Job Description
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Diocese of Brentwood
Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School
HEADTEACHER
Required from September 2026
HT Group 6 Leadership Scale Points 27 - 35 (Fringe)
Actual Full Time Salary Range: £99,537 to £119,590 pa
Full Application Pack available on School website: www.brentwoodursuline.co.uk
The Governors of Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School, working in partnership with the Diocese of Brentwood, seek to appoint a committed and practising Catholic to the post of Headteacher from September 2026, following the retirement of Dr Richard Wilkin after 14 years of dedicated and highly effective service.
This appointment offers the opportunity to lead an exceptional school community with a strong Catholic Ursuline identity, a tradition of academic excellence and a clear commitment to inclusive, comprehensive education.
About the School
Brentwood Ursuline is a high-achieving and oversubscribed girls' secondary school with a co-educational Sixth Form, serving approximately 1,000 students, including around 130 in the Sixth Form. The school is widely recognised for its strong academic outcomes and high-quality pastoral care. For several years, Brentwood Ursuline has been the most successful comprehensive school in Essex at Key Stage 4 across a range of indicators.
School Achievements
The school's most recent Ofsted inspection (2023) judged the quality of education to be outstanding throughout the school, including in the Sixth Form. Our latest Section 48 inspection confirmed that Brentwood Ursuline is an outstanding Catholic school, reflecting the strength of its Catholic life, leadership and mission. The school is committed to the formation of the whole person and to enabling every student to flourish academically, spiritually and personally.
The Successful Candidate Will:
Be a practising and committed Roman Catholic, with the personal faith and integrity to lead a Catholic school in partnership with the Diocese of Brentwood
Demonstrate a clear commitment to Catholic education, inclusive comprehensive values and the formation of the whole person
Have a proven and successful record of senior leadership as a Headteacher, Head of School or Deputy Headteacher
Provide thoughtful, inspirational and strategic leadership within a changing educational landscape
Foster a culture of high expectations, collaboration and professional development
Build positive and supportive relationships with parents, carers, parishes and the wider community
Uphold the highest professional and ethical standards, supported by excellent communication skills
Demonstrate determination to raise achievement and secure continuous improvement while building on existing strengths
In Return, We Offer:
A strong, experienced and supportive leadership team
Dedicated, well-qualified and committed staff
An effective and supportive governing body
Excellent facilities, including a new purpose-built Sixth Form block due for completion in 2026
The guidance, support and challenge of the Diocese of Brentwood
Safeguarding
Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and all other relevant safeguarding checks.
Key Dates
Closing date: Thursday 5 February 2026
Shortlisting: Wednesday 11 February 2026
Interviews: Wednesday 25 February and Thursday 26 February 2026
How to Apply
If you are an inspiring Catholic leader with the ambition to serve a secondary school community within the Diocese of Brentwood, rooted in faith and guided by a commitment to excellence, service and respect, we would be delighted to hear from you.
· Application packs available on-line at www.brentwoodursuline.co.uk or via the Clerk to the Governors, Mrs Bajwa at Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School, Queen's Road, Brentwood, Essex CM14 4EX. Telephone 01277 227156 or email clerk@buchs.co.uk
· Applications (including all the necessary Catholic Education Service documents as available on the school website) should be returned to the Deputy Chair of Governors, Mr Mark Butcher care of the school address above or via email to clerk@buchs.co.uk by 11.59 pm on the closing date of Thursday 5 February 2026.
· We welcome school visits by appointment with our current Headteacher Dr Richard Wilkin. To arrange a visit please email Mrs M. Freeman, Headteacher's PA at mfreeman@buchs.co.uk
· Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff are expected to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check as well as other pre-appointment checks outlined in Keeping Children Safe in Education.
· We strongly encourage all suitably qualified candidates to apply to join us.
Information about the School
Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School is a Roman Catholic state secondary for girls aged 11-16 with a co-educational Sixth Form, situated in Brentwood, Essex. In 2012 it became an academy; the Bishop, the chair of governors and the Diocesan directors are the trustees.
The school was founded in 1900 by Mother Clare, the first Superior of the Brentwood Ursulines. It was established as two schools – St Philomena’s, for poorer children, and St Mary’s – which merged in 1918. As the school grew, new buildings were added. Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School now has nearly 1,000 pupils, of which 130 are sixth-form students.
Brentwood Ursuline is a successful, happy school which treasures its historic buildings and traditions, but which combines this with recent investment that has enabled us to continue providing an excellent educational environment to both staff and students. Our most recent development of a new Sixth Form Block is due for completion in 2026.
Brentwood Ursuline is a high-achieving, well-regarded and oversubscribed secondary school. In 2025, our Key Stage 4 outcomes were exceptional, with 92.8% of students achieving a GCSE grade 4 or above in both English and Mathematics, and 77.2% achieving grade 5 or above in both subjects. 28.9% of students achieved a 9-7 grade in English and Maths. Our Attainment 8 score of 61 placed Brentwood Ursuline as the top-performing comprehensive school in Essex. Students at KS5 continue to secure excellent outcomes at both A Level and in Level 3 vocational subjects.
Students benefit from a wide-ranging and vibrant extra-curricular programme, and staff are actively encouraged to contribute to and share in this rich aspect of school life.
We are deeply committed to staff development. All teaching staff benefit from a comprehensive induction programme, alongside access to high-quality, ongoing professional development overseen by a dedicated member of the Senior Leadership Team.
Brentwood Ursuline has an excellent track record of internal career progression. We actively promote and advertise opportunities internally, with six current Senior Leadership Team posts having been filled through internal promotion, reflecting our strong commitment to developing talent from within.
The motto of the school is "Duty" and its mission is to create a Christian environment in which each student can grow in personality, relationships and skill. The school aims to support pupils to reach their full potential, while ensuring that they are pleasing themselves and God.
Ofsted report:
In our recent Ofsted Report from 2023, the quality of education was recognised as outstanding throughout the school, including in the Sixth Form. Our excellent teaching helps our young people excel and we are proud of our outstanding academic record.
Further details of vacancies and the school are available from the Headteacher’s PA, Mrs Freeman, either by email: mfreeman@buchs.co.uk , telephone number 01277 238005 or via the school’s website www.brentwoodursuline.co.uk
The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share their commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check.