Description Thomas Gainsborough School - Sudbury, CO10 0NH £106,626 - £123,506 per annum (Teachers’ Pension Scheme) Full time Permanent Reference: 6878 Required from September 2025. Are you ready to lead with purpose, inspire with passion, and shape a school where every student thrives? This is your moment to make a lasting impact. Due to the retirement of the present Headteacher at the end of the academic year, Thomas Gainsborough School, a thriving and dynamic secondary school located in Suffolk, is seeking an exceptional and visionary leader to take on the role of Headteacher. This is a unique opportunity to continue to shape the future of a successful and ambitious school, inspiring our students, staff, and wider community to achieve excellence together. The most recent inspection for the school graded Thomas Gainsborough as outstanding in three out of five categories in the Ofsted framework. About Us Thomas Gainsborough School, part of the Unity Schools Partnership, is a proud, oversubscribed, inclusive, and high-achieving 11-18 school with a reputation for excellent pastoral care, behaviour and attitudes and sixth form provision with vibrant enrichment opportunities. With a strong community ethos, we foster a culture of aspiration, kindness, and achievement, ensuring every student reaches their full potential. Ofsted Nov 2024 “Pupils behave in a manner in which they can be proud and equally their academic performance reflects the school’s value ‘excellence for each, for all” Why join us? An exceptional opportunity to lead a well-established, forward-thinking school A strong and supportive trust network in the Unity Schools Partnership A commitment to your personal and professional development The chance to make a lasting difference in the lives of young people. What we offer: A collaborative network: as part of Unity Schools Partnership, you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with a network of dedicated leaders and educators across our trust Professional growth: we support your career with ongoing professional development, a rich network of resources, and access to best practices A welcoming community: join a school that values each member’s contribution, embraces diversity, and champions student success at every level State-of-the-art facilities:lead a school equipped with excellent facilities, designed to support a rich, modern curriculum. The role As Headteacher, you will: provide strategic leadership and a clear vision for success champion high standards in teaching, learning, and personal development nurture a culture where students are inspired to learn and thrive empower our talented staff, driving professional development and excellence collaborate with the Unity Schools Partnership, contributing to shared goals and innovation across the trust. What we’re looking for: An inspiring leader with proven experience in senior school leadership achieving excellent outcomes at KS4 and 5 A strategic thinker committed to driving high standards academically whilst maintaining the commitment to the personal development of all A collaborative mindset with excellent communication skills to foster relationships with students, staff, parents, and the wider community A passion for inclusive education and a dedication to supporting every child’s journey The ambition and knowledge to build on our strong foundations and take the school to the next level. As Headteacher, you will shape our school’s strategic vision, inspire high standards of teaching and learning, and empower both staff and students to achieve excellence. With a strong commitment to academic achievement, personal growth, and community engagement, you’ll be a leader who can motivate and unify. Your experience, integrity, and commitment to inclusive, high-quality education will help our students thrive in a rapidly changing world. Take the next step in your leadership journey with us. Apply today and make a difference If you’re ready to lead Thomas Gainsborough School with vision, compassion, and a commitment to excellence, we would love to hear from you. Join us in shaping the future of education within a forward-thinking partnership that values innovation, collaboration, and community impact. Unity Schools Partnership is a Multi Academy Trust of 39 schools, with approval to open four further special and primary schools in the near future. The ambition of Unity Schools Partnership is to achieve a step change in the quality of education provided by primary, secondary and special schools and that its schools are achieving top quartile performance by 2028. The trust expects its work to be characterised by ethical leadership, an ambition for improvement at pace and the expectation that remarkable change can happen. To find out more: For an informal discussion, arrange a visit to the school or to find out more about the role, please contact Kevin Blakey, Director of Education (Secondary) on kblakeyunitysp.co.uk or calling 07775 595951. Please do visit the school’s website via https://tgschool.net/ How to apply : To apply, please visit: https://candidate.unitysp-careers.co.uk/265549SJD Closing date: 9am 29 January 2025. Final interviews: 7 February 2025. We care deeply about inclusive working practices and diverse teams. If you’d prefer to work part-time or as a job-share, we’ll facilitate this wherever we can – whether to help you meet other commitments or to help you strike a great work-life balance. We’re keen to ensure we’re designing an organisation that works for everyone, so we particularly encourage applications from different under-represented groups. Unity Schools Partnership is committed to equal opportunities, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check will be required. Unity Schools Partnership – welcoming diversity.