Head
- Organisation: The Ryleys School
- Location: Cheshire
- Salary info Excellent salary will be negotiated with the successful candidate
- Tenure: Full-time
- Closing Date: Tuesday 3 February 2026
An exceptional headship opportunity for September 2026, leading a happy and successful standalone prep school with a strong reputation within a solid catchment area.
For over 100 years, The Ryleys School has been at the heart of the local community in the affluent large village of Alderley Edge.
With around 250 children aged from 12 months to 11 years, our size, individual care, and unique setting are core strengths which our parents explicitly choose and appreciate.
We are a school where every child truly matters; where we know, nurture, support and encourage each and every child; where the care and dedication of our staff adds tremendous value; and the quality of our teaching, resources, space, and facilities makes great things possible.
As a result, The Ryleys is popular and successful, with an excellent reputation within the catchment area and with the senior schools we feed. As a standalone school we can be truly objective when advising parents and preparing children, and unlike some other standalone prep schools these days, our finances are strong, the operating model works well, and we continue to expand the number of places that we offer.
All this makes for a premier Headship for the person who will succeed Julia Langford when she leaves us in the summer.
Should you join us, we believe you will find we are the sort of school you dreamed of when you first went into teaching: a school with great children who love being here; a dedicated, hard-working, yet great fun staff, an appreciative parent body, and a deeply supportive board of governors with a ‘let’s give it a go’ approach to any and all good ideas.
You will have a solid background in a prep or high quality primary setting; be excited about how education is evolving and the opportunities that presents; and be keen to move to a school where you can apply your vision and talents to achieve something truly special for the school, your team, and your career.
If all this excites you, please read the candidate briefing for further information and apply as soon as you can. Our application form can also be downloaded from this advert and we ask you to email it to the Chair of Governors, Mike Benson, via headhunter@btinternet.com
Applications must be received by 11 am on February 2nd, but earlier will be very welcome.
If you have any questions, our advising consultant, Simon Shneerson, knows the school well and can help you in strict confidence. You can reach him via the same email address, headhunter@btinternet.com
The Ryleys School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo checks with past employers, online checks, and an enhanced DBS check.
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An exceptional headship opportunity for September 2026, leading a happy and successful standalone prep school with a strong reputation within a solid catchment area.
Description
For over 100 years, The Ryleys School has been at the heart of the local community in the affluent large village of Alderley Edge.
With around 250 children aged from 12 months to 11 years, our size, individual care, and unique setting are core strengths which our parents explicitly choose and appreciate.
We are a school where every child truly matters; where we know, nurture, support and encourage each and every child; where the care and dedication of our staff adds tremendous value; and the quality of our teaching, resources, space, and facilities makes great things possible.
As a result, The Ryleys is popular and successful, with an excellent reputation within the catchment area and with the senior schools we feed. As a standalone school we can be truly objective when advising parents and preparing children, and unlike some other standalone prep schools these days, our finances are strong, the operating model works well, and we continue to expand the number of places that we offer.
All this makes for a premier Headship for the person who will succeed Julia Langford when she leaves us in the summer.
Should you join us, we believe you will find we are the sort of school you dreamed of when you first went into teaching: a school with great children who love being here; a dedicated, hard-working, yet great fun staff, an appreciative parent body, and a deeply supportive board of governors with a ‘let’s give it a go’ approach to any and all good ideas.
You will have a solid background in a prep or high quality primary setting; be excited about how education is evolving and the opportunities that presents; and be keen to move to a school where you can apply your vision and talents to achieve something truly special for the school, your team, and your career.
If all this excites you, please read the candidate briefing for further information and apply as soon as you can. Our application form can also be downloaded from this advert and we ask you to email it to the Chair of Governors, Mike Benson, via headhunter@btinternet.com
Applications must be received by 11 am on February 2nd, but earlier will be very welcome.
If you have any questions, our advising consultant, Simon Shneerson, knows the school well and can help you in strict confidence. You can reach him via the same email address, headhunter@btinternet.com
The Ryleys School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo checks with past employers, online checks, and an enhanced DBS check.
