Principal

St Aldhelm's Academy, Poole, Dorset, BH12 4HS

27 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  September 2026

• Closing date

  9 April 2026 at 12:59am

• Date listed

  13 March 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: Highly competitive
• Additional allowances:

  Highly competitive

Principal job summary

St Aldhelm’s Academy is looking to appoint a Principal that will lead and inspire excellence throughout the Academy. We are looking for a leader who understands that St Aldhelm’s requires rapid transformation to provide the high-quality, ambitious education our students deserve.

We are seeking a visionary Principal who is determined to improve the lives of the young people. This is a unique opportunity for a passionate leader to change a school and make a positive impact on the wider community. You will work with all staff to ensure success for all pupils at every stage of their education and provide them with the skills and confidence for their future life and work.

The Principal, together with the Governing Body, will be responsible for establishing and implementing the vision and direction for all staff and pupils throughout the Academy. In leading the Academy, the Principal will ensure that the school’s ethos and values are deeply embedded and visible to all stakeholders.

As Principal, you will:

• Provide strong, values-driven leadership to navigate the academy through its next phase of growth.

• Drive a culture of continuous improvement to establish high standards of teaching, learning, and pupil achievement where they do not yet consistently exist.

• Shape and implement the Trust’s educational vision to ensure excellence becomes the norm.

• Strengthen relationships with pupils, families, staff, and the local community.

• Promote an inclusive and ambitious curriculum that prepares students for a future full of possibility.

While the journey ahead is demanding, the rewards are significant. In return for your dedication, you will benefit from:

• The opportunity to lead a school through a pivotal period of transformation and leave a lasting legacy.

• Support from an experienced Executive Team and a collaborative network of school leaders.

• High-quality professional development and leadership coaching tailored to the challenges of school improvement.

• Clear opportunities for career progression and impact across the wider Trust.

If you believe that young people can achieve extraordinary things and have the drive to build a team that will make this a reality, we would be delighted to hear from you.

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.

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.

About St Aldhelm's Academy

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 16
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 841 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: St Aldhelm's Academy website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/st-aldhelm-s-academy

A mixed comprehensive school with approximately 700 pupils on roll, in years 7 to 11.
Part of Ambitions Academies Trust and located in the beautiful county of Dorset.

School location

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