Position: Head Teacher
Location: Ilford, IG1 (London Borough of Redbridge)
Start Date: January 2026
Contract: Full-Time, Permanent
Salary: £54,000 – £56,000
Interview Date: 6th January 2026
About the Role – Head Teacher
We are recruiting for a professional and future-facing Head Teacher to lead a well-established independent preparatory school into its next chapter—marking 100 years of educational excellence. Based in Ilford, East London, the school is seeking a leader who brings experience, innovation and a clear strategic outlook.
This is not a role for someone looking to maintain the status quo. The successful candidate will be expected to guide the school through an ambitious phase of growth and development, including the creation of a Middle School section, while maintaining its outstanding academic and pastoral standards.
About the School
This independent co-educational preparatory school caters to pupils aged 2½ to 11. It has a long-standing reputation for excellence in preparing pupils for competitive 11+ entrance examinations, particularly in North London and Essex.

Key Details:

• Inspection Rating: Outstanding (ISI Inspected)
• Age Range: 2½ to 11 years
• Location: IG1, Ilford (London Borough of Redbridge)
• Ethos: Nurturing, academically focused, family-oriented
• Facilities: Well-equipped classrooms, excellent learning resources, and a growing digital footprint
• Strengths: High 11+ success rates, personalised learning, and community-driven values
• Development Plans: Launch of a Middle School and international expansion

Key Responsibilities

The successful Head Teacher will:

• Provide strategic leadership to maintain and develop academic excellence
• Lead on the design and delivery of a new Middle School provision, including staffing and DfE submission
• Prepare for and manage ISI inspections, with a thorough understanding of compliance in the independent sector
• Grow the school’s profile and visibility, including its digital and international presence
• Foster a high-performance culture across staff and pupils
• Engage the wider school community with a collaborative, approachable leadership style
• Inspire confidence through professionalism, strong communication, and clear decision-making
• Uphold and embody the values of humility, integrity and high-quality preparatory education

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced leader to shape the future of a school with a century of history and a clear vision for the next 100 years. If you’re ready for a role with depth, challenge and impact—this is it.
Apply now to be part of a school that values excellence in language education! Do you feel you meet the criteria for this exciting opportunity?
If so, please either apply below or contact Teach Now directly. All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. For teacher roles, we require a formally recognised teaching qualification. If you are not contacted within 2 working days, unfortunately, you have been unsuccessful for this role. However, we will keep your CV and continue to help you in your search for a job within education.

Please refer the Job description for details