The King's School Gloucester - Head of Junior School

Summary

We are seeking an outstanding Head of Junior School to join King's. This is an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious, inspirational and strategically minded educational leader to shape the future of a flourishing Junior School.

Detail

Required: September 2027

Reporting to: Headmaster

Closing date: Monday 12th October, 12:00 noon

The Role

The Headmaster and Governors of The King's School seek to appoint an outstanding Head of Junior School to join the Senior Leadership Team at an important moment in the School's long and distinguished history. This is an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious, inspirational and strategically minded educational leader to shape the future of a flourishing Junior School at one of the country's oldest and most respected schools.

The Head of Junior School occupies a pivotal leadership position within King's, providing the vision, direction and leadership that enable the Junior School to thrive. Working in close partnership with the Headmaster, Senior Leadership Team, Governors, staff and parents, the successful candidate will develop and deliver a compelling vision for the future of the Junior School, championing excellence in teaching and learning, nurturing a culture of outstanding pastoral care and wellbeing, and ensuring that every child is supported, challenged and encouraged to fulfil their potential.

This is a wide-ranging and rewarding position that combines strategic leadership with a visible and authentic presence within the daily life of the School. The Head of Junior School will lead and inspire a talented team of teaching and support staff, nurture strong partnerships with families, and champion a broad educational experience that develops character, confidence, kindness and scholarship.

The School

The King’s School is one of the dozen oldest schools in the country and has a proud heritage dating back to at least 1072, with a re-foundation by Henry VIII as one of his seven illustrious Cathedral Schools in 1541. Today, King's is a thriving co-educational day school for around 740 pupils aged 3-18, combining centuries of tradition with a clear focus on preparing young people for the future. As Gloucester's Cathedral School, we enjoy a unique relationship with Gloucester Cathedral – our Foundation partners. While our Christian ethos remains central to our identity and values, we warmly welcome families from a wide range of backgrounds. A substantial bursary and scholarship programme helps ensure that King's remains a diverse, grounded and inclusive community in which pupils are encouraged to develop not only academically, but also as kind, compassionate and responsible young people.

The Junior School is a vibrant and happy community for children aged 3 to 11, where academic ambition sits alongside exceptional pastoral care. We believe that childhood should be filled with curiosity, discovery and opportunity, and we seek to nurture confident, resilient and compassionate young people who are excited by learning and eager to contribute positively to the world around them. At the heart of the Junior School is a commitment to knowing every child as an individual. Strong relationships between pupils, staff and families create a warm and supportive environment in which children feel valued, challenged and encouraged to fulfil their potential. Pastoral care is a particular strength, underpinned by a culture of kindness, respect and belonging, where pupils are inspired to be King's SMART through their Smile, Manners, Attitude, Resilience and Teamwork. As part of an all-through school, the Junior School is uniquely placed to prepare pupils for a successful transition into Senior School. Through close collaboration between colleagues across King's, around 80% of Junior School pupils move seamlessly into the next stage of their King’s education, benefiting from early access to specialist facilities, expertise and opportunities while retaining the security and nurture that characterise their Junior School experience.

Despite the challenges facing the independent sector, King's continues to flourish. The school roll continues to grow, there is two-form entry across the Junior School, and a healthy annual surplus is forecast this year. Investment in facilities, teaching and learning, pastoral care and staff development ensures that the School remains dynamic, ambitious and forward-looking as it approaches its 500th anniversary in 2041.

Key Duties

As a central figure in the School’s Senior Leadership Team, the Head of Junior School will undertake a range of duties relating to:

• Vision, strategy & school development;
• Pastoral care, safeguarding & pupil wellbeing;
• Educational excellence & pupil outcomes;
• People leadership & staff development
• Operational & financial stewardship;
• Junior-Senior transition & whole-school collaboration;
• Community engagement, admissions & partnerships.

For full details, please refer to the applicant information pack.

Personal Profile

The successful candidate will hold QTS and will demonstrate the following qualities and experience:

• Significant senior leadership experience within a successful educational setting (applications are welcomed from within the state or independent sector);
• A strong track record of leading excellence in teaching, learning and curriculum development;
• Demonstrable experience of fostering outstanding pastoral care, safeguarding and pupil wellbeing;
• The ability to develop and deliver a clear strategic vision whilst maintaining a strong presence in the daily life of the School;
• Experience of leading, developing and inspiring high-performing teams;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with pupils, parents, colleagues, governors and external stakeholders;
• Sound judgement, integrity, resilience and the ability to make balanced decisions in a complex environment;
• A commitment to innovation, continuous improvement and educational excellence;
• Dedicated, empathetic and approachable, with energy, warmth and a good sense of humour;
• Alignment with the School's values, safeguarding culture and educational mission.

The following qualities are also desirable:

• Experience of leading a Junior, Prep or Primary School;
• Experience of contributing to whole-school strategy as a member of a senior leadership team;
• Knowledge of ISI inspection frameworks and regulatory requirements, or a willingness to learn;
• Experience of managing budgets and resources effectively;
• Experience of strengthening transition between phases of education;
• A relevant postgraduate or leadership qualification (e.g. NPQSL, NPQH).

Salary

The salary offered is competitive and will be commensurate with the successful candidate’s qualifications, experience, and the significance of the role.

Benefits

• Generous staff fee remission for children being educated at King’s;
• Wraparound care for children being educated at King’s when School is in session;
• A contributory employer’s pension scheme through Aviva APTIS;
• Various discounts for local services including gym memberships and garages;
• Staff Wellbeing Programme and Wellbeing Day (additional leave);
• Cycle to Work scheme;
• Free lunches when School is in session;
• Free access to our Employee Assistance Programme;
• Free on-site parking;
• Appointments with the School Doctor if required.

Applications

Candidates should apply through TES, or by submitting a completed School Application Form and covering letter (addressed to Mr David Morton, Headmaster, and outlining your skills, experience and motivations) to recruitment@thekingsschool.co.uk. A CV is not required.

• Closing date for applications is Monday 12th October at 12:00 noon;
• Initial longlist interviews will take place online, commencing Wednesday 14th October;
• In-person interviews for shortlisted candidates will commence on Tuesday 3rd November;
• The successful Head of Junior School will be appointed by a selection panel led by the Headmaster.

For further information or to arrange a visit to the School, please contact Mr Harry Fuller on 01452 337337, or via email to recruitment@thekingsschool.co.uk.

Documents

• King's Recruitment 2026 PDF Document
• Head of Junior School Candidate Pack - September 2026 PDF Document
• Application Form - Teaching Role DOCX Document