Assistant Principal

Do you have what it takes to nurture today’s young people and inspire tomorrow’s leaders? Do you have the drive, passion and commitment to deliver inspirational leadership to school staff and young people in a disadvantaged community? If so, becoming a Star leader might just be the best career move you ever make.

About The Valley Leadership Academy

The Valley Leadership Academy is a secondary school for 11 to 16 year olds in Bacup. We joined Star Academies in 2019 and, like all Star schools, we have a leadership specialism.

We are a rapidly improving school with high ambitions and expectations for all of our pupils. We provide a knowledge-based academic curriculum alongside a rich and diverse leadership programme that grows character and inspires charitable and social action. Our pursuit of educational excellence is based upon our fundamental belief that every pupil has the capacity to become a successful and inspirational leader.

All Star teachers receive significant support to achieve and sustain Star excellence. Our Teach Like A Star programme uses strategies such as instructional coaching, practice clinics and StarBites to ensure our staff receive outstanding CPD.

Who we’re looking for

The Valley Leadership Academy has an exciting opening for an Assistant Principal to join the Senior Leadership Team.

As a school we already have strong leadership in teaching and learning, curriculum and quality of education.

The successful candidate for this Assistant Principal role will have a portfolio of responsibility that is built around their strengths and experiences within inclusion and personal development.

We want to hear from talented leaders looking to extend their experience, and ambitious middle leaders seeking their first senior leadership post.  You will be highly motivated and passionate about making a difference to the lives of young people with the natural ability to inspire and motivate both pupils and peers.

As an outstanding teacher and leader with demonstrable leadership experience, you will make a significant contribution to the leadership and success of our school.  As a Star leader, you’ll join the Star Academies family, a high-performing and supportive network of primary and secondary schools with some of the best leaders in education.

You will have: 

• A degree-level qualification (2ii or above) and Qualified Teacher Status 
• Experience of sustained delivery of outstanding attainment and achievement 
• Track record of delivering ‘outstanding’ outcomes for pupils 
• Ability to teach to GCSE standard 
• A passionate belief in the Trust’s vision of ‘nurturing today’s young people, inspiring tomorrow’s leaders’

About Star Academies

Star Academies is a high-performing multi-academy trust that runs more than 25 primary and secondary schools. We are a values-based organisation that works to improve the life chances of young people in areas of social and economic deprivation to help them succeed at the highest levels of education, employment and the professions. Every single day you’ll be rewarded with the opportunity to shape a young person’s future - our STAR values embody what we believe is needed to succeed.

Professional development is key to our ongoing success, so we continually invest in our employees through our learning and development centre, Star Institute. With a wealth of training, mentoring and progression opportunities across a growing group of academies, joining our team of leading education experts could propel your career to the next level. 

We can also offer you a range of rewards and benefits, including competitive salaries and pension schemes, generous holiday entitlements and healthcare cash plans.

Find out more

Please download the job description and person specification below for further information about the role. For an informal and confidential discussion about the role please call us on 01706 873896.​​​​​​​

Key Dates

Closing Date: Sunday, 24 October 2021 at midnight

Assessment Centre Date: Wednesday, 27 October 2021

Proposed Start Date: January 2022

Our Commitment

Star Academies is committed to safeguarding, safer recruitment and promoting the welfare of pupils. Our comprehensive recruitment and selection processes aim to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Successful candidates are subject to rigorous pre-employment checks.

We are equally committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity. We aim for our workforce to be representative of society and that each employee feels respected and able to give their best. We are committed to providing equality and fairness in our recruitment and employment practices and not to discriminate on any grounds. We oppose all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.