Executive Headteacher

Chesterton Community College in Cambridge is a high-performing secondary school with a strong reputation for academic excellence and inclusive education.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to lead an outstanding school at the heart of one of the region's highest performing Trusts, while also shaping excellence across the wider system.

This role combines full-time leadership of Chesterton with strategic trust-wide influence, including driving best
practice across the Eastern Learning Alliance (ELA) and contributing to external outreach and national programmes. Examples include Chesterton's work as a DfE Attendance & Behaviour Hub and the Trust's involvement in the DfE's RISE initiative, where ELA acts as a supporting organisation and the CEO serves as a RISE adviser, as well as developing broader work in sharing best practice regionally and nationally to support schools in improving outcomes for disadvantaged students. It is an exceptional opportunity for an educational leader who is passionate about school improvement at scale, collaborative innovation, and delivering world-class outcomes for all.

What can ELA offer you?

ELA offer a sector leading staff benefits offer alongside bespoke, high quality CPD programmes, cross-trust events, and exceptional opportunities for career development within our innovative family of schools.

• ELA know that our strength is our people, so we prioritise staff wellbeing, retention and development. Over 95% of ELA staff say they're proud to work in their school.
• ELA are firm believers in the power of recognising, celebrating, and rewarding talent: our track record in terms of retention, internal promotion opportunities and wider career development is excellent.
• ELA staff enjoy a sector leading staff benefits package alongside bespoke, high quality CPD programmes, cross-trust events, and exceptional opportunities for career development within our innovative family of schools.
• You can find out all about our Trust and staff offerhere .

ELA staff benefits include:

• Reduced contact time to enable professional development;
• EAP with access to counselling & physiotherapy;
• Paid annual family day;
• Cycle to work & electric car lease schemes;
• Enhanced parental leave;
• Ticket ballots for high profile events;
• Generous annual leave allowance for support staff;
• Discounted gym membership for all staff.

Our Trust is committed to equal opportunities, to safeguarding and the promotion of the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff are expected to share this commitment and undergo the appropriate checks. All positions within the Trust are subject to enhanced DBS checks and satisfactory references along with a Certificate of Good Conduct if applicable. Only applications submitted on using the ELA application form will be accepted. We do not accept applications by CV. You can view our safeguarding policy here .

Please send a completed application form and covering letter to: Suzanne Izzard, Chesterton Community College, Gilbert Road, Cambridge, CB4 3NY or e-mail: . Due to the high volume of applicants, we receive for certain roles, we reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier that the advertised date if we have received applications that reach the criteria.

All shortlisted applicants should expect to be called for interview no more than 5 working days after the closing date. If you have not heard from us by then, your application has not been successful. Visits to Chesterton Community College are welcome.