Group 2 – L11-L17
Starting: Easter or September 2026
Closing Date: 12pm on 15th December 2025
Interviews will take place on: 8th and 9th January 2026
An inspiring school. A community that cares. A leadership role that really matters.
Gastrells is a small(ish) school with a big heart. Tucked into the hills of Stroud, our vibrant, creative and proudly inclusive community is united by one belief: every child deserves to feel known, valued and able to thrive.
We are ready for our next chapter — and we’re looking for a Headteacher who can lead with courage, compassion and clarity. Someone who sees potential everywhere: in our children, in our staff, in our curriculum, in our C&I Centre, and in our community partnerships. Someone who understands that real school improvement blends strategy with humanity; rigour with warmth; aspiration with authenticity.
Why Gastrells?
Because this is a school where:
- Children brim with curiosity and are at the heart of every decision.
- Creativity is part of our DNA — from dance competitions and art exhibitions to outdoor learning and wide cultural experiences.
- Inclusion is non-negotiable — opportunity for all to shine and build confidence sits proudly at the heart of what we do, not to the side of it.
- Adults are as valued as pupils, and staff wellbeing genuinely matters.
- Community is everything — we are a school people feel connected to, and a place where families feel seen and supported.
- The setting is stunning, and we make the most of our Forest School, outdoor spaces and links to the local area.
Our PRIDE values — Positivity, Respect, Inclusivity, Determination & Challenge, Excellence — are lived here, not laminated.
And yet… this is a role for a leader who enjoys a challenge...
We are open, honest and clear about where we are — and where we want to be. You won’t find complacency here. Instead, you’ll find a team ready for strong, thoughtful leadership to guide us through a period of purposeful improvement.
Our next Headteacher will help us to:
- Strengthen our curriculum foundations, ensuring clarity, progression and consistency across all subjects.
- Embed high-quality daily practice, particularly around retrieval, assessment, SEN provision and adaptive teaching.
- Rebuild confidence, coherence and calm, following a period of change and challenge.
- Champion attendance, working restoratively and relationally with families to understand individuals and make meaningful improvements.
- Ensure equity for all pupils, especially those who are disadvantaged or with additional needs.
- Support staff through clear direction, warm professionalism and steady, visible leadership.
This is a job for a leader who can hold boundaries and hold hearts. Someone who listens deeply, makes evidence-informed decisions, and communicates with integrity. Someone brave enough to lead with spine and compassion.
Who we are looking for
You will be a Headteacher who:
- Brings moral purpose, authenticity and emotional intelligence.
- Believes in high expectations for all, delivered through relational and inclusive leadership.
- Understands the power of a coherent, knowledge-rich curriculum and knows how to make it work in a small school.
- Values staff voice and professional growth, welcoming challenge and empowering others.
- Leads with clarity, consistency and kindness — especially in moments that matter.
- Is visible, approachable and a builder of trust.
- Has a track record of improving outcomes while keeping the whole child at the centre.
In return, we can offer you…
- A warm, committed staff team who care deeply about their school.
- A governing body ready to support, challenge and walk alongside you.
- A wonderfully creative, spirited group of children who deserve the very best.
- A semi-rural setting that inspires learning, wellbeing and imagination.
- A leadership opportunity with real impact — where your vision will shape the future of a school beloved by its community.
We encourage you to visit.
If you feel like Gastrells School could be the next part of your leadership journey then we really do encourage you to come and visit – our children would love to show you around so you get a real sense of us as a school and community.
Visits will ideally take place during the week commencing Monday 8th December 2025, but we can also make arrangements for Thursday 4th December too.
Please contact our admin team to arrange a visit – Tel. 01453 765959 or email: admin@gastrells.gloucs.sch.uk. For any other information about the post or school, please contact the Chair of Governors by email: chair@gastrells.gloucs.sch.uk
Closing Date: Monday 15th December 2025 at 12.00 noon
Shortlisting: Tuesday 16th December 2025
Interviews: Thursday 8th and Friday 9th January 2026
Supporting Documents
Please check out our supporting documents for richer information about our school, job description, person specification and application form.
To be emailed an application form and full information pack, please email Wendy Gallagher at governor.services@gloucestershire.gov.uk or telephone 01452 427802.
To Apply
Please email all applications to Wendy Gallagher: governor.services@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Safeguarding Statement:
Gastrells Community Primary School 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 under represented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.
gastrellsprimaryschool.co.uk 