Headteacher - Full-time

Tenax Schools Trust

• Ref:KCC-F69-2-L
• Posted:20/03/2026
• Pay:L16 - L22, (£75,049 - £86,803)
• Start Date:1 September 2026
• App Close Date:17/04/2026 at 23:45
• Interviews:23 and 24 April 2026

Advert

The role of headteacher at Sir Henry Fermor Church of England Primary School is both a significant opportunity and genuine privilege. Situated at the heart of the Crowborough community, school with real foundations to build on: an ambitious curriculum; a capable and experienced staff team; and outstanding facilities including forest school, an indoor swimming pool, a large field and two playgrounds. All of this speaks to the school's commitment to a rich and full education for every child.

Sir Henry Fermor is a school with much to be proud of; work of recent years has built something worth inheriting. What we are looking for now is a headteacher with the ambition and energy to take the school into its next chapter; to build on what is already here and ensure that every pupil in Crowborough is achieving as highly as they can. This is a role for someone who is genuinely standards-led: focused on teaching quality, passionate about equity, and committed to excellent outcomes for all.

The children and families of Crowborough deserve a visible, committed champion. They deserve a headteacher who understands that school improvement is not a destination but a culture, one that is built daily through relationships, high expectations, and a relentless belief in what pupils can achieve. As a Church of England school, Sir Henry Fermor is also a community of values, and we are looking for someone who will lead with both courage and compassion.

In this role, you have a genuine power to transform lives.

You will benefit from a headteacher induction programme, regular professional development, peer networks with fellow headteachers and the close support of our school improvement team working alongside, not above, you.

Applications will be received until 10am on Monday 20 April to hr@tenaxschoolstrust.co.uk

The Trust

Across our trust, we work on the premise that schools are stronger together. We share a vision that places pupils, particularly the most vulnerable, and our staff at the centre of our work. Over the past year, we have begun to put this into practice by strengthening access to professional networks, introducing instructional coaching for all teachers, and developing a shared, evidence-informed understanding of effective teaching through the expertise of our Teaching School Hub leads.

Collaboration is not an add-on for us; it is the way we secure consistent quality and the way we help each other get better. We expect our headteachers to contribute to that collective effort and, in return, you can expect genuine support, shared expertise, and a professional community that wants you to thrive. As a headteacher here, you lead your school, with the backing of a trust.

Tenax Schools Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people and all applicants are expected to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to pre-employment checks, including satisfactory references and an Enhanced DBS check.

Information about the trust

Tenax Schools Trust (TST) is a Church of England multi-academy trust located in West Kent and East Sussex, led by Mark Cole, CEO.

Across our trust, we work on the simple premise that schools are stronger together. We share a clear vision that places pupils, particularly the most vulnerable, and our staff at the centre of our work. Collaboration is not an add-on for us; it is the way we secure consistent quality and the way we help each other get better.

We believe that our values of courage, compassion and collaboration enable us to focus on the 'how'. How we do what we do, how we interact, how we lead and how we engage. Inspired by our Christian values and beliefs, we believe there is no limit to what can be accomplished for every child.

We share a clear vision that places pupils, particularly the most vulnerable, and our staff at the centre of our work. We have strengthened access to professional networks, introduced instructional coaching for all teachers, and we are developing a shared, evidence-informed understanding of effective teaching through the expertise of our Teaching School Hub leads.

As a Church of England trust, we are legally and spiritually one body and one family of schools in which all are known, valued and loved. This commits us to providing a transformative education where we work together to ensure every child has the opportunity to excel inside and outside the classroom. We are ambitious for all - pupils and staff, working together to open the doors of opportunity.

We are a strong family of schools with ambitious plans to grow, and are proud to serve the dioceses of Rochester and Chichester. This family of schools currently comprises of seven primary schools in full membership and one in associate membership, alongside a large secondary school, Bennett Memorial Diocesan School.

Bennett Memorial Diocesan School is a Department for Education designated Teaching School Hub working with more than five hundred schools across Kent and neighbouring areas. This allows us to provide high quality professional development, and helps to secure talent pipelines from the very start of a teacher's career.

In partnership with Ambition Institute, our Teaching School Hub provides the Early Career Framework and the full suite of National Professional Qualifications (NPQs), for hundreds of teachers in the region. We also have our own initial teacher training provider, Teach Kent & Sussex, which trains teachers in partnership with primary and secondary schools both within the Trust and beyond.

Tenax Schools Trust is:

Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts are subject to vetting checks and a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Committed to creating inclusive teams that represent a breadth of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and that can provide role models to all students in our communities. If you think you meet the essential criteria for one of our roles, we would love to hear from you regardless of sex, age, disability status, ethnicity, gender, religion or sexuality. Where possible, we seek to facilitate flexible working opportunities.

Committed to ensuring that all applicants can participate fully and with equal access to the selection process. Any candidate identifying as having a disability, or diagnosed with a neurodivergent condition is encouraged to contact the Trust to discuss any reasonable adjustments that would enable them to participate fully and with equal access to the selection process.

Job Contact Information

• Name:Human Resources
• Address:Culverden Down,
  Tunbridge Wells,
  Kent,
  TN4 9SH
• Telephone: 01892 521595
• Email: hr@tenaxschoolstrust.co.uk

Fax:

Documents

Below are documents that have been added to this vacancy.

• Candidate pack