Assistant Principal
Harris Academy Ockendon, South Ockendon, RM15 5AY13 days remaining to apply
Start date details
Negotiable
Closing date
6 October 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
23 September 2026
Job details
Job role
- Assistant headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full time equivalent salary
- £69,332-£76,481
Pay scale
- Leadership Scale (London Fringe)
Additional allowances
Annual Loyalty Bonus + Pension Scheme (TPS) + Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan + Additional Harris Benefits
What skills and experience we're looking for
We are looking for an Assistant Principal to join us at Harris Academy Ockendon – A School That Transforms Lives!
We would like to hear from you if you have:
- QTS (or equivalent) and a good undergraduate degree
- Extensive teaching experience
- Outstanding teaching practice
- Successful management experience as Head of Department or member of the SLT
- Experience of writing department SEF
- Experience of lesson observations and giving feedback
- Experience of improvement planning
- Experience of implementing a range of strategies to raise student achievement, with evidence of success
- Contribution to impact on the quality of learning and teaching and curriculum
- Experience of developing and sustaining positive relationships with students, parents, staff and the Governing Body to build consensus support and capacity
- Proven track record of managing and implementing change in relation to teaching practices and standards
- A track record of success in leadership and management
What the school offers its staff
Harris Academy Ockendon – A School That Transforms Lives!
At Harris Academy Ockendon, we are passionate about three things:
Being great at number 1 and number 2 should not mean we can't do number 3!”
A School That Inspires Excellence
We are an 11-18 academy with a thriving Sixth Form, set in a modern, welcoming building designed to ignite curiosity and ambition. In February 2024, Ofsted rated us ‘Outstanding' in every category, stating:
“Pupils benefit hugely from attending this remarkable school. Staff and leaders' sky-high expectations are immediately evident in pupils' scholarly demeanour. The school and trust have created a centre of true excellence. Pupils experience an extraordinary education at Harris Academy Ockendon.”
But what truly defines us is our culture. We help our students and staff dream bigger than they ever thought possible and support them in turning those dreams into reality. At HAOC, three values shape everything we do: Work Hard. Be Kind. Take Responsibility.
These are not just words; they are the foundation of a school where people feel valued, supported, and inspired to be their best.
Why Join Us?
- A high-achieving, inspiring 11-18 academy with a Sixth Form full of ambitious young people.
- A stunning, modern school building that provides an exceptional learning and working environment.
- An unbeatable location, just outside the M25, attracting staff from across Essex and London. Many of our team travel from Kent, Surrey, Southeast, and Central London because they love the school so much!
- A supportive, well-balanced working culture, where your professional growth matters, but so does your well-being.
- The backing of the Harris Federation, one of the most successful school groups in the country, while maintaining a unique and vibrant school identity.
The Harris Federation serves some of the most challenged areas in London and Essex, proving that education can change lives. While we share a collective mission, each Harris school has its own culture, its own identity, and its own way of making a difference.
Perhaps Harris Academy Ockendon is the school you've been looking for. If you're ready to be part of something extraordinary, we'd love to hear from you.
Teacher Development
At Harris, we have curated professional development pathways that will guide you towards achieving your career ambitions. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. With a strong network of passionate educators, expert development initiatives and a multitude of opportunities for career progression, your journey with Harris could be the most rewarding one yet.
We offer a wide range of high quality teacher professional development programmes via the Harris Institute of Teaching and Leadership.
Benefits
In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance (usually £2,000 for Inner London and £1,500 for Outer London), a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Teachers Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan, Employee Assistance Programme, and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.
Flexible working opportunities
We are committed to fostering a positive and supportive working environment for our staff, recognising that achieving a balance between professional and personal responsibilities is essential. We understand that each individual's circumstances are unique, which is why we offer flexible working options that can be adapted to meet the needs of both the academy and our employees.
