Killinghall C.E. Primary School

Killinghall CofE Primary School is a one-form entry primary school situated close to Harrogate. We are a vibrant and welcoming community, guided by the profound words of Jesus, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’

Our vision, ‘We strive, we share, we shine’, reflects our commitment to nurturing knowledgeable minds and resilient, caring spirits.

Our current Headteacher has transformed the school culture and continued to raise expectations and enhance curriculum provision.

In our recent SIAMS inspection (June 2024), the following highlights captured the essence of our school:

• “Leaders have made significant changes to the wider curriculum this year to ensure that pupils are able to shine.”
• “Leaders demonstrate endless generosity in the care they show.”
• “Staff are known, valued and understood. Their professional development needs are well met, and their wellbeing is a priority for leaders. As a result, they thrive.”

The school and its staff are proud to be part of a learning community that recognises the importance of building an enriching, purposeful and robust curriculum set within a school culture that is nurturing and supportive. Our curriculum is carefully designed to engage and inspire, providing meaningful opportunities for every child to succeed and flourish.

As a Church of England school, our ethos is grounded in Christian values of love, trust and justice. We believe in educating the whole child, combining academic excellence with spiritual, moral, and cultural development, enabling every child to live “life in all its fullness” (John 10:10).

We are seeking an experienced and inspirational Headteacher to join our leadership team and work collaboratively to lead our school into its next chapter. The ideal candidate will bring a wealth of knowledge, skills and passion for education.

We are looking for a leader who:

• Has extensive experience in school leadership: You will have a deep understanding of school processes, systems and policies, ensuring smooth and effective operations across all areas.
• Builds positive and secure relationships: You will value and prioritise strong connections with children, parents, staff and the wider school community, fostering a sense of trust, inclusion and shared purpose.
• Promotes a happy and nurturing environment: Through your initiative and professionalism, you will cultivate a school where both children and staff feel valued, supported and motivated to excel.
• Embodies relational practice in behaviour and attitudes: You will model and promote our values of love, trust and justice, ensuring that every interaction is respectful, empathetic and conducive to a positive learning culture.
• Inspires and motivates others: You will bring energy, vision and compassion to our leadership team, empowering staff and children to reach their full potential.
• Shares our vision of “We strive, we share, we shine” by fostering growth, celebrating individuality and creating opportunities for everyone to shine as their best selves.

What We Can Offer

• A school community deeply rooted in Christian values, with a strong vision and clear theological foundation.
• A welcoming and inclusive environment that celebrates achievement and promotes innovation.
• A dedicated and talented team of staff committed to delivering an inspiring curriculum.
• A supportive governing body and an active, engaged school community ready to collaborate with you.
• Opportunities to shape the spiritual, academic, and personal growth of every child and to lead a school that is committed to excellence and care.

Teaching Assistant Post

Due to the increasing number of pupils in our school, we are seeking to recruit a full-time Teaching Assistant to support the needs of our pupils. 

Killinghall is a friendly school, with enthusiastic pupils and dedicated staff team. Please visit our school website to get a flavour of who we are, visits to school are always encouraged.

The successful candidates will need to have:
•    The skills and confidence to work with children in Early Years and Key Stage 1, particularly those with SEND;
•    A proven track record in effectively supporting individuals within a primary school setting;
•    The ability to establish excellent relationships with children and promote aspirational achievement for all groups of learners;
•    Excellent communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team;
•    Believe in the inclusion for all and is able to implement strategies to support children with SEND.

We can offer:
•    Delightful children who are well mannered, curious and keen to learn 
•    A friendly staff team who are willing to share their expertise
•    Support in your role through training and coaching
•    A school where everyone helps each other to shine!

As a North Yorkshire Council employee, you will have access to some great benefits via our Everybody Benefit’s scheme such as shopping discounts, home technology and green car salary sacrifice schemes, financial wellbeing and health assured and our employee assistance programme to assist with your health and wellbeing. You will also have access to our local government pension scheme, a generous plan for your retirement where the minimum employer contribution is 18.1%. For more information on the benefits, we offer please see our Total Rewards Brochure: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/total-rewards

Visits to our school are welcome and can be arranged by contacting Mrs Benson or Miss Tymon on admin@killinghall.n-yorks.sch.uk 

All contracts are term time only (TTO) contract plus the 5 staff training days each year.  Contracted hours: 31.25 per week - Monday – Friday, 8:45am – 3:30pm.

Interested applicants are asked to complete the attached application form and submit to Mrs Benson at HR@killinghall.n-yorks.sch.uk  by 12:00pm, Wednesday 14th January 2026.

All posts are fixed term contract until August 2026.

Killinghall CE Primary is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We have a robust child protection policy https://www.killinghall.n-yorks.sch.uk/n-yorks/primary/killinghall/site/pages/schoolinformation/safeguarding  and all staff will receive training relevant to their role at induction and throughout employment at the school. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to satisfactory references and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service criminal records check for work with children. An online search may be undertaken for shortlisted candidates as part of the recruitment process on information available in the public domain. Candidates should disclose anything that may be relevant in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.