Principal
Ark Oval Primary Academy
Croydon
- Expired
- Salary:
- Significant and generous salary, including potential relocation allowance
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- September 2025 or sooner if possible
- Apply by:
- 28 March 2025
Job overview
Ark Oval Primary Academy
Principal
Reports to: Regional Director
Start date: September 2025 or sooner if possible
Location: Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon, CR0 6BA
Salary: Significant and generous salary, including potential relocation allowance
Contract: Permanent, full-time
Closing date: 9am, Friday 28 March
School visits: To be arranged as suitable for the candidate
Interviews: Week commencing Monday 31 March or to be arranged as suitable for the candidate
Ark Oval Primary Academy seeks to appoint a new Principal with a clear vision who will continue to embed real excellence in this high-achieving school. The new Principal will lead a strong, dedicated staff team and much to be proud of, but with still more to do.
Our school:
Ark Oval Primary Academy is a large and vibrant three-form entry primary school with over 30% of pupils on free school meals, serving the local community in east Croydon. The team at Ark Oval are on a mission to provide a quality education that empowers all pupils to flourish, and are therefore seeking to appoint a highly capable Principal to lead Ark Oval through the next chapter in its history.
Pupil outcomes at Ark Oval are positive, and in 2024, 12% of pupils met the greater depth standard in reading, writing and maths, putting them in the top 14% nationally. Additionally, 10% of pupil premium children achieved greater depth which put them in the top 13% nationally. With strong foundations in place, this is a fantastic opportunity for an existing headteacher seeking a new challenge in a large three-form entry primary, who would thrive in a collaborative network of schools.
Ark Oval is part of the Ark network, one of the country’s most successful multi-academy trusts. The newly appointed Principal will have the support of a dedicated Regional Director and have access to exceptional coaching and training opportunities, as well as the opportunity to collaborate with principal colleagues across London and our wider network.
What we offer:
- Influence across network-wide issues through our principal meetings and regional collaboration
- Support from an experienced and supportive Regional Director
- On-hand expertise from our dedicated network education and operations teams who are ready to support you and your school
- Bespoke teacher development programmes supported by the Great Teacher Rubric
- Excellent career development opportunities across both the region and wider Ark network
- Access to excellent senior leadership training
- Highly competitive remuneration.
How to apply:
We warmly welcome and encourage confidential conversations about the role and visits to our school for suitable candidates. If you are interested in finding out more about this opportunity, please contact the Regional Director, Kate Magliocco, on Kate.Magliocco@arkonline.org or our or our Head of Talent, Lexy di Marco, on Alexia.diMarco@arkonline.org
To apply, please submit an application via the Ark recruitment portal by 9am on Friday 28th March. If you have any questions, concerns or time constraints with applying please contact us directly.
For more information about the role, the school and Ark, please view the full job pack.
Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.
Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred.
Ark Schools are committed to attracting, developing and retaining a diverse workforce, with a broad range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. To read more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion statement, please click this link.
Attached documents
About Ark Oval Primary Academy
Ark Oval is a primary academy that opened in 2011, transitioned from the existing Oval Primary School. It is a mixed, non-denominational, two form entry primary school for local children. We aim to offer a great education in a friendly neighbourhood school with the highest possible aspirations for our pupils.
Aims, Vision and Values
At Ark Oval Primary Academy we are committed to giving every pupil the skills and knowledge to fulfil their potential and make their dreams reality. Our values embody the SPIRIT of our school.
- Scholarship. We believe we can make our dreams a reality. We strive for excellence and place achievement at the heart of our school.
- Perseverance. We never give up even when we find it difficult. We know that pushing ourselves makes us better and we can always improve and achieve more.
- Integrity. We are honest with ourselves and with each other. We do the right thing.
- Respect. We treat others as we want to be treated. We are responsible for our conduct and our environment.
- Independence. We are secure in who we are and are confident enough to embrace change and challenge.
- Thankfulness. We are thankful for the opportunity to transform our dreams into goals.
Curriculum
Reception pupils follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.
We provide a stimulating indoor and outdoor learning environment where children will be motivated to communicate, explore and learn independently. A carefully planned range of activities provides a rich, age-appropriate learning experience across the curriculum.
All children need a firm mastery of English and mathematics as early as possible. Our first priority is to build a secure foundation in literacy and numeracy as the basis for all other learning. Pupils are taught to read, write and work with numbers fluently and confidently. Where pupils need extra support it is provided, to ensure that every child reaches and exceeds nationally expected standards.
We provide a rich curriculum, stimulating new interests and enhancing children's learning experiences. We invite professional artists, actors, writers and musicians into school and offer a range of trips and events to stimulate learning and broaden pupils’ interests and experience.
Specialisms
Ark academies have a special focus on mathematics and we invest in attracting and training the best teachers. Ark Oval Primary is developing a distinctive, world-leading maths curriculum based on the Singapore approach. Our aim is to ensure that every child achieves mastery of mathematics concepts, computational skills, problem solving and application of mathematics to daily life activities. Children learn drawing strategies to solve complex problems and build strong links between objects, pictures, and abstract numbers. We teach mathematics topics in depth, so children understand the “how” as well as the “why”.
Ofsted
Ark Oval Primary Academy was inspected by Ofsted in December 2012 and was graded as "good". Read the full report here.
The Ark network
Ark Oval Primary Academy is part of Ark, an international charity transforming lives through education. Ark has 38 schools across the UK in Birmingham, Hastings, London and Portsmouth. Ark exists to give every young person, regardless of their background, a great education and real choices in life. Ark schools are all non-selective and in areas where they can make the biggest difference.
Read more about Ark: http://arkonline.org/
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