Closing date

20/01/2025

Start date

Easter or September

Interview day

27/01/2025

Contract type

Leadership (Permanent)

Employment type

Full-Time

Actual salary

Based on experience and expertise

London weighting

Outer

Job number

HF CEO00092

Principal

Substantial & generous salary based on experience and expertise + Discretionary Performance Bonuses + Private Medical Cover + Harris Benefits

Summary

We have an exciting Principal opportunity at Harris Girls' Academy Bromley starting Easter or September 2025. We are looking for a highly motivated and experienced senior leader to join our highly successful Outstanding academy where both staff and students thrive.

Our state of the art facilities are new and reflect our approach to learning which combines the very best of traditional and modern approaches. Our examination results place us within the top 100 highest performing schools in the country.

This position could suit either a current Principal/Headteacher or an experienced Deputy looking to progress into their first principalship. For first time Principals, we will provide support, coaching and individual mentoring from a highly experienced Harris Executive Principal to help you succeed in post.

We also offer a variety of CPD programmes to assist you in achieving your vision and future goals. For those thinking ahead to Executive Principalship, we can also offer you the chance to complete your NPQEL via our Harris Institute of Teaching & Leadership.

The successful individual will join a highly progressive forward thinking multi academy trust, and the opportunity to work alongside some of the country's most experienced, knowledgeable and committed education practitioners.

About Us

Harris Girls Academy Bromley is a school community where character and academic excellence are held in equally high regard. In 2023, Progress 8 was +0.97, 82% of the girls achieved a pass in English and Maths at GCSE and 71% of the girls achieved the challenging Ebacc (English, Maths, Science, Humanities and Modern Languages). These figures are all well above the national and borough averages.

Our Progress 8 was in the top 100 in the country last year, and the academy was the only school from this group with a student body that has above average disadvantage, and below average EAL. Learning, curriculum, and pedagogy is exemplary.

Although we believe that these results lead to a tangible improvement in the opportunities of our young people we are equally proud of the way we see our students conduct themselves in our classrooms and corridors on the day to day. In the commitment they demonstrate in the library and the drama studio, or in the resilience they demonstrate in the sports hall and the textiles room.

We believe that we have built something special here through a leadership at all levels philosophy of constant improvement, and listening to our students, staff, and wider community.

Main Areas of Responsibility

As Principal, you will need to provide the leadership and management necessary to secure high quality teaching and learning to raise standards of achievement.

The Principal's effective leadership will result in an academy where:

  • There is a positive ethos that reflects the Academy's commitment to high achievement, effective teaching and learning, and good relationships
  • Staff, governors and parents have confidence in the leadership and management of the Academy
  • Staff and governors recognise their accountability for their tasks and contribute fully to the development and successful implementation of policies and practices
  • The life of the Academy and the curriculum effectively promote students' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and prepare them for adult life
  • Effectiveness is kept under rigorous review, and links with the wider community contribute to students' attainment and personal development
  • Efficient and effective use is made of staff, accommodation and resources
  • Delegated responsibilities to ensuring that finance and administration are effective, and the carefully costed development plan is focused on improving educational outcomes

Qualifications & Experience

The successful applicant must have a proven track record of school improvement, and have gained successful previous experience in leading, or as part of, an SLT to transform a school and raise outcomes. We are looking for a strong communicator who can demonstrate strengths in engaging with and inspiring not just staff, but also students and parents of the local community. You will provide the leadership and management necessary to secure high quality teaching and learning to further raise standards of achievement.

We are looking for an experienced senior leader who ideally has:

  • Qualified Teacher Status, Degree, Further relevant professional studies
  • Relevant Further Degree or NPQH
  • Thorough knowledge and understanding of current curriculum developments and how pupils learn
  • Leadership in curriculum development and in monitoring and evaluation strategies
  • Proven track record of raising attainment in an urban, multi-ethnic environment
  • Track record of raising standards in English and Mathematics and good knowledge of raising standards in Literacy and Numeracy

Next Steps

For an informal call with Rebecca Hickey, Secondary Education Director, to discuss this opportunity, please contact Kassy O'Keefe, Talent Acquisition Coordinator via email Kassy.OKeefe@harrisfederation.org.uk

Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. You will need this when completing your application.

NOTE, you can start a quick apply using a LinkedIn profile or CV to populate the application form. Look for these options at the top of the application page.

Rewards & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

You will be joining a network of likeminded leaders in education and have opportunities to learn from colleagues who are some of the best school leaders in the country. We highly value and encourage all our staff to develop and reach their full potential, and you will have endless opportunities to develop and progress your career with us.

Being a leader at Harris, you will be given the autonomy to evolve your academy's vision, values, performance, and culture, but you will never be alone, everything you do will be wrapped in support and encouragement from the wider Federation.

You will also have full access to our rewards package which includes a performance bonus, private medical cover and lots more benefits available via our schemes.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

Before you start your application...

Email communication

Please remember to check your junk mail folders for our email communications. You will receive a confirmation email once you submit, or save the progress, of your application. Please check your junk/spam folder and add us to your safe senders list to ensure all future email communication is received. This is important to ensure you are kept up to date on the status of your application and to avoid delays in the recruitment process.

Applying online

We strongly advise that you complete the personal information section first and then save the progress of your application. You can return at any time to update and complete the rest of the application. Please ensure you regularly save the progress of your application to avoid losing any data.

Once saved, you will receive an email with instruction on how to retrieve your application using a unique code.

To submit an application, you’ll need to have ready:

  • Personal information about you
  • Details of your education and employment history
  • Details of any qualifications and training gained
  • A CV and/or supporting statement to upload

Using your CV or LinkedIn profile to apply:

To reduce the application time, you will have the option to upload a CV or use your LinkedIn profile when applying for the job. The information in your CV or LinkedIn profile will auto populate the relevant sections of the online application, but please ensure you check this before submitting.

If you have applied to work with us before, you can reuse and update an existing application.

Need any help and support?

Visit our Help and Support page for FAQs and support with completing your application.

We look forward to receiving your application.