Principal
Cowes Enterprise College, An Ormiston Academy, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 8HBDeadline is tomorrow
Start date details
September 2026
Closing date
2 February 2026 at 8am
Date listed
9 January 2026
Job details
Job role
- Headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £103,029.00 - £131,578.00 Annually (FTE) OAT Principal Group 7
Principal job summary
Work where it matters most, achieve what matters more
Be part of a team where passion meets purpose, as we work together where the challenge is greatest to change the lives and build the futures of children and young people.
This is an opportunity for an ambitious and inspirational Principal to lead Cowes Enterprise College into its next chapter of success starting in September 2026.
As Principal, you will play a pivotal role in creating an exceptional educational environment where every child has the opportunity to thrive. Your leadership will ensure that the academy is not only a great place for students to learn but also a rewarding and fulfilling workplace for staff. You will be the driving force behind the academy’s success—an architect of its future.
This is a position of influence, where you will shape culture, raise aspirations, and make a lasting impact. Beyond your school, your vision will contribute to the wider success of the Trust and its reputation within the sector. We value your expertise, experience, and passion to inspire excellence and deliver success for every student and every member of staff.
This is more than a job —it’s a chance to make a lasting impact on young lives and the future of education.
About you
We are looking for an experienced leader who shares our vision and is fully committed to excellence in all aspects of curriculum, teaching and learning and pastoral care for the benefit of all our students and their families.
You will have a significant and credible track record as a Principal or Deputy Head. You will be aligned with the purpose, ethos and values of the Trust and have the maturity to lead a team, whilst collaborating with other teams to get things done.
Ultimately, you will share our belief in the power of education to change lives for young people, and have the intellectual, interpersonal and operational capabilities required every day to improve education at a local level within a national organisation.
About Cowes Enterprise College, An Ormiston Academy
Cowes Enterprise College, An Ormiston Academy is based in Cowes on the Isle of Wight. The school is an 11-19 co-educational academy with 1,164 students, including 185 students in the sixth form.
This is a time of great innovation and forward thinking at Cowes Enterprise College. We aim to ‘educate for life’ here and students have an appetite for success, parents are supportive and proud of our work, and staff are committed to unleashing potential.
Our broad, balanced and aspirational curriculum, combined with strong pastoral care means that we can support our students to become successful and responsible 21st century citizens and life-long learners.
About Ormiston Academies Trust
Our vision is to create a school system where every child thrives, regardless of background. Our people are at the heart of our approach - they are our greatest asset.
We exist to provide the best learning opportunities every day, in every school for every child. It is the people and teams in our Trust who make this a reality and ensure we have the greatest impact. If you join us at Ormiston, whatever your role, your work will have purpose and meaning
Ormiston, where every member of staff enjoys…
- The opportunity to build on the legacy of those who came before - being part of one of the longest standing Trusts, created with the sole purpose of enabling children and young people to thrive
- Working for a Trust nationally recognised for its impact on disadvantaged children - a rewarding, stimulating career where staff are challenged to be the best they can be, for the pupils we are proud to serve
- Being part of a team and community where you belong - being part of a well-resourced and ambitious network of experts and professionals that work at the heart of communities
- A supportive environment to grow your career - an extensive professional development programme, alongside flexible working arrangements and generous benefits
Benefits that care for you
When you join us at Ormiston, you can expect robust and holistic support from us to enable you to excel in your role. Our benefits package includes:
- 42 days annual leave plus statutory holidays
- Membership of TPS
- Private health insurance
- Access to health and well-being programmes, including counselling services.
- Discounts on retail, travel, and leisure through our benefits platform.
- Free and confidential legal, tax and health 24/7 helpline
- Cycle to work scheme
- Automatic pay progression
- Flexible working arrangements
And much more as part of a leading multi-academy trust
Relocation assistance may be available to support the successful candidate.
If you are passionate about making a difference and are ready to lead in a challenging yet rewarding environment, we would love to hear from you.
For further information about this exciting leadership opportunity please contact our recruitment partner, Chris Gartner from Think Leadership, on 07454 679 918 or via email to chris.gartner@thinkrecruitment.co.uk.
The closing date for applications is 9am on Monday 2 February 2026, with interviews being held on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 February 2026 at Cowes Enterprise College, An Ormiston Academy. Shortlisted candidates will be notified on Tuesday 3 February 2026.
More information about this post and the role of a Principal within Ormiston is available in the accompanying information pack.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Cowes Enterprise College, An Ormiston Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. Ormiston Academies Trust embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. Flexible working opportunities will be considered.
All successful appointments will be subject to suitability checks in accordance with KCSIE, including identity, Right to Work, qualifications, online searches, prohibition check, two references and enhanced DBS check including Children’s Barred List.
The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. Guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, which provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-guidance-on-the-rehabilitation-of-offenders-act-1974
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Cowes Enterprise College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Suitability checks will be undertaken in accordance with KCSIE, including identity, Right to Work, qualifications, Prohibition check, two references and enhanced DBS check including Children’s Barred List.
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 Cowes Enterprise College, An Ormiston Academy
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 19
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1192 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Cowes Enterprise College, An Ormiston Academy website
Rachel Kitley, Principal
Cowes Enterprise College, situated on the Isle of Wight, minutes from the mainland and international links yet also minutes from the beach, is a wonderful place to work.
The work of everyone at Cowes Enterprise College is defined by the children that we serve. Their future is our purpose and the purpose of everyone who works across the Ormiston Academies Trust. Educating for life is what Cowes Enterprise College is about: developing a love of learning and preparing students for life itself and all it presents to us. Our aim is for students to fulfil their limitless potential – through perseverance and effort.
We don’t select our students, but we do select our staff. We look for highly trained and dedicated staff to be here to support, guide and inspire our students so that whatever their starting point when they arrive, our students will leave with the world at their feet – equipped and ready to continue their learning through apprenticeships, at university and throughout their careers.
We aim to provide the best opportunities – academic, cultural and sporting – and a sense of moral and social responsibility so that each child realises that humanity is their business and the common good their aim. We take our mission to educate for life seriously and this is epitomised by the student entitlement to a key set of experiences summarised in the student charter. We provide our children with a rich and dynamic curriculum and draw upon our local context to show our pupils why they should be proud of our island.
You will be joining team that Ofsted said ‘focuses relentlessly on the quality of teaching and on the progress pupils make’ and should be prepared to do the same. We are proud of our strong results however recognise that there is much work yet to do and our high expectations mean this work will be relentless and ongoing. Our mission to educate for life doesn’t stop with our pupils.
We have a research driven approach to leadership, management and professional development. Taking what is best from the world of education and translating that into our classrooms. We also know that to have high expectations we also need to provide a high level of support for everyone in our community. That is why we have a staff charter, a public promise to all our staff, and make the most of our national network in order to develop staff. From September our professional development network will extend significantly as we work in partnership with HISP Teaching School Hub. We are the Isle of Wight base where we will deliver high quality nationally recognised and accredited courses by island teachers for island teachers. As part of this work we will also working with the HISP Research School and the Education Endowment Foundation to take part in cutting edge education research.
If you have not visited us before we have a comprehensive virtual tour which allows you to get a feel for our amazing facilities, along with a wealth of information on our website. We must succeed, because these are not just other people’s children. They are also our children. Not even one should be allowed to fail while there is more we could have done to change their story.
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