Headteacher

On behalf of the Trustees of EdAct and the LGB of Lea Valley Academy, thank you for your interest in the post of Headteacher of Lea Valley Academy. This post has arisen because after six years of excellent leadership of the Academy, Stephen Kinson is moving to a Trust-wide post.

EdAct is a small Trust that is focused on delivering high quality education to children in Enfield. Our Trust currently comprises Edmonton County primary and secondary school, Lea Valley Academy, Salmons Brook Free School (SEMH) and the Konrad Halls Centre (our centre for therapeutic work and alternative education).

Lea Valley Academy joined EdAct in 2019 having been brokered by the DfE. The Academy was experiencing a period of difficulty with low levels of trust by the local community, poor behaviour and very low attainment and progress. The school serves an area of considerable social and economic disadvantage but is a place where children enjoy attending, feel safe and the community now trusts the school. Stephen joined LVA as Headteacher in January 2020 and over the next period the Leadership Team was replaced, and we have seen an excellent rate of improvement across all areas of the school. Of course, Stephen’s first period as headteacher coincided with the lockdown as a result of the pandemic. Whilst this was a difficult period for all schools, it enabled significant changes and a ‘re-set’ to be achieved.

Confidence in the school has soared and we were delighted when the school was inspected by Ofsted in November 2022 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/144084) and the school as graded as ‘Good’. Visitors to the school comment, some with surprise, at how calm the school is, that the pupils are confident, friendly and there is excellent behaviour and improved attitudes to learning. It is important to say that this has been achieved by a great deal of very hard work by Stephen and his team. Decades of underperformance have been turned around, and the school is in a strong place. In a Borough where pupil numbers are declining, LVA is ‘bucking the trend’ and seeing an increase in its roll. The budget is healthy because of excellent stewardship of the school’s finances.

Lea Valley is ready for the next stage on its journey. Its next Headteacher will be a very visible person who is firm, friendly and fair with the students. The successful candidate will be creative in their approach to teaching and learning, ready to look critically at the systems that have brought the school to its current place and be able to see the potential for further improvements in pupil outcomes.

The next Headteacher will enjoy working with a strong leadership team that currently comprises 3 deputy headteachers, two assistant headteachers, the director of literacy, director of numeracy, director of student wellbeing and the business manager. You will also be part of EdAct’s Central Executive Leadership Team (CELT) where we work together to secure the best outcomes for the children in our schools. The CELT is an important network and one that we all enjoy. You will also be able to join Enfield Secondary Headteachers Association and that is yet another source of support and learning.

If you think you have the skills and attributes to successfully lead Lea Valley, we would really like to meet you. Please do come for a visit as we think it will help you with your application and decide if LVA is the right place for you to work.

I appreciate that if you are in the position to apply to be a Headteacher you will have a very busy work schedule, so we ask for two things at this stage, a completed application form and a letter of application, no longer than 2 sides of A4 with a minimum font size of Times Roman 12. Please don’t include anything else as we will not look at it, in fairness to all candidates.

Your letter:

Please set out how your recent experiences have prepared you to lead Lea Valley Academy. Tell us about the kind of leader you are. Please include data that tells us about the impact you have had on your current school.

Your application form must be completed in full as it is part of our safeguarding responsibilities. We will approach your referees at the shortlisting stage.

If you are shortlisted, you can expect a rigorous assessment designed to test out your skills and attributes and for you to decide if we are right for you, and for us to decide if you are right for us.

The schedule for appointment is as follows:

• National advertisement published - 18 March 2026

• Visits to the school - 23-26 March and 14-16 April 2026

• Applications close - 9am 20 April 2026

• Shortlisting and notification to candidates - 22 April 2026

• Interviews and assessment - 29 & 30 April 2026

With the best wishes of EdAct.

Yours sincerely

S M Tranter

Chief Executive Officer