- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- Size
- 912 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
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Assistant Principal for Vocational Programmes
More than one location, Harris Federation12 days remaining to apply
Start date details
January
Closing date
19 October 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
7 October 2026
Job details
Job role
- Assistant headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
Subject
- Business studies
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full time equivalent salary
- £77,691-£84,842
Pay scale
- L12 - L16 (Inner London)
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 outstanding leader to join us as Assistant Principal. You will be responsible for Vocational Programmes in the strategic and operational management and development of Business Studies and Vocational Programmes across the Quadrant and ensuring the achievement of our ethos, aims and objectives.
In this role, you will cover:
- Harris Academy Beckenham
- Harris City Academy Crystal Palace
- Harris Academy Peckham
- Harris Academy Battersea
- Harris Academy Bermondsey
- Harris Boys' Academy East Dulwich
- Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich
- Harris Academy Clapham
We would like to hear from you if you have:
- Degree in subject specialism or equivalent
- Qualified teacher status
- At least three years' teaching experience
- At least two years in a management role
- Experience teaching the subject to KS5
- Clear evidence of having raised standards of achievement at all levels
- Successful experience of curriculum development
- Experience in observing and evaluating teacher quality and providing feedback
- Experience of setting specific targets and managing improvement across a Key Stage or more widely
- Successful experience in a multi-ethnic inner-city school
- Evidence of being an excellent teacher
- Strong knowledge of the national curriculum programme of study for the subject and of current subject developments
- Ability to clearly articulate a vision for the future of the subject which enthuses and motivates
- Ability to plan and deliver effective training and development programmes which meet identified needs within the academies
- Excellent ICT skills
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- A self-starter with the resilience and ability to plan individual programmes of work and achieve designated targets
- An ability to work flexibly, including some weekends, evenings as and when required and residential courses
What the school offers its staff
The Harris Federation is a leading education charity with 59 Harris primary and secondary academies across London and Essex. The founder, Chairman and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We now educate some 38,000 young people and closing the gap between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers has always been a core mission.
The Harris Federation has a track record of accomplishment in achieving success through rapid school improvement and has built an unrivalled reputation for running outstanding academies in London.
Senior Leader Development
With Harris, you will join a large network of likeminded senior leaders and have opportunities to learn from colleagues who are some of the best senior leaders in the country. Our senior leaders can benefit from tailored professional development programmes via the Harris Institute of Teaching and Leadership which will enable you to develop your pedagogy, leadership skills and drive school improvement.
Supported by experienced mentors, you can access national professional qualifications and draw on expert knowledge from dedicated subject consultants who offer invaluable subject and curriculum insight.
Benefits
In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes an Annual 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
The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.
Visas cannot be sponsored.
If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.
Your responsibilities will include:
- To work with academies in order to support subject departments to achieve measured improvement in order to achieve demanding targets.
- To undertake departmental reviews and produce action plans to raise
- To critically analyse and interpret data from a range of sources to identify appropriate departmental improvement strategies and so ensure challenging targets are set and achieved.
- To proactively ensure appropriate intervention strategies are put in place when needed so that departments meet their subject targets.
- To provide targeted and intensive professional development, consultancy and interventions with students and subject departments.
- To coach and mentor subject staff and contribute to performance management arrangements as
- To model best practice and be seen as an approachable and useful fellow
- In conjunction with the Quadrant Leader and Executive Principal, to build external contacts with universities, subject associations, and other bodies on behalf of the subject departments in the Quadrant.
- In conjunction with the Quadrant Leaders and Executive Principal, to establish a bank of high-quality on-line materials, including teaching materials and schemes of work in the Harris Learning Gateway which are accessed by subject staff across the group.
- To lead Quadrant master classes or revision schools in the
- In Mathematics and English, to assist in improving our strategy for numeracy or literacy and ensure targets relating to this are met.
- From time to time, to teach key subject classes in particular academies when required and/or to act as interim subject leader when a need arises.
- To keep up to date with developments in the subject and other Quadrant or academy initiatives as agreed, and to provide leadership, advice and guidance to the academies.
- Work with Principals, Senior Managers and Quadrant Leader as appropriate to ensure high quality recruitment, selection and retention of subject staff.
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 we expect all our staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants. Before applying, please review our Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders.
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 the schools
- Type
- Multi-academy trust
- Website
- Harris Federation website
- Email address
- careers@harrisfederation.org.uk
- Phone number
- 02082537777
Making an impact
Educating 1 in 41 young people in London, we have a track record of achieving success through rapid school improvement, and a reputation for running outstanding academies. Our focus is on the most challenging schools in London and turning them into places where every young person has access to a high-quality education.
Commitment to young people in London
Unlike other large multi-academy trusts, we are committed to transforming schools in London and the surrounding areas. This focus on localisation means we intimately know the communities we work in and have the expertise to help our young people from these backgrounds to succeed. It also allows us to build a much stronger whole Federation network, collaborating more closely to share best working practices across our academies.
Centralised support
To ensure our academies can deliver exceptional education to our young people, we provide them with a strong support provision. Our dedicated central team supports all 55 of our academies, acting as a central hub with expertise in Finance, HR, Compliance, Estates, Audit, Recruitment, and IT, and many more. This centralised structure takes away much of the educational administration from our academy colleagues, allowing them to focus on what they do best – developing bright futures for our young people.
Experts in education
We are focused solely on education and have a team of experienced senior leaders who drive our ambition to deliver outstanding learning opportunities to as many young people as possible. Our organisation is led by people who have extensive experience working in education and know exactly what it is like to be at the forefront of teaching.
School Details
Harris Boys' Academy East Dulwich
Harris Academy Peckham
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- Size
- 458 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
Harris Academy Beckenham
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- Size
- 1302 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
Harris City Academy Crystal Palace
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- Size
- 1191 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
Harris Academy Battersea
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 11 to 19
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- Size
- 890 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- Size
- 809 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
Harris Academy Bermondsey
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- Size
- 781 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
Harris Academy Clapham
- Organisation type
- Free School, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- Size
- 802 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
Arranging a visit to Harris Federation
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email careers@harrisfederation.org.uk.
School locations
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