgets with strategic and curriculum priorities, ensuring transparency and financial resilience.
• Monitor financial performance throughout the year and manage risks proactively.
• Support capital projects and bids that enrich curriculum, facilities and inclusion.

6. Strengthen Community Engagement and Communication

• Improve visibility of governance and its impact through clear, accessible communication with parents and the wider community.
• Hold annual engagement events to gather stakeholder views.
• Ensure governor presence at key school events to reinforce the school’s ethos and strengthen relationships.

Long term Ambitions

Looking ahead, we remain committed to ensuring Richmond Methodist Primary School continues to thrive as a valued part of the community. We will work collaboratively with stakeholders and partners to stay informed about national developments in education, including the Government’s wider ambitions for strong school partnerships, while always prioritising what is right for our children, staff and families. Alongside this, we are exploring opportunities that directly benefit our school community, such as the possibility of utilising the DfE’s School‑Based Nursery Grant to expand our Nursery offer, particularly to support ‘rising 3s’ and strengthen early transition. Our long‑term vision is centred on thoughtful, well‑considered planning that enhances provision, maintains our strong identity and ensures the very best outcomes for all pupils.

The Methodist Academies and Schools Trust (MAST) was created to enable the Methodist Church to discharge its duty as a provider of education.

Objectives of MAST

We are committed to supporting high-quality education across 66 Methodist and Joint Methodist Schools in England.

Our work promotes core Methodist principles in education through opportunities for spiritual development, meaningful worship, a values-driven school ethos, and robust Religious Education.

Inspired by John Wesley’s words — “Go not where you are needed, but where you are needed most” and “Do all the good you can…” — we strive to create inclusive environments where children of all faiths and none can flourish.

We also provide guidance on admissions and recruitment to ensure a Methodist-infused approach to education, and we actively support effective governance, leadership, and management across our schools.

Read more about Methodist Academies and Schools Trust here

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.

You can find out more about what North Yorkshire has to offer on the Visit North Yorkshire website.

North Yorkshire Local Authority

North Yorkshire Council has a strong reputation for delivering high-quality services. Our Children’s Services are nationally recognised for excellence and routinely share best practice across the sector. Our teams are proud of what has been achieved and are committed to continuous improvement, ensuring services deliver real impact for children, young people and families while making effective use of public money. North Yorkshire serves a diverse and dispersed population of around 615,400 people, including 151,000 children, across more than 8,000 square kilometres. Our relationship-based “Strength in Relationships” practice model is embedded across the workforce, underpinned by strong partnership working at all levels.

We are deeply committed to ensuring children and young people are safe, happy, healthy and able to achieve within inclusive, high-quality services that value diversity and individuality. This vision is shaped by children and young people themselves, who told us that what matters most to them can be summed up in one word: Opportunity. We want life chances to be shaped by aspiration and potential, not circumstance or geography.

As the Headteacher of a North Yorkshire Local Authority (LA) maintained school, you will benefit from a comprehensive school improvement offer from the CYPS Education Standards and Inclusion team and access to a wide range of traded services designed to support you in your role. This includes:

• Participation in our ‘Welcome to North Yorkshire’ programme for new headteachers and those new to North Yorkshire, led by the School Improvement Team. The welcome team will ensure you have a clear understanding of working as a headteacher within North Yorkshire and will guide you through key aspects of headship, including Human Resources, School Finance, Governance, Health and Safety, SEND and inclusion, and safeguarding.
• Support from an experienced mentor headteacher who will work alongside you as you establish yourself into your role.
• A named Senior Education Adviser (SEA) from the School Improvement Team, who will support your school improvement journey through our core and enhanced offer. Your SEA will act as your first point of contact, helping you navigate and access wider services as needed.
• Access to specialist school improvement advisers, including experts in Safeguarding, Early Years, Religious Education, Health and Wellbeing and Governance.
• A wide range of specialist teams, traded services, training courses and resources available through North Yorkshire Education Services (NYES), including our recently launched Inclusive Mainstream Toolkit.
• Participation in termly CYPS briefings, offering opportunities to network with colleagues across both LA-maintained and academy sectors in North Yorkshire.
• Weekly LA updates via our ‘redbag’ communications, alongside comprehensive guidance available on the CYPS-info website.
• Access to the biennial Growing Up in North Yorkshire (GUNY) survey, enabling your school to gather valuable pupil voice on health, wellbeing, and educational experiences.
• Opportunities to participate in our Healthy Schools programme, supported by specialist advisers.