Vice Principal

We are looking for a talented and exceptional senior leader to join our strong and supportive academy as Vice Principal. The successful applicant will oversee the strategic management of the 6th form and the culture of behaviour and attendance across the academy.

You will have a wealth of opportunities to develop as a senior leader with the Harris Federation. We can offer you a range of bespoke courses and qualifications through our Teaching School, including our Aspiring Leaders NPQH for aspiring principals. Succession planning is a key part of our success as a Federation, and we believe that we are at the forefront of developing the next generation of Leaders. We can help prepare you for your next Senior Leadership challenge, investing in your knowledge and expertise through regular support, coaching and a wide range of professional development and training.

Your opportunity

The post of Vice Principal is one that mirrors the role of the Principal. Therefore, the academy will be supporting the successful candidate as they aspire to Principalship. As Vice Principal, you will be expected:

To deputise for Principal, both in the academy and where appropriate in external meetings.

To ensure there is seamless transition between all key stages at the academy.

To ensure that the academy specialisms run throughout the academy successfully and effectively.

To play a leading and highly visible role in the day-to-day management of the academy ensuring both the pastoral/academic success of all students across all faculty areas.

To oversee standards and provision throughout all key stages, identifying the strategic issues that need to be addressed by the academy Leadership Group.

To work with the Principal to establish a system of self-evaluation and review within the academy that will secure outstanding student achievement through the professional success of all staff. This will be supported by rigorous systems for monitoring, evaluation and review.

To line manage Assistant Principals, ensuring that their academy responsibilities are of the highest standard.

What we are looking for

We look for talented individuals who want to be a part of transforming education in London, and helping create exceptional places of learning. In choosing a Vice Principal, we will be looking for someone who:

Holds QTS (or equivalent) and an undergraduate degree;

Is an excellent practitioner;

Is able to model and disseminate high quality teaching and learning;

Has high expectations of staff and pupils as well as themselves;

Is committed to achieving the best outcomes for all pupils;

Is innovative, highly motivated and eager to take a lead;

Is committed to on-going professional development;

Is willing to contribute to the wider life at the academy;

Has strong interpersonal skills and is able to work well as part of our Leadership team.

Please download the job pack for a full job description and person specification.

About Harris Invictus Academy Croydon

Harris Invictus Academy Croydon was rated ‘outstanding’ in every category following its first ever Ofsted inspection in October 2016: only the seventh secondary free school in London to achieve this. The academy opened with its first cohort in September 2014 and moved into a state-of-the-art, new building in September 2017. In September 2019, we had out first cohort of sixth form students starts in Year 12. We:

are a happy, hard-working and highly ambitious community in which students and staff treat one another with care and respect

combine traditional values of discipline and good-manners with contemporary best practice in teaching and technology

are in a central Croydon location, close to transport links and other amenities

offer a generous Harris benefits package and excellent opportunities for personal and professional development

Come and see us in action: visits to Harris Invictus Academy Croydon are strongly encouraged and very welcome. Please call 0203 371 3002 or info@harrisinvictus.org.uk to arrange a time to come in or an informal conversation with the Principal.

Harris Benefits

As part of the Harris Federation, we can offer you a range of benefits, including:

A network of fellow senior leaders and Principals with a wealth of knowledge and expertise

Support and mentoring from some of the best executive leaders in education

Unrivalled opportunities for leadership progression and preparing you for your first Principalship

Pension scheme (TPS) and access to our Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan, covering a range of health and wellbeing benefits

Plus, the opportunity to work with our amazing students!

Click here for a full list of Harris benefits.

Why work for the Harris Federation?

As a top performing Multi-Academy Trust, we offer access to a professional and supportive community of academies, executive leaders, and support functions. The Harris Federation is a successful, highly collaborative and enterprising group of academies in and around London. Our network of academies is setting standards of excellence through an experienced and supportive approach with the aim that every child in London can have the best possible education, enabling them to fulfil their potential and decide their own future. The focus of the Harris Federation is on transforming some of the most challenging schools in London into exceptional places of learning. That means that when you work at a Harris academy, you are playing a part in something very important – giving children the freedom and the opportunities to choose their own futures. Harris is a Federation and not a chain; each Harris academy is different, reflecting the particular aspirations and leadership style of its Principal.

Applications will be reviewed once submitted so informal meetings, and interviews when requested, can be coordinated in line with the relevant resignation deadlines through the academic year.