Headteacher

Blackdown Education Partnership; Taunton; On-site; GBP 66,000 - GBP 77,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational organization in Taunton is seeking an outstanding Headteacher for Orchard Grove Primary School, to start from September 2026. The ideal candidate will have a strong knowledge of the curriculum and experience in safeguarding. Responsibilities include strategic leadership and quality of education, alongside being the Designated Safeguarding Lead. This role requires an exceptional classroom teacher and offers a chance to shape the future of education in Somerset and Devon. Applications are invited from underrepresented groups.

Qualifications

• Track record of successful leadership in education.
• Experience working in Early Years and Primary settings.
• Ability to lead and support a team of teachers.

Responsibilities

• Strategic leadership of quality of education and personal development.
• Serve as Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
• Grow into a non-teaching headteacher role over time.

Skills

Strong knowledge of curriculum

Experience in safeguarding

Exceptional classroom teaching

Education

Qualified Teacher Status

Job description

## Headteacher### We are searching for the best education professionals* HeadteacherNEWFast Apply# HeadteacherEmployerLocation: Taunton, SomersetContract Type: PermanentHours: Full TimeSalary: Leadership L11 – L17 £66,368 to £76,772Posted: 2nd February 2026Start Date: 1st September 2026Expires: 9th March 2026 09:00 AMContract Type: PermanentStart Date: 1st September 2026Job ID: 1532497Job Reference: HTOGS0926Start Date: 1st September 2026* Contract Type :Permanent* Job ID: 1532497* Share :We are seeking to recruit an outstanding leader and teacher, with a track record of successful leadership, to become the Headteacher of Orchard Grove Primary School from September 2026. We are looking for an individual who has a strong knowledge of curriculum, who has experience in safeguarding and who can deliver excellent learning opportunities alongside achievement and progress outcomes for all children across the Primary and Early Years key stages.You will be responsible for the strategic leadership of the school in respect of all areas relating to quality of education, behaviour and attitudes and personal development, as well as being the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for the school.You will be joining an ambitious, talented and hardworking team of staff who offer incredible support, both in an academic and a pastoral sense, and are relentless in their drive to make a genuine difference to and lasting impact on our young people, families and the wider community. They are fully aligned in what it means to be ‘Team Orchard Grove’ and what ‘going the extra mile’ looks like. We are looking for a leader who aligns with this, shares these beliefs and can further galvanise our existing team whilst growing it further.You will also join our team of fantastic primary and secondary Headteachers who lead our other BEP schools, and you will have a unique opportunity to help shape the future of education in Somerset and Devon.This post comes at a crucial point in the timeline for Orchard Grove and we are looking for an individual who can build on the strong foundations the team have put in place and take the school forwards on the next phase of its journey. This post will involve 2 days per week of classroom teaching initially, at this early stage in the development of the school. Over time the position will grow with the school to become a non-teaching headteacher position. It is essential that any candidate is an exceptional classroom teacher as the teachers and support staff this headteacher will be leading are exactly that.Please see the application pack for details of how to book a visitCVs are not accepted, please complete the application form in full. If you can meet the requirements of this role, we would love to hear from you. All applications should be made by completing the online application form via E-teach and include evidence of how you meet the person specification for the role.For full details of the role, please see the job description and person specification.**Closing date: 9am on Monday 9th March 2026****Interviews: Thursday 19th and Friday 19th March at Orchard Grove Primary School**### Attachments### Safeguarding Statement:This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 under the Exceptions Order 1975 (as amended in 2013 and 2020). This means that both spent and unspent convictions and cautions may need to be disclosed. However, certain convictions and cautions are considered ‘protected’ under filtering rules and do not need to be disclosed. Guidance on what should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-guidance-on-the-rehabilitation-of-offenders-act-1974Blackdown Education Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We particularly welcome applications from underrepresented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexuality or religion.The successful candidate will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure Barring Service (DBS). As part of our due diligence process when shortlisting, we may carry out an online search of publicly available material to identify any incidents or issues which we might want to explore with the applicant at interview.**References:** References will be taken up on short-listed candidates that will include questions about past disciplinary actions or allegations in relation to behaviour with children, previous employers may be approached for information to verify particular experiences or qualifications before interview.**Data Protection Act:** Information held by Blackdown Education Partnership complies with and is stored in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. If your application is successful, the information you have provided in the ‘Personal Details’ section will be used for payroll purposes and may be disclosed to the Inland Revenue. It will be disclosed within the school for security and administration.**BEP Privacy Statement–Recruitment:** Please see our website for further information.### Orchard Grove Primary SchoolPart of### Blackdown Education Partnership