Headteacher at Old Town Infant School and Nursery, Poole

Headteacher, Old Town Infant School and Nursery, Poole

Leadership Scale L9–L15

Flexible Leadership Opportunity

Are you an aspiring school leader ready to take your first exciting step into headship without losing sight of your teaching craft?

Or an experienced leader looking for a more flexible opportunity?

Do you want to make a big impact in a small, nurturing and vibrant school community?

If so, Old Town Infant School and Nursery could be the perfect place to continue your journey!

A role designed to support you

We warmly invite applicants on a flexible basis: whether you wish to work full time or continue your leadership journey flexibly and part time. 

This headship allows you the option of leading full time, embracing your leadership role whilst also retaining your passion for the classroom through a teaching commitment of around two‑day‑per‑week; or perhaps your full-time Headteacher role might include that of SENDCo if that is your area of expertise and passion?  Or perhaps you are seeking to lead a school, working on a part time basis, around three days per week, but where you have flexibility and ownership of your working pattern?

If you are the right person to make a difference at our school, we want to hear from you. 

What makes our school special?

• Positive relationships with families and a strong community presence.

• A commitment to diversity and celebrating every child.

• Stimulating, imaginative learning environments fostering curiosity, a love of reading and a love of learning. 

• An inclusive environment in which all children succeed, including through our emerging

Resourced-base Provision and our relationship with Winchelsea Special School through our onsite satellite provision. 

Who we think you might be

• Energetic, warm and ambitious.

• Passionate about nurture, inclusion and exciting early learning.

• A people‑person who builds trust and collaboration.

• Ready to shape a school while growing as a leader.

What we can offer you

• A friendly, close‑knit staff team.

• Enthusiastic and curious children.

• A manageable school size—perfect for a first headship.

• A central Poole location with strong community involvement.

• Professional development and support through the Coastal Learning Partnership.

• A chance to shape a nurturing early years setting.

Ready to take the next step?

You are warmly encouraged to visit to the school, to arrange a convenient time please contact the office directly on 01202 673966 or [email protected]. You are also invited to contact the Chief Executive Officer of Coastal Learning Partnership, Paul Howieson, who would be delighted to speak with you about the school and the wider Partnership. To arrange a convenient time for a conversation, please contact Helen Moors on 01202 806155.

Applications: Please send a completed application form to: [email protected]
Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 15^th March
Selection event: Friday 20^th March

To comply with our statutory safer recruitment practices and obligations, we are unable to shortlist incomplete applications. Please ensure you include a full employment and education history, details of two referees and explain any gaps in employment. CVs will not be accepted.

Coastal Learning Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and requires all staff and volunteers to share and demonstrate this commitment.

The successful candidate will be required to demonstrate that they meet the essential elements of the person specification and will be subject to pre-employment checks including a health check, and Enhanced DBS check, Child Barred List check and satisfactory references. We will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This check will be part of a safeguarding check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination a person who will not on the appointment panel will conduct the search and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern. Applicants are advised that it is an offense to apply for the role if they are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

Old Town Infant School and Nursery is a small but mighty infant school located right in the heart of Poole, where every child matters and relationships sit at the centre of everything.

We serve children aged three to seven, offering a warm environment full of curiosity, creativity and imagination. Our staff team is talented, dedicated and supportive, an ideal environment for a new headteacher to grow or for an experienced one to enjoy a fresh opportunity.

As part of the Coastal Learning Partnership, you’ll have access to collaboration and professional support, both from your Headteacher peers and from the strength of a professional central team.