Assistant Principal
Cottenham Village College, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB24 8UA16 days remaining to apply
Start date details
January 2027
Closing date
27 September 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
11 September 2026
Job details
Job role
- Assistant headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full time equivalent salary
- £70,064.00 - £77,172.00 Annually (Actual) LS 11-15
Assistant Principal job summary
Assistant Principal - Cottenham Village College
Salary: Leadership Scale L11-L15
Contract: Full Time, Permanent
Start Date: January 2027
Shape Excellence. Inspire Others. Lead with Impact.Cottenham Village College is seeking to appoint an exceptional Assistant Principal to join our ambitious and forward-thinking Senior Leadership Team. This is an exciting opportunity for an outstanding teacher and proven leader who is passionate about delivering exceptional educational experiences and driving the highest standards of teaching, learning and behaviour.
We are looking for a committed and talented leader who excels in the classroom and is equally passionate about developing others. You will play a key role in supporting colleagues across the academy through coaching, mentoring, challenge and professional development, helping to build a culture where every teacher can thrive and every scholar can succeed.
As part of Astrea Academy Trust, Cottenham Village College is committed to providing an exceptional education that enables every scholar to achieve their full potential. We are driven by high expectations, strong values and an unwavering belief that all young people deserve the very best opportunities in life. Our staff are united by a culture of collaboration, professional growth and a relentless focus on improving outcomes for every scholar.
The RoleAs Assistant Principal, you will contribute strategically to the leadership and development of the academy, helping to shape its future direction and ensure excellence across all areas of school life.
Working closely with the Principal and wider Senior Leadership Team, you will:
Key Responsibilities- Provide strategic leadership and contribute to the ongoing development and improvement of the academy.
- Lead and support the monitoring and evaluation of teaching, learning and assessment across the school.
- Drive improvements in classroom practice through coaching, mentoring and professional development.
- Deliver high-quality CPD that inspires and develops colleagues at all career stages.
- Lead whole-school improvement projects and evaluate their impact on scholar outcomes.
- Support the implementation of academy priorities and ensure they become embedded across the school.
- Promote a culture of excellence, high expectations and continuous improvement.
- Contribute to leadership discussions around staffing, resources, curriculum and academy improvement planning.
- Build strong relationships with scholars, families and external agencies to support positive outcomes.
- Champion high standards of behaviour, attendance, safeguarding and pastoral care.
- Ensure safeguarding and Prevent responsibilities are fully integrated into academy policies and practice.
- Lead by example as an outstanding classroom practitioner and visible senior leader.
We are seeking an ambitious and resilient leader who is ready to make a significant impact on the lives of our scholars and staff.
The successful candidate will have:
- A proven track record as an outstanding classroom practitioner with strong pupil outcomes.
- Experience of successful middle or senior leadership in a school setting.
- The ability to inspire, motivate and develop staff to achieve their very best.
- Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret and use data to drive improvement.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a proven ability to build positive relationships with families, colleagues and external professionals.
- Confidence to hold courageous conversations and tackle challenges with professionalism and integrity.
- Outstanding communication skills, including experience of delivering effective staff training and development.
- Excellent organisational skills and the ability to lead whole-school priorities from planning through to impact.
- High levels of resilience, determination and professional credibility.
- A strong work ethic and a genuine commitment to a "no excuses" culture where every scholar can succeed.
At Cottenham Village College, you will join a passionate team dedicated to transforming life chances through education. You'll benefit from extensive professional development opportunities, collaboration across Astrea Academy Trust and the opportunity to make a lasting impact within a thriving and ambitious school community.
Commitment to Safeguarding and EDI:
Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to satisfactory background checks, including references and an enhanced DBS check. We value diversity and welcome applications from underrepresented groups. As a Disability Confident employer, we provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to ensure all candidates can fully demonstrate their abilities.
In line with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 and the statutory Code of Practice, the Trust requires all public-facing post holders to demonstrate fluent English. Within a school setting, this applies to all roles that involve direct or indirect interaction with pupils, parents, or members of the public.
Flexible Interview Dates:
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, so don't miss out on this exciting opportunity. Please note that interview dates are flexible, and the academy reserves the right to interview shortlisted candidates during the application window.
Ready to Make a Difference?
If you're ready to take the next step in your career and contribute to our dynamic and forward-thinking team, apply today and be a part of our mission to create a positive impact!
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and staff. Every child should feel safe and should be protected from any form of child abuse. We have robust policies and procedures that support our commitment to Safeguarding, this includes our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. The in-house Safeguarding teams at each Academy work in partnership with families and safeguarding partners to ensure the safety of children is paramount. We are committed to ensuring that all staff access regular, contextual safeguarding training to meet the needs of the local community.
Applying for the job
This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Cottenham Village College
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- Size
- 860 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
Welcome to Cottenham Village College, part of the Astrea Academy Trust, a highly-successful 11-16 mixed academy situated close to the beautiful city of Cambridge; here you will find hard-working, well-behaved students and friendly, dedicated staff who are committed to a fully inclusive, comprehensive education.
The college was established in 1963, one of several village colleges in the region that were the inspiration of educational pioneer Henry Morris, who believed that the school should be at the heart of its community and that education should be a lifelong process. This vision of a school that serves and involves its whole community, that fosters high aspirations and inspires a love of learning is as central to our ethos today as it was when it opened.
Through a highly-ambitious curriculum at CVC, we aim to foster students’ curiosity, unlock their potential and raise their aspirations, as well as ensure that students achieve high levels of attainment that will open doors for their future. A stimulating and broad curriculum also places students in a strong position to question and debate the world around them, making them intellectually resilient and prepares them for citizenship in a democratic society. We believe this is a right of all students and one which is liberating and empowering.
We are equally proud of the wider curricular provision at CVC, both in formal lessons and outside the classroom. Our extensive range of extra-curricular activities, including sports, music, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme and residential trips, help to give all students a fully-rounded education and creates opportunity for their personal, as well as their academic, growth.
Cottenham Village College is a friendly, positive and exciting place to work and to learn and we take great pride in the high standards our students consistently achieve. We have very high expectations of all members of the College community and provide an inclusive, friendly and supportive environment in which everyone can thrive and achieve. Students leave as happy, well-qualified and well-motivated individuals who go on to excel in local sixth forms, colleges, universities and the wider world.
I hope you find the information on the school’s website useful. If there is anything you cannot find, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you wish to visit the school to see it for yourself, please contact the school and we would be delighted to show you around.
Zoe Andrews, Principal
School location
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