Principal

Salary: L33-L39, £113,646 - £130,274 (negotiable for an exceptional candidate) + relocation package + wellbeing cash plan + pension scheme (TPS) + additional Lift Schools benefits

Start date: September 2026 (or earlier if possible)

We’re looking for an exceptional Principal to lead Lift Firth Park into its next chapter.

This is your chance to shape a school on the rise, one that’s proud of its identity, rooted in its community, and ambitious for every child.

About the role

This role is for a leader who can think strategically and act decisively, someone with a strong track record of improving outcomes, building culture, and growing people. You’ll work closely with our Regional Education Director, who knows the school inside out, having served as Principal before stepping into their regional role. You’ll also have the full backing of our central team and the wider Lift Schools network.

Together, we’ll make Lift Firth Park a school where every student thrives, every day.

About Lift Firth Park

Lift Firth Park is a vibrant, mixed secondary school for students aged 11–16. The school is at the heart of a diverse Sheffield community and is currently undergoing rapid and sustained improvement. Located in Shiregreen, we serve around 1,200 pupils and reflect a richly diverse community, with more than a third of students speaking English as an additional language. 

Lift Firth Park has a strong sense of community and has built very strong partnerships locally, including with Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, and many local, community organisations.

Our values are: 

• Worldwide: We are cultivating the citizens of tomorrow and developing well rounded individuals.
• Culture: We care about the fundamentals of learning and want learning to be fun and joyous.
• Excellence is a habit: We believe that high expectations lead to children being successful and performing to a high standard.
• Aim High: We don’t make excuses for our pupils, our teachers or our leaders – and we don’t want them to make excuses for themselves.
• Individuals matter: All pupils, no matter their background, beliefs or identity are equal members of our community.
• Community and family: We put people at the heart of everything we do.

We’re proud of the progress we’re making and we are ready for more. We’re looking for a Principal to lead that journey.

Why this role is for you

You’re someone who:

• Believes every child can achieve, regardless of background
• Thrives on strategic thinking and visible, everyday leadership
• Builds strong, values-led school cultures
• Has a proven record of improving outcomes
• Can lead a team with clarity and compassion
• Values the power of collaboration across a trust

As Principal, you’ll:

• Lead the school’s strategic vision and day-to-day operations
• Champion excellence in teaching, learning and curriculum
• Build an inclusive culture of high expectations
• Forge strong relationships across school and community
• Contribute to improvement across the wider Lift network

About Lift Schools

We are a diverse, inclusive network of 58 schools united by one mission: to deliver an excellent education to every child, in every classroom, every day. We believe every child deserves the best, regardless of background or ability, and we need outstanding leaders to make this happen.

How we’ll support you

• At Lift Schools, we believe talent drives performance. You’ll benefit from:
• An individual development account of up to £100,000 over five years
• Experiential learning opportunities, including study tours
• One-to-one unlimited executive coaching
• High-quality, evidence-informed professional development
• A year-long induction programme
• The option of a professional sabbatical after five years
• A relocation package if moving for the role

Who we’re looking for

We want leaders who are:

• Self-aware – thriving in high challenge, high support environments.
• Network-minded – committed to improving outcomes across all schools.
• Intellectually curious – eager to use evidence-informed approaches to drive success.
• Whether you are an experienced principal or an aspiring head ready for the next step, if you are driven, determined, and committed to creating lasting change, we would love to hear from you.

For an informal, confidential conversation, please contact Amy Laking at alaking@liftschools.org

Closing date: Sunday 1 February 2026

Interview dates: Tuesday 3rd February 2026 (Lift Firth Park - Sheffield) and Wednesday 4th February 2026 (Ed City- London)

Lift Schools is committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair and consistent recruitment process which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and there is a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.