Principal
Orion Coopers
Bromley
- New
- Salary:
- Competitive depending on experience
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- 27 August 2026
- Apply by:
- 12 March 2026
Job overview
Orion Education is seeking an exceptional leader to become the next Principal of Orion Coopers, a thriving and ambitious secondary school set within 33 acres of stunning parkland in Chislehurst. This is a rare opportunity to lead a high‑performing school at a pivotal moment of growth, shaping its next chapter and driving even greater impact for our young people.
At Orion Education, our mission is clear: improve outcomes, transform lives and enable social mobility. Our values of trust, kindness and endeavour guide everything we do – from how we lead, to how we support our staff, to how we serve our community. These values sit at the heart of Orion Coopers’ culture and underpin our commitment to academic rigour, excellent behaviour, and a safe, inspiring environment for all pupils.
As Principal, you will provide decisive, strategic leadership and hold overall accountability for the standards, direction and performance of the school. You will build on the strong foundations already in place, working with skilled and committed colleagues to deliver consistently high‑quality teaching, a rich and ambitious curriculum, and exceptional pastoral support. You will champion our high expectations, cultivate a warm and purposeful culture, and ensure that every member of the community feels known, supported and able to thrive.
This role offers unrivalled professional development through our nationally recognised approach to instructional coaching and leadership development. You will join a talented network of Principals across the Trust, benefiting from collaboration, shared practice and Trust‑wide improvement opportunities. Expectations are high – but so is the support.
We are looking for a leader with moral purpose, intellectual credibility and the ability to inspire confidence. You will bring a track record of securing excellent outcomes, sustaining high performance over time, and leading with integrity, clarity and compassion. Above all, you will share our belief in the transformative power of education.
If you are ready to lead with ambition, shape a strong school culture and make a profound difference in the lives of young people, we would be delighted to hear from you.
How to Apply
To find out more or to begin your application, please contact our recruitment partners Propelo on 01273 222 877, email orionedu@propelo.co.uk
Closing date: Thursday 12 March 2026, 5pm
Interviews: Monday 23 & Tuesday 24 March 2026
Orion Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check.
About Orion Coopers
Coopers is a popular and oversubscribed 11-18 school in the heart of Bromley. We are proud to be part of the Orion Education Trust, whose mission is to improve outcomes, transform lives and enable social mobility. This mission and our values of trust, respect and resilience underpin everything we do. Pupils experience a broad and balanced curriculum which is knowledge rich and inclusive. Through this and our extended curriculum, we build resilient learners and active citizens.
We are a coaching school. Our professional culture is one of constant development and all staff engage in our instructional coaching programme. All professional learning is underpinned by the principles of instructional coaching: granular action steps promote progress, deliberate practice builds strong mental models and rituals of renewal make improvement stick. We are committed to the development of all staff and create pathways for professional development based on the experience and ambition of all staff, both teaching staff and associate staff.
It’s an incredibly exciting time to join us. Over the past few years, many colleagues have been internally promoted and we are always interested in recruiting ambitious, reflective and collaborative teaching and associate staff to work within our community. We are looking for individuals committed to becoming a part of our school community and promoting and sustaining the excellent routines, rituals and teaching that make Coopers an excellent school committed to getting even better.
Claire Bessa
Head Teacher
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