Head of The Elms

Trent College is a large co-educational HMC school with around 1,100 pupils, including 350 at The Elms. It offers a broad education catering for various levels of ability, offering strong academic teaching alongside first-class pastoral care and a very broad extra-curricular programme. The Head, Bill Penty, joined in 2014 and has given an updated strategic vision which brings a more adventurous approach to academia and to personal development, as well as significant investment in additional facilities and resources.

The Elms is Trent’s junior school and is a relatively recent development, having been established in 1999. It has the same aspirations as Trent College, along with the confidence that comes from having achieved growth and clear success in less than 25 years. This should not be mistaken for complacency, but it means the incoming Head will take over a large and dynamic prep/junior school that is keen to keep moving forward.

The Elms welcomes children from 6 weeks old in its Nursery, and continues, with one, two and three form entry, until Year 6. It provides around 60% of Trent’s senior school pupils and 95% of Elms pupils continue to Trent College. This statistic underlines the popularity of Trent College in a competitive local market, and it also indicates strong parental satisfaction with both The Elms and Trent College. The two schools work closely together, and the goal is for the Trent College 3-18 education to be as seamless as possible.

In every respect, this position gives an excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic first or more experienced Head to take over a large and successful junior school and take it to even greater heights. If you are currently a Head, you will enjoy the scale and scope that The Elms can offer you, the culture and the buzz that exists at Trent College and The Elms, and the chance to be adventurous and innovative. If this will be your first Headship, you will find that The Elms allows you to grow as a leader, and you’ll enjoy the move into Headship rather more than many others do.

Whether your background is in the independent or the maintained sector, you will be a passionate educationalist who sees primary education as fundamental to later success, someone who is driven to do more for the children in your care, and someone who can excite staff and parents with your vision, your aspirations, your humanity and your approachability. A team worker as well as a team leader, you’ll relish the chance to work closely with an exceptional senior school Head and his own team as well as yours.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to Trent College and The Elms on this appointment.

For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference LAEAMB.

Alternatively, email Belinda.beck@saxbam.com

Applications should be received by noon on Wednesday 30th October 2024.