Chailey is a thriving, successful school set in rural Sussex, just north of Lewes, and within easy reach of Brighton and Haywards Heath. We are proud of our traditional values and innovative approaches to Teaching and Learning.
Staff are friendly, dedicated and supportive; our students are happy and proud to be part of the school. We have a very low level of staff turnover because we are kind and supportive to each other. Chailey is a school where teachers and students can thrive. Of course, working in a school is demanding and all of our staff are hard-working and go above and beyond to support our young people.
Visitors to Chailey School often comment on the calm teaching environment and fantastic relationships between students and teachers.
We had our last Ofsted visit in January 2022 which we were very pleased with.
The Ofsted report contained comments such as:
We believe that this is a very strong foundation from which to aspire to excellence in everything we do.
Head Teacher
Required from September 2025
The Chailey School Governors are looking to recruit an inspirational and caring headteacher who will lead the school with passion, ambition and integrity, further developing and delivering our vision and values. We are looking for a dynamic leader with credible experience in generating commitment and creating a culture of aspiration for all. The school’s motto is ‘be the best you can be’.
Chailey is a mixed 11-16 local authority maintained community school with 866 students who come to us from across Sussex. With a focus on kindness, we believe our school is a special place, combining quality care and support with a record of high achievement where a broad curriculum offers a wide range of opportunities for students. We have happy, kind and motivated students and a strong, stable and dedicated staff team. We are over-subscribed in many of our year groups.
Chailey School enjoys a rural location in beautiful surrounding countryside whilst also having easy access to both Lewes and Brighton. We are fortunate to have a new main school building with light and airy teaching spaces.
Visits to the school are encouraged and you can book on a school tour by emailing: SRodd@chaileyschool.org. Tours are available on Wednesday 15 January at 1.30pm and Tuesday 21 January at 9.30am.
To request an application pack and apply for this position, please email Leadership.Recruitment@eastsussex.gov.uk.
Please note that recruitment packs for this vacancy will only be provided directly to an individual considering applying to our school for this opportunity. This school does not enter into business with Recruitment Agencies, or other commercial organisations, on behalf of their client’s seeking employment.
Chailey School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its students and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.
This post is covered by the Childcare Disqualification Regulations 2018. The school will need to ensure they are not knowingly employing a person who is disqualified under the 2018 Regulations in connection with relevant childcare provision. Accordingly, the successful candidate will be required to demonstrate to the school, by completing a self-declaration form as part of the pre-employment checks process, that they have not been disqualified under the 2018 Regulations. If the preferred candidate is found to be disqualified under the 2018 Regulations, the offer of employment will be subject to the application by the preferred candidate to Ofsted for a waiver and the receipt of a waiver from Ofsted.
Work Permits: we may be able to obtain a Work Permit for this post but this is subject to meeting the requirements of the UK Border Agency’s Points-based Immigration System.
Due to the restrictions we cannot guarantee that individuals that meet the requirements of the Points-based Immigration System will be issued with clearance to obtain work permits.
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All staff will be expected to hold or be willing to obtain Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced check for Regulated Activity with the Disclosure & Barring Services (previously the Criminal Records Bureau). For further information about what is required in this process please go to www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check.
All school based staff have the responsibility for promoting the safeguarding and welfare of children. All school staff should be aware of the school’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and work in accordance with this document at all times.
Teacher of English - Maternity Cover
Start Date | April 2025 |
Closing Date for Applications | 31.1.25 |
Salary | MPS1 - UPS3 |
Chailey is a small, thriving, successful school set in rural Sussex within easy reach of Brighton. We are proud of our traditional values and innovative approaches to Teaching and Learning. Staff are friendly, dedicated and supportive; our students are happy and proud to be part of the school. Chailey is a school where teachers and students can thrive. We are seeking a talented, innovative colleague who would be keen to work with motivated and responsive young people. Visitors to Chailey School often comment on the calm teaching environment and fantastic relationships between students and teachers.
The English Faculty is strong, dynamic, collaborative and friendly and has a history of very good exam results. We achieved 87% 4+ in 2024. If you have a strong desire to help students of all abilities to achieve the best they can and fulfill your own potential, then we would be very pleased to hear from you. This post would be an ideal opportunity for an ECT or for a more experienced teacher wishing to further develop their career within a supportive school where staff wellbeing is prioritized.
Further details are set out in the application pack on our website (www.chaileyschool.org ). For further information or to arrange a school visit contact Serena Rodd, PA to the Head Teacher, at the school address shown or email: srodd@chaileyschool.org.
Please do come and look around our lovely school, meet the Head and the English Team and discuss this position and how we can support your professional development further.
Teacher of Maths
Start Date | 1.9.25 |
Closing Date for Applications | 31.1.25 |
Salary | MPS1 - UPS3 |
The school has an excellent track record in GCSE Mathematics and Further Mathematics results and the department has a strong collaborative approach to continually improving teaching and learning. We use the White Rose curriculum as the basis of our school mathematics provision. The successful candidate will work with a group of supportive and dedicated colleagues and this role is suitable for ECTs or more experienced teachers.
If you have a strong desire to help students of all abilities to achieve the best they can, whilst fulfilling your own potential, then we would be very pleased to hear from you.
Further details are set out in the application pack on our website (www.chaileyschool.org). Please contact Serena Rodd, PA to the Head Teacher, at the school address shown or email: recruitment@chaileyschool.org if you have further questions or would like to arrange a tour of the school.
Teaching Assistant 3
Start Date | 24th February 2025 |
Closing Date for Applications | Applications will be processed on receipt |
Salary |
Single Status Grade 3 (point 9-10) Full Time Salary £24,404.00 - £24,790.00 pro rata |
Chailey is a thriving, successful school set in rural Sussex within easy reach of Lewes, Haywards Heath and Brighton. We are proud of our traditional values and innovative approaches to Teaching and Learning. Staff are friendly, dedicated and supportive; our students are happy and proud to be part of the school. Chailey is a school where staff and students can thrive. We are seeking talented, innovative colleagues who would be keen to work with motivated and responsive young people.
The Ofsted Report from January 2022 commented ‘This is a kind school. The school’s values of kindness, resilience, independence and creativity permeate everything.’ We believe that this is a very strong foundation from which to aspire to excellence in everything we do.
We are looking for a TA3 position to support the Teaching and Learning across the school. Please see the job description and person specification below for more information regarding the role.
If you are interested in this role, please send your application to Serena Rodd, PA to the Head Teacher, at the school address shown or email srodd@chaileyschool.org The ‘support staff’ application form is available to download on the website. We would be very pleased to show any potential candidates around the school.