Further information about the job
Your responsibilities will include:
- To create a true learning institution in the academy at all levels
- To play a major role in formulating the aims, objectives and shared vision of the academy
- To lead the development and maintenance of a high quality positive learning environment
- To take full responsibility for all aspects of teaching and learning in your key area of responsibility
- To ensure high quality teaching across the academy
- To work with colleagues to ensure data is used effectively and consistently
- To work with the SLT to lead the assessment and reporting programme
- To support staff in making sure high quality intervention programmes are in place
- To support colleagues and subject leaders in developing schemes of learning
- With the SLT, to develop strategies to enhance teachers' ability to learn and to develop advanced teaching skills
- To raise students' aspirations and achievement
- To ensure the highest standards of achievement for all students
- To ensure the entitlement of all students to have equal access to and participation in all aspects of the curriculum.
- To ensure the efficient and effective provision of cross curricular skills, knowledge and understanding
- To identify and monitor successful learning outcomes
- To monitor, review and evaluate teaching and learning and classroom practice
- To maintain an informed view of standards and of the quality of teaching across the academy
- To challenge under-performance at all levels and throughout all departments
- To establish, and maintain, the highest possible standards of behaviour, learning and attainment
- To demonstrate and articulate high expectations and set aspirational targets
- To act as a role model in the provision of high quality learning, teaching and assessment
- To coordinate the activities of staff
- To lead and manage staff in an appropriate manner
- To assist in the implementation of effective procedures to support teachers who are underperforming
- To maintain high morale amongst staff and set an example of professional standards and leadership
- To contribute to the recruitment, training, deployment and professional development of staff
- To promote and sustain effective management of the Academy environment
- To provide information about the work and performance of staff
- To chair meetings
Commitment to safeguarding
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, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.
Applying for the job
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Harris Academy Ockendon
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- Size
- 1440 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Email address
- careers@harrisfederation.org.uk
- Phone number
- 01708 851661
A lovely secondary school where the students say, “Good Morning”, and actually mean it. Check out our school via our video.
“I am passionate about three things:
Leading staff to become happy, successful, highly trained professionals who stay in the game and don't burn out or lose their way.
Creating a fulfilling secondary experience for students where they can grow to become well-rounded, ambitious and successful young adults ready to put a ding in the universe.
My life outside work.
Being great at number 1 and number 2 should not mean we can't do number 3!”
- George McMillan, Executive Principal and National Leader of Education.
We are an 11-18 academy with a thriving Sixth Form and a lovely building. It is a school where we are as passionate about developing our staff as we are about developing our students.
Our location just outside the M25 means we attract staff not only from Essex but from London. Indeed, over half our staff live in Kent/Surrey/South East and Central London. Some of our team even travel from West London because they like the school so much.
Our role here is to help students and staff dream bigger than they ever thought possible, and to make that dream come true through our culture of “work hard, be kind, take responsibility” which beats at the heart of our school.
The Executive Principal is George McMillan. Originally from Glasgow, he graduated from the University of Aberdeen with an MA (hons) degree in English Literature and a burning desire to teach. After teaching in Edinburgh, then moving to senior management in Chafford (Essex), George took over Harris Academy Greenwich in 2011 and led its transformation to hitting the top 15% of schools in the country for progress 7 years in a row. Harris Greenwich is one of only a handful of schools in London to retain its Outstanding status (2014 then 2022) under the new Ofsted framework, and the World Class School status twice in a row.
The Principal is Ms Jo Rainey. Originally from Belfast, she graduated from the University of Ulster with a first class degree in History and Geography. Over the past 21 years, she has taught history and led in schools across London and Essex with most of her senior leadership career being spent in Hackney. Jo has been Principal at Ockendon since 2018. She is highly respected for her strong sense of integrity, her passion for student life chances, and loyalty to the school.
The Harris Federation is a highly successful group of schools who serve many of the most deprived areas of London and Essex. We are collaborative, enterprising and share a passion for turning lives around, yet each school is autonomous and free to set its own vision and strategy for how it does that.
Each Harris school feels completely different in terms of culture and ethos. Perhaps this is the school you've been looking for.
School location
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