Headteacher - Ranikhet Primary School

Job description

Start date: April 2026

Are you an experienced educational leader looking for an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of our children?

Ranikhet Primary Academy are seeking a dynamic and inspirational Headteacher. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of excellence in educational leadership, with experience in managing highly effective teams. You will be committed to providing every child with an exceptional educational offer, ensuring they are supported, challenged, and inspired to reach their full potential.

Ranikhet Primary Academy is a vibrant, inclusive school at the heart of the Tilehurst community in Reading. Part of REAch2 Academy Trust, we cater for children aged 3–11 and currently have around 205 pupils on roll. Our ethos is built on strong values, high expectations, and a commitment to providing every child with the best possible start in life.

Ranikhet offers a nurturing environment where pupils feel safe, respected, and inspired to achieve. We prioritise core skills in reading, writing, and mathematics while developing a broad and engaging curriculum that fosters curiosity, creativity, and resilience. Our dedicated staff work tirelessly to ensure that all children, including those with additional needs, receive tailored support to thrive academically and personally.

We are proud of our diverse community, where over 40% of pupils speak English as an additional language, and we celebrate this richness through inclusive practices and cultural awareness. With strong safeguarding, positive behaviour, and a focus on personal development, Ranikhet is a school where children love to learn and staff love to teach.

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious leader to build on our successes and drive the next stage of our journey.

What we are looking for in our next Headteacher:

We are seeking an exceptional senior leader with the resilience, drive, and enthusiasm to build on our strengths. You will lead, motivate, develop, and inspire a team of staff and governors who are committed to providing pupils with exceptional opportunities for learning. We welcome applications from existing headteachers and talented deputy headteachers who have the knowledge and expertise to help us raise outcomes and consistently deliver excellence.

You will have a clear understanding of what it takes for a school to achieve the highest standards of teaching and learning, whilst having the expertise to embed a culture of continuous improvement. Additionally, you will demonstrate the ability to manage, prioritise, and organise your workload, show flexibility and resilience, and recognise the need for pastoral care for all members of the school community.

Community engagement is vitally important at Ranikhet Primary Academy, and we seek a headteacher who will work to further raise the school's profile in the local community to improve family engagement and pupil attendance. A commitment to supporting wellbeing and mental health is essential.

We are a caring employer who invests in the future of our employees, as only through their excellence can we deliver excellence for the children and families we serve.

As a member of REAch2 Academy Trust, a national family of primary academies, Ranikhet Primary Academy is committed to raising standards and achieving excellence for all pupils, regardless of their background or circumstances. The Trust provides a strong culture of collaboration and support, with high expectations for staff and pupils alike.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership by setting and communicating a clear vision for the school, aligned with REAch2's values and priorities.

• Drive school improvement by leading on raising standards in teaching, learning, and pupil outcomes across all key stages.

• Ensure safeguarding excellence by maintaining a strong culture of safeguarding and wellbeing for all pupils and staff.

• Develop and inspire staff by building and leading a high-performing team, fostering professional growth and collaboration.

• Manage resources effectively by overseeing budgets, staffing, and facilities to ensure efficient and sustainable use of resources.

• Promote inclusion and diversity by championing equality of opportunity and ensure provision for pupils with SEND and EAL.

• Engage with stakeholders by building strong relationships with parents, governors, the local community, and external partners.

• Lead curriculum and innovation by ensuring a broad, balanced, and creative curriculum that meets statutory requirements and inspires learning.

Requirements:

• An excellent and highly experienced headteacher or deputy headteacher in a primary setting, with a proven track record of raising educational standards; or of sustaining educational standards above the national average.

• Experience in managing highly effective teams

• Excellent interpersonal skills, with a strong track record of securing accountability.

• Commitment to providing exceptional educational opportunities for all children.

• Experience of successfully engaging with families in disadvantaged communities.

• Ability to inspire, challenge, and motivate

The application process and timetable:

School visits: School visits are encouraged, please contact Tom Twort, Deputy Director of Education ) to arrange an informal discussion or a school visit (9th December & 15th December 2025)

Apply via My New Term platform:

Application deadline: Wednesday 17th December 2025

Shortlisting: Thursday, 18th December 2025

The candidates selected for interview will be informed after shortlisting and full details of the interview programme will be provided.

Interviews: Thursday, 8th January 2026

Contract details: Permanent, full time