Candidate InformationHead After serving as Headteacher for the past 4 years, Mr David Lee will bestepping down at the end of the Summer Term 2026.We are now looking for a Headteacher who will work with theestablished team to provide continuity and uphold the unique ethos ofSt Francis as we strive to make this school the very best Prep School inthe area.We seek an individual who is a creative and warm leader, an excellentcommunicator, has an eye for marketing and has the ability andambition to guide St Francis School through the next stage of its journey.Our commitment to ensuring academic rigour, in a supportive, nurturingenvironment, where children have a breadth of opportunity to thrive andflourish remains as high as ever.Leading and managing on our priorities for development will present thenew Head with a wonderful opportunity to make a significant impact onthe future direction of this already high-achieving school.If this is a role that excites you and you feel you have the skills andexperience, we would be delighted to hear from you. 1Welcome from the CEOMr Amit Mehta, CEO, inspired Learning Group At St Francis School our children are happy, respectful, kind and apleasure to teach. The school community is positive, friendly and familyfocussed. St Francis is situated in 17 acres of grounds and offers beautifulsurroundings in which to teach and to learn. We are committed to thewellbeing of our staff and our children. It is a great place to be. 2Introduction 3History of St Francis SchoolFounded in 1941 by Miss Phyllis Burden, St Francis School is now athriving IAPS co-educational day prep school and nursery for pupils aged0 to 11. In 1984 the School moved out of Pewsey village to HaybrookHouse (which now houses the Pre-Prep department and Little SaintsNursery).The School’s most recent successful ISI inspection was completed inFebruary 2025.Although the entry to St Francis School is non-selective, the outcomes forYear 6 (11+) pupils are exceptional with many gaining scholarships,exhibitions and places at a broad range of schools. After their time at StFrancis, pupils transfer to local schools including Dauntsey’s School,Warminster School, Stonar as well as to other senior day and boardingschools. Our learning ethos is very much based on developing core values, skills,attitudes and behaviours alongside subject knowledge and subject skillswhich are required for children to succeed and flourish in an everchanging world. The School’s learning focus is summarised in themnemonic CLICK (Collaboration, Leadership, Independence, Challengeand Kindness).St Francis is a ‘Google Workspace for Education’ environment and theuse of Chromebooks by all pupils is embedded throughout the School.Specialist teaching starts in Nursery and Pre-Prep with music, sport andFrench. This develops year-on-year and by Year 5 most classes aretaught by specialist subject teachers. The School’s motto ‘deus dabit incrementum’ has been translated intomodern parlance as ‘Use your God-given Talents’: with our range offacilities and the expertise of the staff, we provide opportunities forchildren to find and develop their talents, both outside as well as insidethe classroom. Children are encouraged, recognised and celebrated intheir achievements. 4About Inspired Learning GroupILG currently owns and operates 33 schools and nurseries in the UK.Overall, we look after over 4,000 pupils, making us one of the largestindependent school groups in the UK.St Francis School is one of 14 Prep Schools within the group. We see ILG as one extended family, allowing us to share best practiceand innovation between schools in order to raise standards of teachingand learning for all our students. We recognise and respect that eachschool has its own history and identity. We encourage individuality, sothat new ideas can grow naturally with the best ideas then beingimplemented right across the group. The collaborative spirit is aneffective way of ensuring that education practices do not fall behind thetimes and it is why we encourage out-of-the box methods such as Appleteaching and future thinking.ILG schools may look reassuringly traditional in some ways, but ourmove away from standardisation toward customisation is not justmodern but quietly revolutionary. We make the effort to understand thedifferences between individual children and tailor their teaching at apersonal level. This means that all children, no matter their needs, arecatered for. Our commitment to parents is that no one child will ever beleft behind.ILG empowers its schools to achieve their mission and vision throughchallenging yet supportive governance. We connect schools,stakeholders and professional associations to create opportunities andbuild capacity. We work with school leadership to set clear schoolimprovement goals through engagement with pupils, parents, staff andthe wider community.We recruit, invest in and retain outstanding practitioners, ensuring theprovision and monitoring of a broad and balanced personalisedcurriculum for children with individual learning needs. 