Head of School - Full-time

St Paul's CE (VC) Primary School, Swanley

• Ref:KCC886-3010-64L
• Posted:10/03/2026
• Pay:L1-L8
• Start Date:01/09/2026
• App Close Date:20/04/2026 at 09:00
• Interviews:23/04/2026

Advert

Compass Federation is seeking to appoint an exceptional Head of School to lead St Paul’s Church of England Primary School, a distinctive and much-loved village school in Swanley Village, Kent.

St Paul’s is a welcoming and nurturing Church school rooted in the Christian vision of “Life in all its fullness” (John 10:10). With 107 pupils across four mixed-age classes, the school has a strong sense of community where every child is known, valued and supported to flourish academically, socially and spiritually.

A distinctive feature of St Paul’s is its innovative approach to learning through Continuous Provision from Reception through to Year 4. This approach creates stimulating learning environments where pupils explore, investigate and develop independence in their learning. The school also benefits from Forest School, rich curriculum experiences and strong partnerships with families, the parish church and the wider community.

As Head of School, you will lead the day-to-day life of the school, working closely with the Executive Headteacher, governors and colleagues across Compass Federation to secure high standards of teaching, learning and pupil outcomes while sustaining the school’s distinctive Christian ethos.

We are looking for a leader who:

• Shares our Christian vision and values
• Is committed to high standards of teaching and learning
• Can inspire and motivate staff, pupils and the wider community
• Has the leadership skills to drive school improvement and raise outcomes for all pupils
• Values collaboration and partnership across a federation of schools

In return, we offer:

• The opportunity to lead a distinctive village school with a strong community identity
• A school with an innovative approach to learning through Continuous Provision
• Supportive collaboration within Compass Federation
• Professional development and leadership coaching
• A positive and dedicated staff team

This role would particularly suit an experienced senior leader ready for headship or an existing Head of School seeking a collaborative federation environment.

Visits to the school are warmly encouraged. We would be delighted to show prospective candidates around and give you the opportunity to experience the warmth and ethos of our school community.

To arrange a visit or request further information, please contact the school office or e-mail bhulme@compassfederation.com

Compass Federation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

Information about the school

St Paul’s Church of England (VC) Primary School, Swanley Village, has an enviable reputation as a welcoming, caring and high-performing primary school at the heart of its community. The school was judged Good by Ofsted in January 2020 and Good in its SIAMS inspection in 2019, reflecting the strength of its provision and its distinctive Christian ethos. More recently, inspectors highlighted the school’s caring community, high expectations and strong personal development for pupils. ()

The school is proud of its Christian heritage and seeks to weave Christian values through everyday life. Inspired by the vision of “Life in all its fullness”, the school aims to nurture confident, compassionate and resilient young people who are ready to make a positive contribution to society.

St Paul’s is a small village primary school with approximately 107 pupils organised across four mixed-age classes, with around 15 pupils in each year group. Demand for places consistently exceeds the number available, reflecting the school’s strong reputation locally.

The school offers a broad and engaging curriculum and places great importance on enriching pupils’ experiences beyond the classroom. Pupils benefit from a wide range of sporting opportunities, extra-curricular activities and high-quality instrumental music tuition. Outdoor learning and physical activity are strongly valued, with access to mountain bikes, dedicated tracks and specialist sports coaching helping pupils develop confidence, teamwork and resilience.

Our children are delightful and enthusiastic learners, and the school benefits from highly supportive and aspirational families. We work closely in partnership with parents and carers to nurture self-belief and inspire a lifelong love of learning, encouraging all pupils to become capable, responsible members of their community.

The school is set in beautiful surroundings with well-maintained and fully equipped facilities, providing an excellent environment for learning and development.

St Paul’s is part of The Compass Federation, alongside St Edmund’s Church of England Primary School in West Kingsdown and Dunton Green Primary School in Sevenoaks. The federation works collaboratively to ensure the very best outcomes for all pupils under the shared vision of “One Child. One Chance.” This reflects a collective commitment to ensuring that no child is left behind in our quest to provide the very best primary education.

The federation also works closely alongside MAST (Medway Anglican Schools Trust) as part of its wider school improvement partnership.

Compass Federation is committed to supporting and developing its staff. Clear professional pathways exist for all colleagues, regardless of role or career stage, with a strong focus on high-quality professional development and collaborative working.

Staff wellbeing is taken seriously. Benefits for staff include:

• SimplyHealth healthcare for all staff • Blue Light Card eligibility • Wellbeing days • Free EV charging • A progressive and supportive approach to menopause and periods • Paid attendance at events for staff members’ own children • A common-sense and supportive approach to work and life balance

Through access to counselling, high-quality training and CPD, wellbeing initiatives and a strong culture of support, we aim to ensure that staff feel valued, happy and proud to be part of our school community.

Job Contact Information

• Name:Mr Ben Hulme
• Address:School Lane, Swanley, Kent, BR8 7PJ
• Telephone: (01322) 664324
• Email: office@st-pauls-swanley.kent.sch.uk

Documents

Below are documents that have been added to this vacancy.

• Head of School Recruitment Pack