What is the job role?

Sowe Valley Primary School is a popular primary school of 200 pupils in the Ernesford Grange area of Coventry. We pride ourselves on being a supportive, close and friendly school that provides a caring, inclusive education which respects and nurtures all members of our school community. Our school is a happy environment where children are encouraged to have fun and enjoy the learning opportunities that are offered to them.

Our staff are a close, cohesive and highly experienced team who work extremely well together to provide the very best learning opportunities for all pupils. Our parents are strongly committed to helping their children succeed in school and members of the wider community make valuable contributions to school life.

The Governing Board is hugely supportive of the school and makes vitally important contributions towards the strategic development of the school.

Our much- respected and well liked headteacher is taking early retirement and we are looking for her successor who will: maintain and enhance our welcoming ethos; our progressive levels of achievement and our sense of working together for the benefit of our children, our staff and the wider community.

Our Pupils said:

We want a new Headteacher who is:

“Positive, has a sense of humour. Is a bubbly person that makes our learning fun and encourages us to learn”

“We don’t mind things changing, as long as we keep having fun”

 “I think the next head at Sowe Valley should be kind and caring but firm with staff and children. They need to be a team player and treat everyone the same. I hope for them to be a role model and aware of the present situation with COVID. They should require aspects of pride and confidence too. In order to be our headteacher they have to be flexible and able to handle all situations”

“I think a good quality in a headteacher is politeness yet can be stern, in a nice way, taking pride in their classes and treating each child and staff member equally. Another strong quality is for them to be approachable and easy to speak to and joke with in the right situation.”

“Someone who is very polite. Someone who has a laugh with everybody around her. Someone who is a good listener. Someone who encourages people to keep fit. Someone who tells people the 7 Rs. Someone who is kind and caring. Someone who is aware of children’s safety”.

Our Staff said:

“The perfect Headteacher for Sowe Valley would be an individual who is wholly committed to providing a rich, fun-filled and nurturing experience for all pupils that attend the school. An individual who complements and builds upon our existing ethos in striving for the very best outcomes for our children whilst ensuring that they leave our school full of pride, happy memories, confidence and fulfilment”

“From a staff perspective I would like a Headteacher who promotes an open environment for sharing good practice, developing staff CPD and nurturing those in the very early stages of their career. I have always found it a comfort and support to know that our current Headteacher operates an open door approach for all staff which promotes staff well-being and this level of approachability is an attribute I would consider highly valuable in the next Headteacher at Sowe Valley.”

“From a Leader’s perspective I would value a Headteacher that listened to my concerns and ideas and continued to support me in my professional journey in the promotion of my subjects.”

We are very proud that Ofsted rate us a ‘Good’ school in every area that inspected and we expect that whoever is appointed to the position of Headteacher will have the vision, dedication and drive necessary to maintain this level of achievement.

If you are an experienced Headteacher or Deputy who is ready to take on this exciting challenge, then I and the rest of the Governing Board look forward to meeting you.

Visits to the school are encouraged, by appointment, up to 20th September, contact:  heather.pilz@sowevalley.coventry.sch.uk or call on 02476 456063

To apply please send your completed application form (CVs alone will not be considered) to Helen.Masefield@coventry.gov.uk

Salary: Leadership Scale L8 – L21: Starting Point L15.

Closing date: 20th September 12:00 Noon

Shortlisting date: 23rd September

Interview date: Wednesday 29th September

Key Requirements

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

This School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Coventry City Council