4 6The OpportunityThis appointment is a great opportunity for an existing Head or aspiringsenior leader to make a lasting impression. St Francis School is anestablished happy and successful school that provides a stimulatingeducation for is pupils. It is a happy and high-achieving school, providinga stimulating education for its pupils, with ambition with huge potentialto achieve even greater things in the future, particularly with the backingof ILG.The new Head must be willing to work closely in partnership with ILG,but also have the strength and independence to make their owndecisions for the benefit of the School and its community. The Headreports to the COO, Director of Education and CEO of ILG, but also hasplenty of scope for autonomy in terms of the running of the school. Understanding and nurturing this relationship with ILG is key to the newHead being able to maximise the considerable opportunities this roleoffers. It is by nature a reassuring and supportive relationship, not asmothering one. ILG provides St Francis School with strategic guidance,financial security and management, plus back office functions such ashuman resources/recruitment, marketing and estates, thus allowing theHead to focus on the educational leadership of the School.The Governing Board, chaired by a member of ILG’s Advisory Body,provides the governance structure within which the Head can besupported and guided.The opportunity to learn from the wisdom and experience of others inthe support group of ILG Heads is a further benefit of ILG’s involvementin the School. The Heads meet together termly to share best practice andconcerns and there are regular professional development sessionsacross the year for our Heads. 7Short and Medium Term ChallengesTo consider and review the priorities for further development of theSchool in order to retain and enhance pupil numbers which canassure its future.To raise the profile and reputation of St Francis School within thelocal community and to be an authentic, visible and persuasiveambassador for the school.To champion high-quality teaching and learning, with a strongemphasis on classroom excellence and enhanced pupil outcomes.To further enhance the school’s offering of enrichment activities andits co-curricular activity. To build meaningful partnerships and outreach, enhancingrecruitment pipelines and widening opportunities for pupils.To maximise the use of the 17-acre site and specialist facilities for thebenefit of the pupils and the wider community Little Saints Nursery extended into our purpose built single storeynursery building in September 2017. This allowed us to expand ourNursery provision to welcome babies and toddlers to join our Pre-Schoolchildren in a setting for children aged 0 to 4 years, open for 51 weeks ayear. Our Nursery children have access to acres of glorious school grounds,including a beautiful Forest School in our woodland. Nursery childrenalso use the school’s extensive facilities. Healthy meals are cooked in ourin-house kitchens and Nursery children in our Pre-School room enjoyeating their lunch in the school Dining Room. Children have weekly French, and PE sessions with specialist teachers. AllNursery children (starting from babies) have music sessions with aspecialist music teacher, at least once a week. 8School LifeThe Nursery, Little Saints 9At Little Saints Nursery we pride ourselves in creating a home from homeenvironment within which all of our children are loved, cared for andrespected as the unique individuals they are. While play and fun are atthe heart of all we do, they are underpinned by a fully developed EarlyYears curriculum, and all activities are carefully designed to help childrenbuild the skills they need to start school full of confidence.All our children, from the youngest babies, follow a specially tailored andrichly diverse Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum with access tospecialist staff from the Junior School. A wide variety of fun and excitinglearning opportunities are provided for the children, which take placeboth in and out of doors.We provide a warm, friendly, family atmosphere that encourages astrong link with parents, fostering a bond of trust, where childrenbecome confident, happy and independent learners. 10The SchoolThrough our Academic programme, our pupils develop intellectualhabits and passions that stay with them for life. Learning goals inlanguages, mathematics, sciences, the Arts, humanities, technology andphysical education build logically through each year group, preparingpupils for their next academic challenge and for life beyond school.The conceptual nature of our curriculum focuses on ideas that cantransfer across the world and support students to become informed,globally competent and future-ready learners. Influenced by progressivepedagogy, metacognition and educational best practice, learning istailored to fit our children’s needs while developing their knowledge,skills and understanding. Through thematic units, teachers create funand engaging learning opportunities that enable children to buildconnections between subjects and the world around them. Physical Education and sport are an important part of life at St Francis. Itis our philosophy to ‘inspire a love of sport’. We would like all of ourpupils to enjoy their participation in sport and to do so we begin byhelping them develop their fundamental movement skills. Thedevelopment of these skills begins in Nursery and naturally leads intothe physical activities and sports that the pupils participate in as theymove into the prep and senior parts of the school. This allows each childto have the motivation, confidence, movement competence, knowledgeand understanding to value and take part in physical activity throughouttheir time at school and beyond.Pupils have both PE and Games lessons during the week, and in Years 3to 6 also have a fixture afternoon. All our pupils, whatever their ability,represent the school in competitive sports matches against otherschools. The fixture list of matches and tournaments