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Principal
Lift Offa's Mead, Chepstow, Gloucestershire, NP16 7DT28 days remaining to apply
Start date details
September 2026
Closing date
8 May 2026 at 2:04pm
Date listed
10 April 2026
Job details
Job role
- Headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Skilled Worker visas can be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £73105 - £83960 per annum
Principal job summary
Salary: L15-L21, £73,105-£83,960 (negotiable for an exceptional candidate) + relocation package + wellbeing cash plan + pension scheme (TPS) + additional Lift Schools benefits
Start date: September 2026
Lead with purpose. Shape a community. Make a difference.
At Lift Schools, our people are key to delivering an excellent education for every child. We are looking for an exceptional Principal to lead Lift Offa's Mead, a welcoming, community-focused school with a big heart and strong foundations.
This is a rare opportunity to lead a school where relationships drive success, pupils are engaged and families are truly supportive.
About the role
Lift Offa's Mead serves the communities of Sedbury, Beachley and Chepstow. With strong outcomes, an embedded curriculum and a committed team, the school is ready for its next phase.
As Principal, you will:
* Build on strong foundations and drive the next stage of improvement
* Lead strategically while remaining hands-on in a one-form entry setting
* Be a visible, credible presence in the classroom
* Develop a high-performing, collaborative team
* Strengthen the school's role at the heart of its community
As a smaller school, this role offers a unique balance of strategic leadership and lasting, direct impact.
About you
You are a strong practitioner and an inspiring leader with a clear vision of excellence in primary education.
You will:
* Have a proven track record of raising standards
* Bring expertise in early years and mixed-age teaching
* Build strong, trusting relationships across the school community
* Use data confidently to drive improvement
* Be adaptable, organised and able to lead in a small school environment
* Balance Trust expectations with the needs of your school
* Be collaborative, ambitious and ready to contribute beyond your own setting
You combine clarity, warmth and ambition, and lead with both head and heart.
About the school
Lift Offa's Mead is a Good school (Ofsted, October 2022) with:
* A strong curriculum and effective phonics provision
* A caring, inclusive ethos and dedicated SEND support
* Engaged and supportive parents
* A rich enrichment offer, including successful sports teams
* Extensive outdoor space, including a large playground and field
About Lift Schools
We are a diverse, inclusive network of 59 schools united by one mission: to deliver an excellent education to every child, in every classroom, every day. We believe every child deserves the best, regardless of background or ability, and we need outstanding leaders to make this happen.
How we'll support you
At Lift Schools, we believe talent drives performance. You'll benefit from:
* An individual development account of up to £100,000 over five years
* Experiential learning opportunities, including study tours
* One-to-one unlimited executive coaching
* High-quality, evidence-informed professional development
* A year-long induction programme
* The option of a professional sabbatical after five years
* A relocation package if moving for the role
If you are an experienced senior leader or existing Principal ready for a new opportunity, if you are driven, determined, and committed to creating lasting change, we would love to hear from you.
For an informal, confidential conversation or to organise a school visit, please contact Tanya Bentham at
Closing date: Monday 11 May 2026, 9:00am
Interview dates: Monday 18 May 2026 (Lift Offa's Mead) and Thursday 21 May 2026 (Ed City, London)
Lift Schools are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our people and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair and consistent recruitment process which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.
Lift Schools embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.
We are a Disability Confident Employer and there is a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Lift Schools is committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair and consistent recruitment process which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.
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 Lift Offa's Mead
- School type
- Academy, ages 4 to 11
- Education phase
- Primary school
- School size
- 138 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Lift Offa's Mead website
Lift Offa's Mead is located in Sedbury, a village in the Forest of Dean district of west Gloucestershire, on the eastern bank of the River Wye, facing the beautiful Welsh town of Chepstow. We are close to Beachley Barracks and the school draws 40% of its pupils from the families of service personnel based at the barracks. The current number on roll is 138. Children sometimes start their time with the school after the early years foundation stage or join part-way through the school year. In addition, many pupils also leave part way through the school year so we have an exciting challenge of ensuring every student who comes through our gates gets the best education!
We were thrilled to receive a majority of 'Good' gradings in our most recent Ofsted inspection, which was in October 2022.
We value and respect the views of the children. The Pupil Leadership Team (PLT) gives the children a voice to express their opinions and make decisions which affect the whole school. For example, choosing books to purchase after our fundraising. Taking care of our children and encouraging them to develop a positive attitude is an essential element of the work we do at Offa’s Mead.
Pupil behaviour is a strength at Lift Offa's Mead. They are advocates for the school and work hard to challenge themselves in the classroom. They are supported through the curriculum, with schemes such as Jigsaw, as the school develops every child holistically, whilst also championing the importance of educational outcomes.
At Lift Offa's Mead we provide a broad and balanced curriculum.
Who is Lift Schools?
Lift Schools is made up of 57 primary, secondary and special schools, educating more than 33,000 pupils across the country. We believe education can transform lives – and we want every child in our schools to achieve their full potential.
Our mission:
We will provide an excellent education to every child, in every classroom, every day.
With excellent leadership and teaching in every school, we will help children go on to lead successful and happy lives.
We will work with others beyond our network to benefit more children and communities.
School location
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