Head (for September 2025)

Silcoates is an independent, co-educational day school of over 500 pupils located on a 60 acre site in Wrenthorpe on the outskirts of Wakefield, five minutes from Junction 41 of the M1 motorway and ten minutes from Junction 30 of the M62 motorway. The School celebrated its bicentenary in 2020 and continues to be a vibrant community which promotes high academic standards, coupled with an appreciation that the development of all-round character and life skills are just as important.

Silcoates is an ‘all through’ school, educating children all the way from Pre-School (2 years old) to Year 13 (18 years). Many of the pupils begin their life at Silcoates in the Pre-School, others join aged 11 and 16 and at other points in between.

This continuity of education serves to embed the skills and qualities that make Silcoates’ pupils enthusiastic and effective learners and supports the School’s aims of bringing out the very best in every pupil and encouraging every pupil to seize all their opportunities. The School is selective but a flexible curriculum ensures that pupils with a broad range of ability and interests develop their own strengths and aptitudes and achieve much success. A comprehensive range of co-curricular opportunities, in all age groups, aims to inculcate a sense of adventure, confidence and resilience and pupils of all ages are nurtured, supported and safeguarded by a proactive pastoral regime focussed on individual needs.

As a charity, Silcoates is governed by a Board of Governors, the School’s trustees. Substantial investment has been made in the School facilities over the last few years, resulting in facilities of which we are proud, including a sports hall and swimming pool, playing fields and a Forest School, a MUGA/astroturf pitch, DT and ICT suites, a music school, drama studio, careers and admissions centre and a recently upgraded Sixth Form Centre.

The Governors of Silcoates School are now seeking a new and inspirational leader to take the School forward in its next phase. You will be able to demonstrate a strategic approach to policy and planning, management skills and business insight and should bring experience of successful senior leadership in education. An engaging individual, you will embrace and be fully committed to the aims, ethos and values of Silcoates. You will be keen to promote academic rigour within a safe, open and transparent culture supported by excellent pastoral care and to ensure that pupils have access to a wide range of co-curricular opportunities to enhance the breadth of their education and to promote their life skills. A visible and dynamic leader, you will be instinctively collaborative and able to inspire confidence across the school community and drive continuous improvements in pupil outcomes. A confident networker, you will be able to market Silcoates effectively in a competitive marketplace to recruit, retain and grow pupil numbers.

In order to apply please visit our website and complete an application form. Enquiries and visits are welcome, contact details for arrangements are in our pack.

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is Monday 27th January at 9am.

Longlist interviews will take place on 11th and 12th February and second stage shortlist interviews will be held on 25th February.

Silcoates School is an equal opportunities employer committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.