Headteacher at Dorchester Middle School

Headteacher at Dorchester Middle School

Salary Group 4: (L16 –22); £75,049 - £86,803

(There may be some flexibility around the salary range for an exceptional candidate)

Start date: 1^st January 2027

The vacancy arises as a result of the re-location of the previous postholder to Dubai, following an outstanding period of success for the school. It is an opportunity to take Dorchester Middle School to the next stage on its exciting school improvement journey, working within a thriving and successful MAT.

The Wessex MAT is made up of a family of 12 schools based in West Dorset. We cover the full age range from nursery through to post-16 and we are fiercely inclusive. Although we work together closely and collaboratively, we do not believe in cloning schools or working to a formula. Schools retain a unique position in their local community pursuing common values and aspirations. We encourage innovation and we want staff to feel confident about testing boundaries. That is the route towards great schools for all.

Our mantra is ‘learning is everything’. What goes on in the classroom is the most important part of our work and everyone who works for Wessex MAT, in whatever role or capacity, contributes towards that vision. That is why we put so much time and effort into continuous professional learning. Everyone is expected to be involved in some form of learning or development, which may or may not lead to formal qualifications.

We are ambitious to become both an educator and employer of choice. Therefore, we work hard to create the best possible working conditions where staff feel supported and valued. Richard Branson said that we should, ‘train people well enough so they can leave for any job they want but treat them well enough so they don’t want to’. That resonates with our own philosophy. 

Dorchester Middle School is located on a green field site in the centre of the county town. It is at the heart of the community, making the most of the surrounding environment, catering for the full range of children aged between 9-13 including a physical disability base.

The school has a strong history and tradition, and we are looking for someone with a positive and confident outlook who can build on that legacy and establish the school as a leading force within the MAT.

Dorchester Middle School values the diversity of our workforce and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people; this is a commitment which we expect all staff and volunteers to share. The successful candidate will be required to have a Disclosure and Barring Service check in line with the Governments safer recruitment guidelines.

This role is UK based and your Right to Work will need to be established as part of the appointment process.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (2013 and 2020)) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. The MOJ’s guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.

Keeping Children Safe in Education

Dorchester Middle School 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. All aspects of social media and internet searches will be conducted. 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 searches and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.