Principal
Alec Reed Academy, Northolt, Middlesex, UB5 5LQ12 days remaining to apply
Earliest start date
1 September 2026
Latest start date
1 January 2027
Closing date
2 February 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
21 January 2026
Job details
Job role
- Headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Early years, Key stage 1, Key stage 2, Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
Working pattern
- Full time: Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- L25-L30 Inner London
What skills and experience we're looking for
- Proven track record of successful senior leadership in a school setting
- Evidence of raising standards and improving outcomes for a diverse student population
- Ability to develop leadership capacity and accountability across teams
- Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection
- High levels of energy, resilience, and enthusiasm.
What the school offers its staff
- Inner London pay despite outer London location and Teachers Pension Scheme
- An Ofsted ‘Good’ school and an exciting place to work
- A welcoming, supportive environment in West London/Ealing with committed colleagues and engaged Trustees
- Free on-site parking, subsidised meals, and family-friendly policies (including paid dependents entitlement)
- Newly refurbished state-of-the-art fitness suite, plus staff benefits such as Blue Light Card and Costco membership.
Further information about the job
L25-L30 (Inner London Scale)
The Board of Trustees is seeking an exceptional educational leader to join Alec Reed Academy in a newly structured leadership model. This is a rare opportunity to lead a thriving, ambitious all-through Academy with over 1,600 pupils from Nursery to Post-16. Our mission is to equip every child—many from disadvantaged backgrounds—with the skills and confidence to succeed in an ever-changing world.
Our Leadership Model
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Provides strategic leadership, governance, and external representation
- Principal: Leads operational and educational delivery across all phases (Primary and Secondary), driving excellence in teaching, learning, and pupil outcomes.
As Principal, you will have autonomy for day-to-day operations while working closely with the CEO to deliver strategic priorities. You’ll lead teaching and learning across all phases, ensuring strong foundations in early years and continuity through to Post-16, while fostering an inclusive, ambitious culture.
All business services—including Finance, HR, IT, and Estates—are managed in-house, giving you immediate access to expert support. This integrated model allows you to focus on educational leadership while benefiting from strong operational partnerships that enhance efficiency and impact.
Why Now?
ARA is entering an exciting new chapter. With recent investment in facilities and leadership capacity, we are poised for rapid improvement and innovation. This is your chance to:
- Build on our Ofsted ‘Good’ rating and lead the journey to Exceptional
- Strengthen community engagement and parental partnerships
- Drive academic excellence and inclusion across all phases
- Embed sustainability and outdoor learning through our Academy Fields project
- Shape the future of an all-through school serving a diverse, vibrant community.
What we’re looking for:
- Proven track record of successful senior leadership in a school setting
- Evidence of raising standards and improving outcomes for a diverse student population
- Ability to develop leadership capacity and accountability across teams
- Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection
- High levels of energy, resilience, and enthusiasm.
What we offer:
- Inner London pay despite outer London location and Teachers Pension Scheme
- An Ofsted ‘Good’ school and an exciting place to work
- A welcoming, supportive environment in West London/Ealing with committed colleagues and engaged Trustees
- Free on-site parking, subsidised meals, and family-friendly policies (including paid dependents entitlement)
- Newly refurbished state-of-the-art fitness suite, plus staff benefits such as Blue Light Card and Costco membership.
Our commitment:
Alec Reed Academy is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring every member of staff feels respected and able to give their best. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful applicant will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check and social media screening prior to appointment.
We reserve the right to hold interviews in advance of the closing date should a favourable application be received.
Closing date for completed applications: 2nd February 2026
Interviews will be held: 9th and 10th February 2026.
ARA is committed to the protection and safety of our learners. The successful applicant will be required to undertake an enhanced criminal record check via the Disclosure and Barring Service and Social media check prior to commencing the role.
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
Please complete the online application.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
Apply for this jobUpload additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Alec Reed Academy
- School type
- Academy, ages 3 to 19
- Education phase
- All through school
- School size
- 1672 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 3 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Alec Reed Academy website
- Email address
- hr@alecreedacademy.co.uk
- Phone number
- 0208 8414511
Alec Reed Academy is a thriving, inclusive all‑through school for pupils aged 3–19, serving the diverse community of Northolt in the London Borough of Ealing. Founded by the late Sir Alec Reed and opened in 2005, the Academy has grown significantly and now educates over 1,600 pupils across Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Post‑16 phases. Our unique all‑through structure provides a seamless learning journey, strong transition between phases, and shared professional expertise benefiting children at every stage.
We are proud to be an Ofsted 'Good' school (2018 and 2023), with high aspirations and a clear trajectory of continued improvement. Our mission is to inspire excellence, unlock potential and prepare children for adult life—academically, socially, and personally. We serve a richly diverse community: 60% of pupils speak English as an additional language, we have above‑average levels of SEND and EHCPs, and 48% of pupils are eligible for the Pupil Premium. Our strong pastoral systems and inclusive ethos ensure every young person feels valued, supported, and able to succeed.
Our state‑of‑the‑art facilities were designed by Foster + Partners, offering an exceptional environment for teaching and learning. These include fully equipped science labs, specialist art and technology studios, a professional 300‑seat theatre, a digital media suite, a Community Sports Centre, a 3G AstroTurf pitch, a climbing wall, dance studio, MUGA and expansive outdoor learning spaces. With recent investment—including a £1m Academy Fields Outdoor Learning Hub—we offer innovative opportunities for environmental education, sustainability, wellbeing and hands‑on learning across all phases.
Our curriculum is ambitious and broad, enriched through creative arts, outdoor learning and a strong careers and employability programme aligned with Gatsby Benchmarks. Our new Employability Hub, developed with support from Reed and external partners, ensures students gain the skills, confidence and experiences needed to progress into higher education, apprenticeships, or employment.
As an employer, we invest heavily in professional development. Staff benefit from six annual CPD days, ongoing training, leadership pathways, tailored ECT support and the advantage of working within an all‑through team that collaborates across phases. All business services—including HR, Finance, IT and Estates—are managed in‑house, enabling swift support, strong communication and a consistent, community‑focused culture.
Alec Reed Academy is a welcoming, ambitious and supportive place to work, where innovation is encouraged and staff wellbeing is prioritised. Located in West London with excellent transport links, the Academy offers the advantages of an Outer London setting while applying Inner London pay scales. We are committed to safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring every member of our community can thrive.
Arranging a visit to Alec Reed Academy
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email hr@alecreedacademy.co.uk.
School location
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