Assistant Principal (Teaching and Learning)
Jane Austen College, Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 1DD26 days remaining to apply
Start date details
April 2026
Closing date
7 January 2026 at 12am (midnight)
Date listed
12 December 2025
Job details
Job role
- Assistant headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- Salary: Leadership Pay Scale Points 12 - 18 (£67,898 - £78,702 per annum)
Assistant Principal (Teaching and Learning) job summary
Salary: Leadership Pay Scale Points 12 - 18 (£67,898 - £78,702 per annum)
Start Date: April 2026
Jane Austen College is seeking to appoint an Assistant Principal with responsibility for Teaching and Learning.
We are looking for an exceptional classroom practitioner with a proven track record of excellence and a genuine passion for teaching and learning. The successful candidate will demonstrate the drive and commitment to go above and beyond for our pupils.
In this role, you will lead the development and implementation of high-quality teaching and learning across the college.
Key responsibilities include:
- Overseeing whole-school professional development
- Embedding effective pedagogical approaches tailored to the needs of our pupils
- Supporting trainee teachers and Early Career Teachers (ECTs)
As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will play a pivotal role in evaluating and enhancing the quality of curriculum delivery and teaching through robust quality assurance processes.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a collaborative and forward-thinking community dedicated to ensuring every pupil develops the knowledge, skills, and character needed to lead successful and fulfilling lives. We are seeking a leader who shares this vision and is committed to continuous improvement, maximising potential, and supporting pupils beyond the classroom.
Main purpose of the role:
- Develop and implement a clear vision for high-quality teaching and learning across the college.
- Align classroom practices with the school’s improvement plan and national standards.
- Lead initiatives that promote innovative and evidence-based teaching strategies.
- Ensure the curriculum is broad, balanced, and meets statutory requirements.
- Oversee curriculum planning, sequencing, and assessment to maximise pupil progress.
- Support subject leaders in designing schemes of work that reflect best practice.
- Conduct lesson observations, learning walks, and work scrutiny to evaluate teaching quality.
- Design and deliver CPD programs focused on pedagogy.
- Mentor and support teachers, including Early Career Teachers (ECTs).
About You
An outstanding Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning is a visionary leader and an expert in pedagogy, committed to driving excellence in classroom practice and pupil achievement. They demonstrate strategic leadership, ensuring that teaching and learning is at the heart of the school’s improvement plan. Through deep curriculum knowledge, they guarantee that learning is ambitious, inclusive, and aligned with national standards.
They are a highly effective coach and mentor, inspiring teachers to refine their practice through constructive feedback, professional development, and collaborative learning.
Above all, they are passionate about education, relentlessly focused on improving outcomes for every pupil and empowering teachers to deliver exceptional learning experiences.
Essential:
- An appropriate degree and Qualified Teacher Status
- Experience at a Middle Leadership level
- Deep understanding of effective teaching strategies, curriculum design, and assessment.
- Ability to model and promote evidence-based practices.
- Capacity to articulate and drive a clear vision for teaching and learning.
- Strategic thinking to align classroom practice with school improvement priorities.
- Skilled in giving constructive feedback and supporting teacher development.
- Ability to inspire and motivate staff to improve practice.
- Clear, confident communicator with staff, students, and parents.
- Ability to build strong relationships and foster collaboration
- Passion for professional learning and staying current with educational research.
- Promotes a culture of high expectations and innovation.
Desirable:
- NPQ in Leading Teaching or Leading Teacher Development
- Direct and successful experience of Ofsted inspection
Why Join Inspiration Trust
At Inspiration Trust, we believe in the power of education to transform lives. You’ll be joining a supportive, forward-thinking organisation that values professional development, collaboration, and innovation. We provide opportunities for growth and empower you to make a real impact in schools across Norfolk and north Suffolk. As part of our thriving network of talented teachers, leaders, and support staff, you’ll receive a varied professional development programme designed to help you be the best you can be.
We offer:
- Generous annual leave, and access to the Teachers' Pension Schemes (TPS) with excellent employer contributions
- Health Plan and Employee Assistance Programme, including 24/7 virtual GP access, mental health support and claim-back options for healthcare costs *
- Cycle-to-work scheme, retail and theatre discounts (including discounted shopping vouchers, dentist and gym memberships), and salary sacrifice options (including home technology). *
- Free parking at most sites
- Personalised CPD and development programmes
- A structured and specific induction programme.
* Terms and conditions apply. Some benefits are only available following successfully passing probation.
About Us
Jane Austen College opened in 2014 as a flagship free school of the Inspiration Trust, with a focus on English and Humanities. Since then, it has grown from serving just two year groups to become a full 1118 school of over 1,100 students.
In May 2024 the college was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in all inspection areas, including leadership, behaviour and sixth form provision. Inspectors noted that students benefit from “exceptional academic education, excellent pastoral support and a character curriculum building life skills to see them succeed in progressing to some of the top universities in the country and into prosperous careers.”
The college prides itself on ensuring that all students - regardless of background or disadvantage - have access to powerful knowledge and transformative extracurricular experiences, as well as strong mental health and wellbeing support.
We are part of the Inspiration Trust; a thriving family of schools across Norfolk and North Suffolk, recognised nationally for pupil progress and excellence in teaching and leadership. We believe every young person deserves the best education, regardless of background. Inspiration Trust specialises in transforming schools in disadvantaged areas and taking academies from failing to outstanding.
The Trust offers extensive networks and opportunities to collaborate with a diverse range of schools and partners. We are committed to delivering outstanding professional and learning opportunities for all staff, supported by a rich programme of continuing professional development led by some of the country’s leading educational thinkers and practitioners.
For information on what it is like to live and work in Norwich, click here.
Next Steps
Before applying, please read the attached Recruitment Pack and Job Description, for more details about the role. We ask that you read this pack carefully, especially the “Planning your application” section from page 11. This will support your application ensuring you have the opportunity to tell us about your relevant skills, experience and qualifications that relate to the job description and person specification in addition to details of your references covering the last 5 years.
If you would like to know more about this exciting opportunity, then please contact Rowan Wood, PA to Principal (rowanwood@inspirationtrust.org).
To apply for this role please click the Apply button to complete the online application form.
When you start your application, you will receive several emails from our application provider, Vacancy Filler. Please be aware that some email providers may mistakenly mark these messages as spam. To avoid missing important updates, we recommend checking your spam or junk folders regularly throughout the application process and marking these emails as safe.
Closing date for applications: 9am on Wednesday 7th January 2026
Interview date: Thursday 15th January 2026
Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities
Inspiration Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
All staff appointments are subject to satisfactory references and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks. We are an equal opportunities employer.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.
Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.
Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children
You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
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 Jane Austen College
- School type
- Free School, ages 11 to 19
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- 1101 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Jane Austen College website
Jane Austen College is a thriving secondary school and sixth form in the heart of Norwich city centre. We combine the modern and traditional, marrying academic rigour and innovative teaching techniques. Our sixth form is one of the top performing in Norfolk and we have been rated by Ofsted as Outstanding in four out of five areas, with an overall rating of Good.
We are part of the Inspiration Trust family of schools in East Anglia, and work closely with Charles Darwin Primary and Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form as well as the Trust's other schools around the region.
School location
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