against other schools isextensive in both depth and variety. Opportunities for competitive sportin local, regional and national events are supplemented by our Inter-House Competitions.11Key AreasSport At St Francis School music is very popular with most students receivingmusical tuition on at least one musical instrument. Children are regularlyprepared and entered for ABRSM, London College Music and Trinity Rockand Pop examinations. There are many opportunities for pupils to develop their musical skillsoutside of their classroom lessons. Various choirs, Orchestra, Recorderand String groups run throughout the school. In addition, the MusicScholarship Club provide pupils with opportunities to develop theiracademic understanding of music and their general musicianship. The StFrancis String Group plays in the Carol Service and in other concerts andassemblies during the school year. It has won the Devizes EisteddfodEnsemble Cup in 2022, 2023 and 2024.Termly Music Recitals provide a supportive and friendly platform forpupils to perform solos to family, friends and staff. The music festivalheld in the Summer Term provides pupils with a more formal,competitive performance environment. 12Music 13DramaWe recognise the importance of Drama and the Performing Arts in ourchildren’s development. Children from Junior Prep onwards have aweekly Drama lesson, allowing them to learn how to work together andbuilding up individual self-confidence. Every child is able to take part inat least one performance for parents and friends during the school yearand there are other opportunities for acting and reading skills to bedisplayed at local festivals or within the school community.Art & DesignWith two dedicated Art and Design Technology rooms including aceramics kiln, our Art & DT department allows the opportunity forchildren to learn to express themselves through art. Pupils areintroduced to a wide range of materials and techniques. They canexplore large scale ambitious projects, utilise ICT facilities and learnspecialist skills such as ceramics and printmaking.Beyond the ClassroomSt Francis School has a wide range or extra-curricular clubs which runand rotate on a termly basis. Delivered by our teachers and someexternal coaches all clubs are well attended and enjoyed. 14Governance and LeadershipThe termly Governance meeting is chaired by the Chair of Governors,Cath Bufton-Green, with members of the ILG board present and theHead in attendance, who provides a termly report for discussion. 15The RoleKey aims of the role:To lead, motivate and develop the school and its staff so that it fulfilsthe academic, pastoral, spiritual and social needs of the pupils andtheir parents, by providing an excellent, broad-based education inline with the ethos of the school.To work with the Advisory Board, drawing on their experience andexpertise, to fulfil all the duties and responsibilities for the propergovernance of the school; to ensure that the Chair and Board receivetimely notice and appropriate information on all relevant matters.To work closely and cooperatively with the COO, CEO, Director ofEducation and Finance Officer, in accordance with the Board’sstrategic direction, in terms of financial matters and sitedevelopment. 16The RoleKey responsibilities of the role:The Head is responsible, directly and by delegation, forThe leadership and management of the School. The care and development of each child and for maintainingexcellent academic standards within the School.The pastoral care and welfare of all staff and pupils.The overall financial performance of the School, for which they will beassisted by the finance team, and for meeting the annual budgetagreed.Leading, managing, and motivating the Senior Leadership Team and,with them and through them, all academic and support staff.The appointment of all staff.The assessment, appraisal, guidance, support, and professionaldevelopment of all teaching staff with the objective of achievinginspirational teaching at all levels.The marketing of the School, including fundraising, the production ofpublicity, literature and any advertising, the public relations profile,management of the School’s website and the establishment ofpositive relations with prospective parents.Recruiting a full complement of pupils, and overseeing admissionand entrance procedures.Planning and implementing an effective curriculum and timetable. Planning and implementing the academic organisation of the School,reviewing as appropriate.Monitoring pupils’ progress and ensuring that parents are providedwith regular and appropriate feedback setting realistic expectations.Creating the appropriate balance between all areas of school life,extra-curricular activity, and community involvement.Maintaining good communications and relationships within theSchool and with key stakeholders including neighbours, local schools,the local community, and former pupils.Developing and maintaining good professional relationships with theparents of pupils.Delegating effectively and appropriately to achieve the above. 