Vacancies

It’s the people that make us special.

It is the people who make us special. Our staff are skilled practitioners, each with a passion for the Foundation.

Our teachers and coaches love their subject or sport and have a strong desire to inspire the pupils they teach.

By creating inspiring lessons that expose pupils to a range of media and learning styles, they aim to help young people of all abilities develop learning habits that will not only lead to examination success but also stand them in good stead for the rest of their lives.

In addition to their own subject specialisms, our staff bring a diverse range of talents and contacts to the Foundation, helping to enrich School life — from arranging special trips, sporting events and learning challenges to staging concerts, exhibitions and School plays.

Our support staff strive to provide the best possible experience for our pupils and staff. They are an essential part of our Schools’ operations and work across estates, administration, IT, finance, marketing, technical support and learning support, to name just a few areas.

We are committed to staff development, and our staff benefit from a CPD programme designed to support their growth both within the classroom and beyond it.

We greatly value the contribution made by volunteers, pupils and those undertaking work placements. If you are interested in volunteering at Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation, or have any other queries regarding recruitment, please contact hr@dcsf.org.uk.

Current Vacancies

Head – Chorister School

We are seeking a dynamic, thoughtful and ambitious educational leader to become the next Head of Chorister School.

Set in the heart of Durham on a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chorister School is a distinctive coeducational school with a character and heritage unlike any other. Deeply connected to Durham Cathedral and its choral tradition, yet forward-looking in its outlook, the School offers children an inspiring education in an environment that is both nurturing and ambitious.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a School with a strong sense of identity, where pupils are known and valued as individuals, and where academic, pastoral and cocurricular life sit hand in hand. Chorister School combines the warmth of a close-knit community with the breadth, opportunity and aspiration of a school that is part of the wider Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation.

The Governors are looking for a leader with proven senior leadership experience, someone with the vision, energy and imagination to build on the School’s many strengths and shape its next chapter with confidence. The successful candidate will value the School’s historic links with Durham Cathedral, support its Christian ethos, and understand the importance of cherishing the inclusive, co-educational community that defines Chorister School today.

This is both a strategic and highly visible role. We are looking for someone who will lead with warmth and clarity, enjoy the company of children, be fully present in the life of the School, and inspire staff, pupils and parents alike. The new Head will have the opportunity to shape a distinctive junior school experience in one of the most historic and beautiful settings in the country.

For the right person, this is a chance not simply to lead a School, but to make a lasting mark on a very special community.

Applicants should submit a completed application form (please see below) with along with a covering letter which fully addresses the competencies outlined in the job description and person specification.

Completed applications should be sent to the Principal’s PA, Mrs Emma Mussell, at e.mussell@dcsf.org.uk.

The full job description can be found here:

CHORISTER HEAD POSITION

Closing Date

The closing date for applications is 08:30 BST on Thursday 14 May 2026

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Finance Assistant

Candidates need to complete the DCSF Non/Teaching Application Form which is linked below.

The full Job description can be found here:

Finance Assistant

The closing date for applications is Friday, 15 May 2026 at noon.

The Foundation is committed to promoting the safeguarding of children and expects all employees to share this commitment. Any job offer will be made subject to satisfactory checks, including an enhanced DBS disclosure. Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications regardless of age, gender, race, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.

Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation is strongly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people and expect all staff to share this commitment. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. If you are invited for interview, you will be required to disclose all unspent convictions and those that would not be filtered, prior to the date of the interview. You may be asked for further information about your criminal history during the recruitment process. If your application is successful, this self-disclosure information will be checked against information from the Disclosure and Barring Service before your appointment is confirmed. This role will include Regulated Activities and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure is required for this post.

All volunteers must be DBS checked and additional safeguarding checks will be carried out. We recommend that volunteers join the DBS update service (which is a free service for volunteers).

DCSF Teacher Application Form

DCSF Non-Teaching Application Form

All volunteers must be DBS checked and additional safeguarding checks will be carried out. We recommend that volunteers join the DBS update service (which is a free service for volunteers).

Admissions

Thank you for your interest in Chorister School and Durham School. We want your experience of applying for a place at Chorister School and Durham School to be as seamless as possible.

Explore

Where next?

Chorister School Admissions (3-11)

Durham Senior School (11-16)

Sixth Form (16-18)

Boarding