Principal

Be ambitious. Value People. Lead with purpose. 

We are looking for an exceptional Principal to lead Bluecoat Aspley Academy into its next chapter. 

But we are not simply looking for someone with an impressive track record. 

We are looking for a leader with the courage to lead and the humility to listen. Someone who sets exceptionally high expectations while never losing sight of the people behind them. Someone who can recognise and build on what is strong, be honest about what needs to improve, and bring people with them in making that improvement happen. 

Above all, we are looking for someone who believes deeply in what education can make possible for young people. 

Bluecoat Aspley Academy is a large, successful, and diverse Church of England secondary school and sixth form serving around 1,300 young people, including approximately 390 students in the sixth form. It is a school with a proud history, a distinctive identity, strong roots in its community and a real sense of possibility. At its heart is a simple belief: Believe in yourself, in others, in God.  

There is much to celebrate here, alongside exciting opportunities to build on these strengths and shape an even brighter future. 

Our next Principal will understand what makes great schools great: excellent teaching, an ambitious and inclusive curriculum, high expectations, strong behaviour and attendance, effective leadership, and a culture in which pupils and adults flourish, find joy, and live lives full of opportunity.  

We are as interested in how you lead as we are in what you have achieved. 

You will be a leader who: 

• combines ambition with humility; 

• holds high expectations for every young person, particularly those who face disadvantage or additional barriers; 

• understands that high standards and inclusion are mutually reinforcing, not competing priorities; 

• puts the quality of teaching and learning at the heart of school improvement; 

• has the courage to make difficult decisions and the judgement to make them fairly, thoughtfully and with integrity; 

• develops others, builds strong teams and creates collective responsibility rather than dependency; 

• is visible, curious and willing to listen, while remaining clear and decisive; 

• builds trust with pupils, colleagues, families and the wider community; 

• values evidence, knows how to evaluate a school honestly and can translate priorities into disciplined, sustainable improvement; and 

• wants to contribute beyond one academy, sharing expertise and learning alongside colleagues across Archway Learning Trust.  

We are not looking for someone who believes they have all the answers. 

We are looking for someone who will ask the right questions, understand the Academy deeply and have the clarity, conviction and leadership skill to turn that understanding into action. 

As Principal, you will have significant responsibility and agency, but you will not lead alone. As part of Archway Learning Trust, you will work alongside other Principals and Trust leaders as a member of the Trust Leadership Team, drawing on collective expertise and support while contributing your own experience, ideas and leadership to the success of the wider Trust.  

This is a significant leadership role and an exciting opportunity to shape the future of a remarkable school community. 

We warmly encourage prospective candidates to arrange a visit or have an informal and confidential conversation about the role. Please contact hr@archwaytrust.co.uk for further information. Applications should be made through the Archway Learning Trust vacancies page.   

Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding 

Archway Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be subject to the Trust's safer recruitment procedures, including an enhanced DBS check and appropriate pre-employment checks.  

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and want our workforce to reflect the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates from all backgrounds and are committed to ensuring that every candidate is treated fairly and with respect throughout our recruitment process.