17The RoleWorking with the Advisory Board The Head is responsible, directly and by delegation, for:Ensuring that the School meets all its legal obligations includingcompliance with Child Protection, Data Protection and Health andSafety regulations.Taking overall responsibility for the delivery of excellent pastoral care– ensuring the security and pastoral care of all pupils in line withsafeguarding legislation, including safer recruitment and workingalongside external agencies as appropriate.Implementing policies agreed by the Board and contributing to thevision for the future of the School through strategic leadership andplanning.Submitting policy proposals for the approval of the Board or assistingthe Board in the development of tactical and strategic policies, aswell as implementing and monitoring these policies.In partnership with the Chair, ensuring that the Board receivessufficient and timely information and advice in order to makeinformed decisions.Implementing Board decisions.Preparing and updating the School Development Plan.General To undertake other duties appropriate to the general purpose of thepost, which may from time to time be reasonably assigned by theChair of the advisory board or the COO.To carry out teaching duties as appropriate and time permits.To set an example of continuous personal development, participatingin appropriate training in order to maintain an up-to-dateprofessional expertise.The Head should be aware of trends in education, the requirementsof schools and public examinations and, where appropriate,recommend policy changes to the Governors.It is expected that the Head will represent the School on sectorbodies which the Advisory Board deem suitable. 18The PersonCandidates must be genuinely committed to working in an environmentwhere the happiness, wellbeing and safety of the children in our care iscentral to all that is done.In addition, good candidates for the role are likely to demonstrate muchof the following:Senior leadership experience.Strong academic credentials and preferably QTS status.Understanding of and support for the values and ethos of the School,and commitment to embedding successful all-round education andco-education. Inclusive leadership, valuing and promoting the diversity of thecommunity. Commitment to delivering top academic, co-curricular and pastoralprovision for every pupil, mindful of their wellbeing.Natural and easy communication with pupils, staff, parents,prospective parents, the governors and alumni.The skills and integrity to win confidence and trust from allstakeholders. Ability to articulate and promote the strengths of St Francis Schooland raise the profile of the School.A strategic and analytical mind with vision but also a degree ofpragmatism – ready and able to address the complex political, socialand economic issues ahead.Change management skills.Commitment to partnerships and bursaries – with a strong sense ofsocial responsibility.· 19The PersonContinuedA primary commitment to St Francis School but a broader interest inembracing, promoting and contributing to the Inspired LearningGroup. A national and global perspective on the best in education with aforward-looking but discerning approach to selecting what is truly ofvalue in a fast-changing educational climate.Effective team leadership, with the skills to motivate, inspire andenable all in the leadership team and the wider staff.The skills to appoint the very best people.Courage, high expectations and inner steel.Strength in the softer skills – the ability to listen, empathise and showcompassion.Financial and commercial acumen.Commitment to ensuring that St Francis School is compliant with allregulations, with a thorough understanding of the Head’sresponsibilities in relation to safeguarding and Child Protectionissues and a clear commitment to delivering best practice insafeguarding.Enjoyment of learning and the sense of humility which accompaniesthe desire and will to develop personally and professionally.A sense of joy and optimism in leading the St Francis Schoolcommunity. 20Employment and ConditionsThe successful candidate will be offered a competitive salary and anappropriate package of benefits which could be shaped to meet theneeds of the successful candidate. 21The Application ProcessInterested candidates for the position of Head at St Francis School are invitedto contact Tom Havard at Inspired Learning Group prior to application for adiscussion. The deadline for receipt of the application is 12 noon on Friday 16 January2026thApplications should be made electronically to Tom Havard at Inspired LearningGroup using the email tom@inspiredlearninggroup.co.uk.You should submit the following (both in PDF format):A completed application form A covering letter addressed to Mrs C. Bufton-Green, Chair of Governors, StFrancis School. The letter should explain your reasons for applying.If you have any questions about the application or uploading of yourapplication documents, please contact Tom Havard, Head of Recruitment andResourcing at Inspired Learning Group, tom@inspiredlearninggroup.co.uk or07706323847The process is as follows:All applications will be acknowledged by e-mail and initial call will takeplace upon receipt of the application.Long List interviews with the chosen panel will take place online or at StFrancis School, Pewsey the week commencing 26 January 2026thDuring week commencing 2 February 2026, short-listed candidates willbe invited to visit St Francis School and to undertake a personality testonline.ndShort List interviews with the chosen panel will take place at St FrancisSchool Pewsey, the Week Commencing 9 February 2026.thThe Inspired Learning Group is totally committed to safeguarding the welfareof children and young people and expects the same from its employees. Allnew staff will be subject to enhanced DBS clearance, identity checks,qualification checks and employment checks to include an exploration of anygaps within employment, two satisfactory references and registration with theDisclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
