Vice Principal - Curriculum

Required for Easter or September 2026

Governors are seeking to appoint a dedicated and highly motivated strategic leader who will be able to lead this thriving Community College and build on our recent successes. Our most recent Ofsted report (2023) described us as a “Good college” who “invests in staff’s development. This means that staff feel valued and are proud to work at the school ... Leaders support staff well and consider their workload and well-being” ….. "There is a focused, purposeful atmosphere around the school, which is underpinned by the school’s vision of motivation, commitment and care.“ …. Pupils are confident, well-mannered and eager to share their opinions.  They work hard in lessons and are keen to succeed.”

Why work at Minsthorpe?

Minsthorpe Community College is a large, vibrant, and inclusive community college with a student body of over 1600 students ranging from 11 to 19 years, including a Resource Provision and onsite Alternative Provision. We are oversubscribed taking children from six primary schools in our pyramid and are pleased to welcome children from neighbouring areas.  The college covers a large and very populated area and is much larger than most secondary schools.  The college is situated to the South East of Wakefield and serves the villages of South Elmsall, South Kirkby and Upton.  The catchment area covers three of the five most deprived wards in the Wakefield district (and they are among 10% most deprived areas in the UK).  Students come from below average levels of social deprivation; the percentage of disadvantaged students entitled to free school meals (34.7%) is higher than the national average (27.9%).

Outcomes at the end of Key Stage 4 and 5 at Minsthorpe Community College are consistently in line with, or exceed, national benchmarks.  In our Post-16 provision, we support learners across all ability levels by offering a broad curriculum that includes Level 1, 2, and 3 qualifications. This inclusive approach enables students to progress confidently into further education, training, or employment. Notably, this year, 94% of students progressing to university are first-generation entrants to higher education—an achievement that reflects our strong commitment to social mobility and student success.

We have a highly skilled team of teachers and associate staff that always act in the best interest of the students.  We offer excellent facilities for learning and teaching with dedicated blocks for each subject area, as well as community dimensions including a sports & fitness centre and a children’s centre.  This year has seen the completion of the building and renovation work at the College, which was funded by the DfE School Rebuilding Programme, with a state-of-the-art PE block, including a Sports Hall, two studios and excellent changing facilities, as its centrepiece.

The role of Vice Principal at Minsthorpe Community College requires a visionary leader who is committed to our values and dedicated to turning our shared vision into reality.  At Minsthorpe, we invest in the recruitment, development and retention of caring professionals who are committed to constantly reviewing and improving the quality of learning, teaching and support. We expect that staff are motivated to work collaboratively in setting high expectations for all students with a relentless focus on student learning and progress. In return, you will benefit from working with caring colleagues who will support you in your role and your personal and professional development.

You will have a proven track record of leading sustained improvement, and a commitment to maintaining and strengthening parental and community links by working in partnership with parents, staff, governors and the wider community. You will share the ethos of the Principal and be a highly effective communicator who earns respect from students and staff alike.

The successful candidate will have to meet the requirements of our Person Specification and be subject to an enhanced DBS check.  A prohibition from teaching check and an online search will also be completed for all applicants. 

Minsthorpe Community College is committed to equality of opportunity and upholding the principles of the Equality Act 2010. We positively welcome applications from all sections of the community.  Only applications submitted with a completed Minsthorpe Academy Trust Application Form will be considered.

Full-time permanent employees are provided with free membership of our on-site Sports & Fitness Centre, as well as the facility of an on-site Children’s Centre.

Further particulars for this post can be obtained by visiting our Web Site at Minsthorpe Community College - Home

If you would like to arrange a visit to the college, we would be more than happy to show you around so you can get a feel for who we are. Dates available for visits are Wednesday 17th December 2025, and Wednesday 7th January 2026 at 9.00am or 3.00pm.  Please email cgreen@minsthorpe.cc with your preferred date and time.

Please send completed application forms to Cath Green, Director of HR & Associate Teams:

cgreen@minsthorpe.cc by midday – Monday 12th January 2026.

Shortlisting will take place on Tuesday 13th January 2026.

Interviews will take place on Thursday 22nd & Friday 23rd January 2026.