Principal
The Hathershaw College, Oldham, Greater Manchester, OL8 3EP37 days remaining to apply
Start date details
1st May 2026 (or earlier by negotiation)
Closing date
16 January 2026 at 11am
Date listed
10 December 2025
Job details
Job role
- Headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £113,646.00 - £131,578.00 Annually (Actual) Spine points L33 - L39
Principal job summary
The Hathershaw College
‘Together We Succeed’
The Principal (spine points L33 - L39, £113,646 - £131,578)
Start Date: 1st May 2026 (or earlier by negotiation)
We are looking to appoint an outstanding leader to lead a committed and hard-working team of staff in our school, supporting our pupils to achieve great outcomes both in the classroom and beyond.
The Hathershaw college, based in Oldham, serves more than 1,000 pupils aged 11-16 years across 5 year groups. The Academy proudly serves a large number of disadvantaged pupils, with approximately 53% of the students in the academic year 25/26 being eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) or Pupil Premium (PP) funding. The student population represents the local community, with significant representation from various ethnic groups including Pakistani, White British and Bangladeshi. The Hathershaw College requires leadership that is dedicated to promoting inclusion and celebrating diversity.
We are a founding member of The Pinnacle Learning Trust, established in September 2017, and a key driver in the Trust’s mission to improve the lives and chances of young people in the local area. We are an Ofsted recognised ‘good’ school, committed to high standards, and celebrating the uniqueness of everyone within our community. Our inclusive environment is built upon our core values, the Three Rs: Responsible, Respectful, and Ready to Learn.
The Hathershaw College is built around providing students with exceptional experiences. The foundation of the Hathershaw Experience is a curriculum that provides results, and they are consistently one of the top performing schools in Oldham. But the Hathershaw experience goes far beyond this.
We are looking to appoint a new Principal from 1st May 2026 (or earlier by negotiation). We are keen to recruit someone who is passionate about providing an excellent and inspiring curriculum, and leading the school from its current position to even greater strengths, working with staff, parents/carers, Governors and the Trust to inspire, support and challenge staff and students to achieve highly and develop as well-rounded and capable individuals. The new Principal will have opportunities to play a strategic role beyond the school as part of the Trust Executive Team, in addition to being supported by colleagues.
Working with the Chief Executive Officer, Governors, Senior Leadership Team and others, the Principal will be expected to lead all aspects of the school, ensuring that The Hathershaw College achieves high standards and seeks continuous improvement in all aspects of its work. We are seeking a leader who is committed to achieving the highest of aspirations and successfully improving life chances for all students.
The Pinnacle Learning Trust was established in September 2017, through the long-standing, strong and effective relationship between The Hathershaw College and Oldham Sixth Form College. The Trust has a strong reputation for the provision of outstanding professional development and benefits from being a key strategic partner and operational lead in our local Teaching School Hub, (East Manchester Teaching School Hub). Our expertise in professional development is invaluable to staff and students in every one of our academies, in addition to supporting improvement beyond the Trust and providing fantastic development opportunities for our staff team. The Trust has since expanded to include all phases of education, fostering considerable mutual benefits and strong links between our academy’s. Our Trust now comprises of Oldham Sixthform College, The Hathershaw College, Werneth Primary School, Broadfield Primary School, and Alexandra Park Junior School.
We are looking for:
Successful senior leadership and proven school improvement experience within a secondary educational setting
An individual with integrity, who inspires and influences others, and has a passionate belief in the value of education
Someone with a clear understanding of the academy’s vision and values in the context of the Pinnacle Learning Trust and the broader local area.
A commitment to supporting and leading developments both at The Hathershaw College and across the Trust
A commitment to collaboration, professional development and working with a wide range of
partners to achieve the best possible outcomes for our students.
The Application Deadline is 16th January 2026 at 12pm
Shortlisting will take place on 19th and 20th January 2026
Interviews will take place on 28th and 29th January 2026
For further information relating to The Hathershaw College and The Pinnacle Learning Trust please visit our websites: https://www.hathershaw.org.uk/ and www.pinnaclelearningtrust.org.uk.
Click 'Apply Now' to make your application.
Further information about the job
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.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About The Hathershaw College
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- 1051 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- The Hathershaw College website
The Hathershaw College is a very successful and oversubscribed 11-16 Academy within the Pinnacle Learning Trust, which consists of ourselves, Oldham Sixth Form College and Werneth Primary School. We are also well located with good public transport links and excellent access to the motorway network.
Ofsted inspected the school in November/December 2021 and we have retained our good status. I would advise you to read the excellent report before applying.
“Pupils behave sensibly around the school and in lessons. They are respectful to other pupils, staff and visitors.”
“Staff value the steps that leaders have taken to ease their workload and support their well-being.”
Source: Ofsted report 2021
School location
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