Head of Primary
Salary: L13 - 21 (£69,596 to £84,699 FTE)
Contract type: Permanent
Start Date: April 2026
Chichester Free School was established in 2013 as an all-through, stand-alone academy. The opportunities its all-through status affords make this role particularly exciting. We believe the next phase of the school’s development will build on strong foundations and take it to the next level. The academy joined Sussex Learning Trust (SLT) in 2023 in order to become part of a wider family of schools with all the benefits that brings.
The school has a PAN of 60 pupils in the primary phase and 120 students in the secondary phase, spanning Reception to Year 11 across the school. In recent years, it has been consistently oversubscribed in both Reception and Year 7, with waiting lists across all year groups. Visitors frequently comment on the calm, purposeful atmosphere across the school.
Outcomes in the primary phase are particularly strong (see the associated page for more detail). There is still work to do, especially in closing the attainment gap between pupils eligible for pupil premium and their peers. Our current strategy is informed by robust self-evaluation, detailed pupil knowledge, and targeted intervention.
Sussex Learning Trust is a growing, values-driven organisation. We are not a large or directive Trust; rather, we believe that Headteachers and Local Governing Bodies are best placed to serve their communities. We aim to support this earned autonomy with strong, credible, and accessible central leadership. The new Head of Primary Headteacher at CFS will be line managed by the Executive Principal and will benefit from direct support from experienced Executive Team colleagues.
We have created a dedicated microsite with further information and links to help you decide whether you have the skill set to be our next Head of Primary. We also warmly encourage you to visit the school in person – details of how to book are available on the site. We look forward to hearing from you.
Interviews will be held Thursday 29th January and Friday 30th January