Headteacher

Shorefields; Horkesley Heath; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious school in Colchester is seeking a passionate Headteacher to lead a new and growing school. The successful candidate will be responsible for inspiring both students and staff, ensuring a high-quality education in a supportive environment. This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious leader focused on achieving success for every child. The position comes with a leadership scale salary and offers a permanent contract.

Qualifications

• Unashamedly ambitious for every child's future success.
• Vision and ability to implement shared values.
• Strong commitment to teaching excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lead a school where students thrive.
• Inspire and motivate staff and students.
• Ensure outstanding teaching and learning.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Motivation

Collaboration

Visionary thinking

Education

Qualified Teacher Status

Leadership training

Job description

Job Ref No. ECC4021-57L

Position Type: Headteacher – Pay Range: Group size 6 – Leadership Scale

Contract Type: Full-time – Contract Term: Permanent – Position Start Date: 01/09/2026

Application Close: 09/01/2026 – Midday – Interviews: 26 & 27 January 2026

Salary: Group size 6 – Leadership scale

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to lead a truly exceptional school. Our current Headteacher, who has been inspirational and instrumental in shaping our vision and working alongside Trust colleagues to design a state-of-the-art free school, will be retiring at the end of August 2026.

We need an ambitious leader to join The Trinity School, part of the dynamic and supportive Alpha Trust. The successful candidate will lead a school where students thrive, developing the skills, character, and confidence to achieve success both at school and beyond.

We are committed to excellence in all that we do and are unashamedly ambitious for the future success of our students.

Governors are seeking to appoint a Headteacher who will:

• Be unashamedly ambitious for the future success of every child
• Have the vision and ability to put our shared values and ethos into practice
• Be supportive and ambitious for all staff, ensuring collaboration to allow all students to thrive
• Place the highest priority on outstanding teaching and learning
• Model excellence and demonstrate a clear commitment to the school and its community
• Motivate and inspire both children and staff
• Be an open communicator, a motivational leader, and a passionate advocate for our school community

If you are looking for an exciting and rewarding role within a supportive trust and have an unshakeable commitment to improving the lives of children, we look forward to receiving your application.

Closing date for applications: 09 January 2026 – Interviews: 26 & 27 January 2026

Full details are available on: www.thetrinityschool.co.uk, www.alphamat.org
Alternatively, please contact: [e-mail]

Information about the School

The Trinity School is a new, mixed 11‑16 comprehensive free school but will grow in time to its full capacity of 900 students across all year groups. It is heavily oversubscribed, due in part to its location as part of the Chesterwell development in the rapidly expanding north of Colchester but also due to its growing reputation for creating an ethos of high aspirations for all students. In September 2023, the school moved onto its new, purpose-built, multi-million-pound site. The school has state-of-the-art facilities, with well-resourced specialist rooms split across three floors, excellent sports facilities and extensive playing fields.

This is a truly exciting time to join the school, as it occupies its new buildings and opportunities for both staff and students unfold over the coming years. Staff working at The Trinity School are able to join a happy, positive and innovative school where staff support and development is at the heart of what we do. They are our most valuable resource. Our students appreciate the excellent education on offer and are positive, polite and motivated. Working in a new and growing school requires adaptability, energy and enthusiasm but brings with it a huge sense of pride and satisfaction as well as opportunities for career development.

The touchstone to our values and beliefs are the Triple Crown Values which underpin all we do. In many respects these apply just as much to staff as to students. One of the strengths of the school is the quality of relationships, amongst all staff and between staff and students. We work together within an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust, of lived values which support our aims.

These aims are perhaps best encapsulated in our assertion, which can be seen at the front of every teaching room, that, “Trinitarians are the graduates, leaders and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.”

We understand not all students will attain all three of these but we strive to provide the opportunity for them to do so. In Key Stage 3, we teach in mixed prior attainment classes to ensure all students are challenged to achieve the highest possible academic standards; to become graduates. They are taught from Year 7 how to be a leader, as well as how to be led, whilst entrepreneurship is fostered and encouraged as a thread throughout their school career.

We see learning in the classroom as only the starting point, with all staff encouraged to contribute to the extensive co‑curricular offer and students required from Year 7 to complete super‑curricular projects, known here as GEL projects. We believe in educating the whole person and are working to create a school where academic, sporting, artistic and performing events are fully integrated into the lives of our students.

We are a small but friendly and supportive staff and regularly join together for social activities as well as professional development. The Trinity School is part of Alpha Academy Trust along with The Gilberd School, Colchester County High School for Girls, Manningtree High School and Home Farm Primary School.

There are exciting opportunities for collaboration across the trust. All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.

Contact Details

Alison Tuckwell
Carris Close, Colchester
Essex, CO4 6ED
Telephone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]