Short-listed candidates will be asked to complete a criminal record self-disclosure form to provide details of all unspent convictions and those that would not be filtered or protected, to be returned to the school prior to the date of the interview.  You may be asked for further information about your criminal history during the recruitment process.  If your application is successful, this criminal record self-disclosure information will be checked against information from the Disclosure & Barring Service before your appointment is confirmed.

In addition to the above, the school reserves the right to carry out an online search on short-listed candidates.  This will only include a search for information which is publicly available online.

Please note it is an offence to apply for the role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

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CURRENT VACANCIES

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Headteacher

Required for September 2026
GROUP 6 L26 (£95,735) to L32 (£110,892)

The Governors are seeking to appoint a strategic leader who can inspire staff and students in our genuinely inclusive school.

St Benedict’s is a happy and successful school. It has served the town of Whitehaven and surrounding areas for over 50 years. The school relocated in January 2019 to a brand new £33m Campus which was purposely designed and built to a high specification. The Campus sees the co-location of St Benedict’s School with our close neighbour, Mayfield Special School.  The Campus has superb facilities that are used extensively by the community.

We are:

• A large 11-19 Catholic School and Sixth Form Centre located on the outskirts of the historic harbour town of Whitehaven and close to the western boundary of the Lake District National Park;
• A popular faith school with a truly comprehensive intake, a key role in our local community and a strong foundation of moral purpose;

You are:

• A practising Catholic with a clear vision and strong commitment to Catholic education, who will not only cherish and support the Catholic ethos of our school but commit to develop this further;
• A candidate with a proven track record of success in senior leadership and a passion for education and making a difference to children’s lives;
• A skilful communicator with a powerful and persistent focus on the development of excellence in teaching and learning
• Passionate about influencing, challenging and motivating all members of the school community to achieve a shared vision;
• Committed to safeguarding and the welfare and wellbeing of children and staff.

We will offer you:

• A good school with an outstanding Catholic ethos, rooted in the Gospel and inspired by the Benedictine tradition. St Benedict’s lives its motto, Through Love of Christ, delight in Virtue, fostering a calm, caring community shaped by stewardship, humility, truthful living, diligence, dignity and forgiveness.
• A supportive, welcoming and caring culture throughout the school, based on the values of the Catholic faith where the development of every person matters;
• Hard-working, committed and aspirational staff and students;
• A strong and determined leadership team;
• The whole-hearted support of a challenging but supportive Governing Body which is committed, experienced and ambitious for the future of St Benedict’s.
• A relatively new building within a unique Campus (not PFI/EFA);

This is a Reserved Post for Practising Catholics (see guidance in Application Pack).

St Benedict’s School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its students.  All applicants are subject to the requirements of the Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education guidelines.  This will include checks with past employers and the need for the successful applicant to hold or undergo a suitable enhanced DBS disclosure. 

Please download the application pack & supporting documents below:

Application Pack
Application Form
Consent to Obtain References
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act
Recruitment Monitoring Form
SLT Application Declaration
Model Application Forms and GDPR Compliance

Please email enquiries to Andrea Hartley, Clerk to Governors at andrea.hartley@st-benedicts.cumbria.sch.uk

Prospective candidates are warmly encouraged to visit the school and should contact Lesley Taylor, PA to the Headteacher on 01946 692275 or by email at lesley.taylor@st-benedicts.cumbria.sch.uk

Closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday, 2^nd February 2026.

Interviews will be held in the week commencing 23^rd February 2026.

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Link below for details on the Train to Teach scheme with CET: 

Train to Teach with CET – Cumbria Education Trust

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