Principal
Cottenham Village College, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB24 8UA14 days remaining to apply
Start date details
January or Easter 2026
Closing date
21 October 2025 at 1pm
Date listed
6 October 2025
Job details
Job role
- Headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £102,544.00 - £118,779.00 Annually (Actual) L28 - L34
Principal job summary
Shape the Future of Cottenham Village College - Become Our Next Transformational Principal
Are you ready to lead with purpose, ignite ambition, and make a lasting impact in a thriving school community? Cottenham Village College is seeking a bold, values-driven Principal to take the helm and drive the next chapter of excellence.
We are seeking an exceptional Principal to lead Cottenham Village College, a vibrant 11-16 secondary school, part of the Astrea Academy Trust family in Cambridgeshire.
About the Role
This is more than a leadership role, it’s a chance to shape lives, elevate outcomes, and embed a culture where every scholar can thrive. Whether you're an experienced Principal or a high-performing Vice Principal ready to step up, this is your opportunity to lead an ambitious academy determined to ensure that all scholars can go on to university or aspirational alternative.
You will be a dynamic and aspirational leader with a strong moral compass, an unwavering belief in the potential of every child, and the ability to unite staff, scholars and the wider community around a shared vision of excellence.
As Principal, you will lead the academy to become a beacon of educational excellence in the region, delivering an exceptional offer that ensures every scholar thrives. Please note that while Cottenham Village College shares a site with The Centre School, the two schools are distinct entities with separate URNs.
What We Offer
You will be supported by the full strength of Astrea Academy Trust, including:
- An experienced Executive Principal and Deputy Director of Secondary
- A team of National Subject Leads and central specialists in Finance, HR, Estates and more
- A values-driven culture focused on inclusion, aspiration and academic rigour
Key Responsibilities
- Embed Astrea’s vision and values across the academy
- Lead strategic planning, curriculum development and school improvement
- Inspire a culture of high expectations, impeccable behaviour and scholarly ambition
- Drive academic outcomes and personal development for all scholars
- Build strong relationships with staff, families and the wider community
- Develop and empower staff through high-quality professional development
Why Join Us?
Astrea Academy Trust is committed to delivering a world-class education that changes lives. We believe in powerful knowledge, warm-strict behaviour systems, and joyful learning environments. As Principal, you will be at the heart of this mission.
Interested in Applying?
If you're driven by purpose, inspired by challenge, and ready to lead Cottenham Village College into its next era, we want to hear from you.
To arrange a confidential conversation, please contact Rebekah Ramsden, Deputy Director of Secondary Education, at rebekah.ramsden@astreaacademytrust.org.
For further details or to discuss the application process, reach out to Stephen Casey or Sarah Fedun from the Astrea recruitment team.
We kindly ask that all applications are accompanied by a personal statement outlining your suitability for the role. Applications submitted without a personal statement will not be considered.
Commitment to Safeguarding and EDI
Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All roles are subject to enhanced DBS checks and satisfactory references. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
Ready to Make a Difference?
If you're ready to lead with purpose, inspire excellence, and shape the future of Cottenham Village College, apply today and be part of our mission to transform lives through education.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and staff. Every child should feel safe and should be protected from any form of child abuse. We have robust policies and procedures that support our commitment to Safeguarding, this includes our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. The in-house Safeguarding teams at each Academy work in partnership with families and safeguarding partners to ensure the safety of children is paramount. We are committed to ensuring that all staff access regular, contextual safeguarding training to meet the needs of the local community.
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 Cottenham Village College
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- 877 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Cottenham Village College website
Welcome to Cottenham Village College, part of the Astrea Academy Trust, a highly-successful 11-16 mixed academy situated close to the beautiful city of Cambridge; here you will find hard-working, well-behaved students and friendly, dedicated staff who are committed to a fully inclusive, comprehensive education.
The college was established in 1963, one of several village colleges in the region that were the inspiration of educational pioneer Henry Morris, who believed that the school should be at the heart of its community and that education should be a lifelong process. This vision of a school that serves and involves its whole community, that fosters high aspirations and inspires a love of learning is as central to our ethos today as it was when it opened.
Through a highly-ambitious curriculum at CVC, we aim to foster students’ curiosity, unlock their potential and raise their aspirations, as well as ensure that students achieve high levels of attainment that will open doors for their future. A stimulating and broad curriculum also places students in a strong position to question and debate the world around them, making them intellectually resilient and prepares them for citizenship in a democratic society. We believe this is a right of all students and one which is liberating and empowering.
We are equally proud of the wider curricular provision at CVC, both in formal lessons and outside the classroom. Our extensive range of extra-curricular activities, including sports, music, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme and residential trips, help to give all students a fully-rounded education and creates opportunity for their personal, as well as their academic, growth.
Cottenham Village College is a friendly, positive and exciting place to work and to learn and we take great pride in the high standards our students consistently achieve. We have very high expectations of all members of the College community and provide an inclusive, friendly and supportive environment in which everyone can thrive and achieve. Students leave as happy, well-qualified and well-motivated individuals who go on to excel in local sixth forms, colleges, universities and the wider world.
I hope you find the information on the school’s website useful. If there is anything you cannot find, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you wish to visit the school to see it for yourself, please contact the school and we would be delighted to show you around.
Zoe Andrews, Principal
School location
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