Principal

The Portsmouth Academy can not accept applications via TES , please apply here  

Salary: L 26 – L32 £79,175 - £90,802 per annum

Contract: Full-time, Permanent

Location: The Portsmouth Academy, Fratton

Start Date: September 2022

Closing Date of advert : 28th February 2022

Interviews: 15th & 16th March 2022

The Role

We are recruiting for an inspirational Principal to lead The Portsmouth Academy, which is an 11-16 co-educational school with 1250 students on roll. This is an exciting time to join a school which has Advanced Thinking School status and is on a journey to becoming a Microsoft Showcase school. The academy benefits from close relationships with its key feeder schools that are also part of the Thinking Schools Academy Trust (TSAT); an expanding network of high performing primary and secondary schools along the South Coast. 

The Portsmouth hub of 7 schools is pioneering an ‘all through approach’ to education which is supported by the unique feature of a shared ‘thinking school’ philosophy. As the Principal of The Portsmouth Academy, you will partner with these local leaders to drive school improvement. You will benefit from Trust central strategy and support and from the exceptional input of the Central Services team. If you join us, you will be part of a network of leaders who believe in ‘We Are One’ in the mission to transform the life chances of 10, 000 students. 

Watch this video to give you in an insight into the Principal role at Portsmouth Academy - Click Here  

What you will need to succeed:

For a full list of roles, responsibilities and a person specification please view the attached JD  

• A strong track record of transformational leadership/leading significant school improvement  
• Understanding of how to create a culture of aspiration and a supportive learning environment for students, that allows them to achieve their academic potential  
• High levels of emotional intelligence  
• Highly developed people skills and previous experience in leading teams effectively  
• Excellent public speaking skills and the ability to communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders

The Academy

The Portsmouth Academy is a large co-educational comprehensive school, one of the biggest in Portsmouth, and from September 2022 will have 1250 pupils on roll. It aims to provide an education that enables students to excel academically; to think deeply about their thinking; to be their best self and to have the knowledge, tools and skills they need to shape their success. The core values of the school are Aspire, Achieve and Respect.

The academy has an extremely dedicated staff team, many of whom have served the community for many years. The middle leadership team is particularly well-established and have consistently supported students to achieve outcomes in the top 20% of students nationally. The school is in the first quintile in terms of the level of deprivation young people are growing up with – but the staff are united in removing barriers to learning so that every student receives the education they need and deserve. 

The Portsmouth Academy is on a journey to become a “Microsoft Showcase School” due to its progress with harnessing the benefits of digital learning tools. It has launched a one:one device policy, so every child in Y ear 7 has their own laptop, and this will grow year on year. If you have an enthusiasm for how technology can enhance learning, then we would very much encourage you to apply. 

Please watch our video to gain an insight into the vision for teaching with technology that is taking hold in the academy, and to hear some key school leaders talking about this.

The academy prides itself on its inclusive provision offer. In September 2022 this will expand further when a 32 place Specialist Resource Provision for young people with learning and cognition challenges will open in a wing of the school. This has been commissioned by the Local Authority and will be an all through provision with students joining in Year 5, having spent their previous years in the Rainbow Fish provision of a Trust feeder school. The Special Provision Partnership between the two schools has its own leader who reports to the Headteacher/Principal of each school. 

The Thinking Schools Academy Trust 

The Thinking Schools Academy Trust believes that education has the power to change lives. To ensure all academies focus on transforming life chances, school leaders translate the mission into core values that are evident in all Academies: 

Child First, Aspire, Challenge, Achieve 

Click here to view Our  Trust Video and Click here to read more about  our Trust.  

What you will get in return:  

• The opportunity to lead our school with a fantastic staff team  
• A well maintained school site with one brand new building – Aspire - which opened in September 2020- and houses excellent music, Drama and Art facilities  
• A supportive family of schools across the Trust and at a local Hub level  
• Strong links with the local community and other local schools within Portsmouth  
• Vast support network including the CEO, Executive Team and Directors of Education  
• A 24/7 employee assistance programme which provides counselling and support / advice on a wide array of areas.

Next Steps

To arrange an informal conversation with the Director of Education for Portsmouth, or to arrange a tour of the school, please contact Sue Wood via email s.wood@tsatrust.org.uk or call 0333 360 2200.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check.