Job Description

Headteacher – Launcelot Primary School and Nursery

Job details

What skills and experience we're looking for

Launcelot Primary School and Nursery is seeking an inspirational, ambitious and compassionate Headteacher to lead our welcoming and inclusive school through the next stage of its improvement journey.

We are proud of our strong family ethos, positive relationships and commitment to ensuring every child is known, valued and supported to succeed. We are looking for a leader who will build on these strengths while securing consistently high-quality teaching, an ambitious curriculum and strong outcomes for all pupils.

The successful candidate will:

• Have successful senior leadership experience in a primary school, with a proven ability to improve teaching, learning and pupil outcomes.
• Be an inspiring and visible leader who develops a clear vision, sets high expectations and builds positive relationships with children, staff, families and governors.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of curriculum development, assessment and evidence-informed teaching, with the ability to lead sustainable school improvement.
• Be passionate about inclusion, with the expertise to ensure pupils with SEND, EAL and other barriers to learning are supported to achieve their full potential.
• Develop and empower staff through effective professional development, collaboration and supportive accountability.
• Have the strategic and operational skills to manage resources effectively, strengthen safeguarding systems and ensure the school's long-term sustainability.
• Value the wider development of children, protecting the enrichment opportunities, positive culture and sense of belonging that make Launcelot special.

Applicants must hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), a degree or equivalent qualification, and have a commitment to continued professional development. An NPQH, or willingness to undertake it, is required.

Above all, we are seeking a leader who combines warmth and integrity with the determination, expertise and ambition to make a lasting difference to every child's education.

What the school offers its staff

Launcelot is a school with a strong sense of community, where staff work together to create a positive, nurturing and ambitious environment for children.

We offer:

• A warm, welcoming and inclusive school community with enthusiastic children who enjoy learning.
• A committed, caring and collaborative staff team who support one another and take pride in their work.
• An established culture of inclusion, including The HIVE, our resourced provision for pupils with autism.
• A rich and distinctive enrichment offer, including OPAL outdoor play, educational visits and on-site swimming.
• Positive and increasingly engaged relationships with parents, carers and the wider community.
• A supportive and committed Governing Board with a clear vision for the school's future.
• The opportunity to shape the next stage of school improvement, building on strong foundations and making a meaningful difference to children's lives.

We warmly encourage prospective applicants to visit Launcelot and experience our school community first-hand.

About the school

Launcelot Primary School and Nursery is a diverse and inclusive community primary school in Downham, within the London Borough of Lewisham. We educate approximately 264 children aged 3 to 11, with more than 40 languages spoken across our school community.

Our mission is rooted in three principles: Inspiration – We love to learn; Aspiration – We make a difference; Success – We lift each other up.

We are proud of our nurturing ethos, commitment to inclusion and broad opportunities for children to learn, grow and flourish. Our next Headteacher will join us at an important stage of our development, building on our strengths in relationships, enrichment and pastoral care while driving further improvement in teaching, curriculum and achievement.

Our school improvement priorities focus on high-quality teaching, writing and oracy, safeguarding and record keeping, and effective adaptation of teaching to meet pupils' needs.

Commitment to safeguarding

Launcelot Primary School and Nursery is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The successful candidate will be subject to appropriate safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and other pre-employment checks in line with statutory guidance.

Applying for the job

We welcome applications from experienced, ambitious and values-driven school leaders who share our commitment to inclusion, high expectations and providing the best possible education for every child.

Please see our website for application and the our Headteachers Recruitment Pack.

Visits to the school are warmly encouraged.

For further information or to arrange a visit, please contact Dionne Burke, SBM

Launcelot Primary School and Nursery

Telephone: 020 8697 2304

Email: dburke@launcelot.lewisham.sch.uk

Website: www.launcelot.lewisham.sch.uk

• Start date: Jan 2027 preferable but expect a Summer 2027 start
• Application closing date and time: 13 November 2026 midday
• Interview date: 30 November 2026
• Application method or application form link: link to school website
• Whether visa sponsorship is available: tbc

The school is committed to the promotion of equal opportunities and diversity. We have a clear commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful applicant will be required to complete an Enhanced Disclosure for the Disclosure and Barring Service.