Principal - The Sutton Academy

The Sutton Academy, St Helens, Merseyside, WA9 5AU

21 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  September 2026 / January 2027 (subject to candidate notice periods)

• Closing date

  7 May 2026 at 1pm

• Date listed

  16 April 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £110,892.00 - £128,447.00 Annually (FTE) STPCD Leadership Scale L32 – L38 (£110,892 - £128,447)

Principal - The Sutton Academy job summary

The Challenge Academy Trust is seeking an exceptional and visionary Principal to lead The Sutton Academy, a thriving and well-established 11-18 academy located in St Helens, into its next exciting chapter. This is a unique opportunity for an inspirational leader, with proven senior management experience, to drive excellence and innovation.

As Principal, you will be the leading professional at the academy, accountable to the Local Governing Challenge Board (LGCB) and the Trust Board. You will:

• Provide inspirational, strategic, and operational leadership to ensure continued school improvement and academic excellence.
• Foster a culture of high expectations, equity, and aspiration for all.
• Work collaboratively with TCAT and other stakeholders to maximise opportunities for students and staff alike.
• Champion staff development, wellbeing, and innovation in teaching and learning.
• Ensure an inclusive, safe, and nurturing environment where all students can thrive.

You will have:

• A proven track record of successful senior leadership in a secondary setting.
• The drive, resilience, and integrity to lead with conviction and compassion.
• A clear commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, and promoting high standards.
• The ability to unite and inspire staff, students, parents, and the wider community.
• A deep understanding of educational improvement, curriculum development, and effective school systems.

We are resolute in our belief that schools make a difference. Lives and the communities that they serve are transformed by them. Every child deserves the right to a world class education, and it is our core purpose to raise aspirations and improve outcomes for all.

The academy ethos is built around the highest expectations of all, and we see it as our duty to ensure that students have the best life chances possible, leaving the academy well prepared to take their place in the world as confident and responsible adults.

This is a unique opportunity for an inspirational leader to shape the future of a school with a strong foundation and a bold vision.

You can learn more about The Sutton Academy and The Challenge Academy Trust via the links below:

The Sutton Academy

Our Prospectus - The Sutton Academy

The Challenge Academy Trust - TCAT Warrington

To arrange an informal discussion about the role, please contact Andrew Moorcroft, TCAT CEO, via email: a.moorcroft@tcat.uk.com or Victoria Briggs, TCAT Director of Education, via email: v.briggs@tcat.uk.com

Tours of the school can be arranged on request by contacting Victoria Briggs, TCAT Director of Education, via email: v.briggs@tcat.uk.com

The closing date for applications is noon on Thursday 07 May 2026

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an assessment centre, to be held at the academy on Wednesday 20 May 2026

Following the assessment centre, candidates will be reviewed with successful candidate being invited to a formal panel interview on Thursday 21 May 2026

Terms and Benefits

• Salary: Leadership Scale L32 - L38 (£110,892 - £128,447)
• Eligible for membership of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
• Occupational Sick Pay Scheme (entitlements based on service).
• Access to TCAT+, our Reward and Wellbeing platform, including access to retailer discounts and benefits, car lease scheme, discounted healthcare cash plan, cycle to work scheme, Employee Assistance Programme and other online resources to support physical, emotional, professional, financial and social wellbeing.
• Access to a comprehensive CPD framework through ‘Education Connect’, our professional development arm, and online resources from the National College’.
• An environment where employee health and wellbeing are actively supported and promoted.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

This post is subject to satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. The Sutton Academy is committed to equal opportunities. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people; we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

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.

About The Sutton Academy

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 1451 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: The Sutton Academy website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/the-sutton-academy

The Sutton Academy opened in September 2010 and is on a successful improvement journey having recently received an excellent ‘good’ judgement, the first in its history, and securing its best ever results in 2022.

We have a clear vision at the academy for students to achieve in all areas of academy life whilst nurturing their talents and passions. The academy ethos is built around the highest expectations of all and we see it as our duty to ensure that students have the best life chances possible; leaving the academy well prepared to take their place in the world. We strive for the best possible levels of achievement for all our students and are committed to providing the highest standards of teaching and learning. In return we have very clear expectations of student behaviour and commitment to learning.

Our students benefit from a modern learning environment with outstanding facilities. This helps to create a vibrant and positive learning community which is friendly, caring and purposeful.

We are aspirational for our students and see it as our duty to ensure they leave the academy as confident and responsible adults who are empowered to make real choices in their lives.

School location

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