Headteacher - Riverside Community Primary School
- Plymouth, Devon
- Full Time
- L11-24 £66,368 - £90,255 per annum
Lead Riverside into its next chapter — elevation without re-creation
Riverside Community Primary School is seeking an outstanding, inspirational leader to become our next Headteacher. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a school with strong foundations, clear values and a focused vision for the future.
We are looking for a Headteacher who will build on and elevate our existing strengths, continuing our inclusive, supportive approach, and enhancing what is working well whilst bringing new ideas for the future. The successful candidate will recognise Riverside’s strengths, win trust within our school community and lead the next phase of improvement with confidence, care and clarity.
About Riverside
- A school with high expectations for all.
- A strong inclusive ethos and child-centred culture.
- Visible and established safeguarding practice.
- A committed, experienced staff team.
- An aspirational curriculum rooted in strong foundations.
- A school that values partnership, communication, trust and respect.
Our priorities
- Strengthening attendance and reducing persistent absence through supportive, strategic and personalised practice.
- Deepening inclusion and support for vulnerable pupils, including pupils with SEND, disadvantaged pupils and other groups who may need additional support.
- Further strengthening creative curriculum implementation, communication and language foundations, and consistency in teaching and assessment.
- Maintaining excellent communication and engagement with staff, parents, pupils and the wider community.
- Ensuring all pupils feel valued and are supported in reaching their full potential through raising aspirations and broadening horizons.
Who we are looking for
- A visible, calm and values-led leader.
- A collaborative and inclusive leader who listens well and brings others with them.
- A strategically strong and evidence-informed practitioner.
- A leader with high expectations for all pupils and staff.
- A leader with a proven commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and school improvement.
- A leader who supports children, families and staff so that everyone is equally valued.
- Someone who can communicate clearly, build trust and celebrate the school’s strengths with all those within the school community.
Previous headship experience is highly desirable. However, we will also consider an exceptional assistant/acting head or head of school with the right strategic and operational leadership experience.
What we offer
- The opportunity to lead a school with strong foundations and a clear sense of purpose.
- A committed staff team and engaged governing board.
- A collaborative relationship with governors built on trust, support and constructive challenge.
- The chance to shape the next phase of Riverside’s development with and for the whole school community.
- Salary range L11-24 subject to final validation in line with the school’s group size, pay policy and local authority advice.
Safeguarding
Riverside Community Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment to keeping children safe. Any offer of employment will be subject to statutory pre-employment checks including satisfactory references and Enhanced DBS and Barred List checks. This post is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (as amended in 2013 & 2020) and shortlisted
candidates will be required to disclose any relevant criminal history prior to interview. An online search will be conducted on all shortlisted candidates and may be referred to during the interview process.
Riverside Community Primary School is an Equal Opportunities Employer and positively welcomes applications from all people regardless of their sex, creed, marital status, race, age, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.
Contact Information:
Address: Riverside Community Primary School, Poole Park Rd, Plymouth PL5 1DD. School website: Riverside Community Primary School - Welcome. School contact: Rachel Payne (School Administrator), telephone: 01752 365297, email: rpayne@riversideprimary.net.
How to Apply:
- An application pack can be downloaded from TES website, Devon Job Opportunities and Plymouth City Council website, or you can contact the school directly via email to rpayne@riversideprimary.net.
- Please send your completed application pack (Application Form, which includes a Personal Statement; and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form) to rpayne@riversideprimary.net by the closing date.
- Shortlisting to take place Monday 5th October 2026
- Reference requests, online searches during w/c 5th October 2026
- We encourage visits to the school which are available by arrangement during September. Please call 01752 365297 or email rpayne@riversideprimary.net to arrange a visit.
Interview Date: Week beginning 12th October 2026