Principal

Heartwood Learning Trust is looking for a dedicated and values driven Principal  to provide strong leadership and management for Aspire Academy, continuing the work of the current school leadership team.   This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to make a difference. 

Underpinned by our Trust values Respect, Teamwork and Kindness, we are a collaborative multi-academy Trust with a supportive central team and a great team of Principals.  

Aspire is a large and vibrant Alternative Provision which serves 195 pupils across Key Stages 3  and 4.  The majority of our pupils are in Key Stage 4.  All of our students experience a well rounded education which truly prepares them for adulthood.  Our pupils leave school with qualifications and experiences that they are really proud of.

At Aspire, every child is recognised and accepted as a unique individual.  Our ethos is to develop the individual, build resilience and independence. We are “inclusive, accessible and re-engaging for all” and are dedicated to re-engaging children who have struggled in mainstream education. 

We are a community founded on mutual trust, where every pupil is valued, supported and encouraged to thrive. Our core values of Inclusive Community, Courage and Empathy guide everything we do – from personalised curriculum design to building meaningful relationships with pupils  and colleagues alike. 

The Job holder will be required to: 

• Be a highly visible presence around the school and model expectations and standards to staff and pupils

• Secure an excellent quality of education

• Promote, support and implement an inclusive approach to meet the needs of  pupils 

• Ensure that provision responds to the context of the school and the needs of the school community

We are looking for an experienced senior leader with:

• A positive “can do” attitude and high expectations 

• A desire to make a difference to our pupils and the school community

• Experience of successful senior leadership in an alternative provision school

• The desire to work in strong partnership with other School Leaders  in the Trust to ensure improved outcomes and experiences for all

• A proven track record of positively impacting disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND

• The ability to lead, manage and motivate colleagues

We can offer:

• An established, experienced and strong central team that works closely with stakeholders across our schools/academies

• A commitment to continuing professional development

• Structured support to unlock talent, backed by a collaborative approach and an appreciative culture

• Teachers Pension Scheme

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Cycle to Work scheme

We would strongly recommend, prior to application, an informal chat about this role with our Chief Executive Officer, Helen Winn.  Visits to the schools can be arranged.  To schedule a call and/or a visit, please email your request to recruitment@hlt.academy to arrange this. 

Job Details

Hours of Work: 1.0 FTE 

Position Type:  Permanent Post

Line Manager: Chief Executive Officer 

Travel Required:  Occasional

The salary is dependent on current qualifications and experience, please see the attached job description for more information.

Application Process

Please complete the online application form to apply for this role. All candidates are advised to refer to the job description and person specification before making an application.  You should use the information supplied with in the Job Description & Person Specification to make the best of your application by identifying some specific pieces of work you may have undertaken in any of these areas. Your application may be viewed in regard to some or all of the skill specific areas over the course of the selection process.  Applications via agencies will not be considered.

Interviews will take place on 7th and 8th May 2026 

We are committed to safeguarding and protecting our children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  All posts are subject to a safer recruitment process which includes enhanced criminal records and barring checks, scrutiny of employment history, robust referencing and other vetting checks.

Our safeguarding system is underpinned by a range of policies and procedures which encourage and promote safe working practice across the Trust. On joining you will be required to undergo continuous professional development to maintain safe working practice and to safeguard our children and young people.