Principal or Senior Vice Principal

Reduced school year of 180 days

We are a most attractively-sized (NOR c.550) 4-16, formerly independent, school now serving a very diverse and challenging community in which our family of staff and students are unusually well known to each other.  Christ’s has extraordinary potential and was newly sponsored in May 2019 by Emmanuel Schools Foundation (ESF), a unique multi-academy trust dedicated to offering an excellent education in Christian ethos schools of character for the whole community.  With resources and assistance from successful neighbouring schools within ESF (The King’s Academy, and Bede Academy), we are early in a journey of rapid improvement to establish Christ’s as an exceptional non-denominational Christian ethos school.   

We seek either an experienced Principal to take the helm and deliver profound and lasting impact, or a Senior Vice Principal pursuing superb leadership development and the opportunity to make a very substantial contribution from a post only a small step away from shortly-forthcoming principalship.  The small size of the school means that, in either role, change and improvement can be achieved at pace and scale.

The appointee will bring a rare combination of humility together with vision and clear resolve as a catalyst for change and rapid improvement.  As well as being committed to our Christian ethos, he/she will lead decisively and effectively, crucially bringing wisdom and understanding – and also harnessing these collegially from across a highly capable organisation – to underpin a culture and team equipped for continued and sustained improvement.

Christ’s College, like all schools in deprived areas, has its challenges. If you have the determination, imagination and talent to lead rapid improvement whilst nurturing our distinctive and cherished community, we want to hear from you.     

There is an occupational requirement for the post-holder to be a committed and practicing Christian. You will have an inclusive mind-set and will also be a high-achieving graduate and qualified teacher with substantial leadership experience that includes a track record of whole-school improvement. This will have given you deep understanding of effective and transferrable strategies in areas such as curriculum development, pedagogy, assessment and pastoral leadership, along with a proven ability to lead staff and their development, and real passion for improving lives and outcomes.

We’re a growing Trust and – whether you already have a strong track record as a headteacher/principal or are currently a senior leader seeking a highly rewarding and challenging role immediately prior to your first headship – you will be ready to take your next step and will have the skills and ability to bring your vision to life.

Interested? Visit www.christscollege.org.uk 

If you would like to visit us, or to arrange an informal telephone conversation with our CEO, Professor Mark Pike, or David Dawes, Executive Principal, please contact hrobinson@esf-mail.org.uk 

To apply: please complete the ESF application form, together with a covering letter outlining your suitability for the post and return it by the closing date to: recruitment@esf-mail.org.uk 

Closing date: 9am, Mon 15 June

Interviews: As soon as practicable thereafter

Christ’s College, Sunderland (10-12 miles from Newcastle, Gateshead and Durham; fast access to the north east coastline, Northumberland and North Yorks national parks and major areas of natural beauty; York / Leeds / Manchester 1-2 hours; London 3½ hours).

- Distinct Christian ethos with highly diverse intake

- Small, 4-16 all-through school of c. 550 students

- Reduced length school year of 180 teaching days plus 3 days of CPD (in addition to weekly CPD).  Additional two holiday weeks are: one at Christmas and one at summer break.

- Exceptional CPD provision throughout the year, and for rapid professional development

- Focus on character education, being part of Emmanuel Schools Foundation

We take our responsibility for safeguarding children very seriously and successful applications will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the DBS, along with standard pre-employment safeguarding checks.