Principal
Thistley Hough Academy, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 5JJ16 days remaining to apply
Start date details
Ideally January 2026
Closing date
9 October 2025 at 9am
Date listed
22 September 2025
Job details
Job role
- Headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4
Working pattern
- Full time: Full-Time. Leadership Contract.
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- Leadership
What skills and experience we're looking for
You are a dynamic and compassionate leader with a clear vision for educational excellence. With a strong track record of school improvement, you inspire others through high expectations, strategic thinking, and a deep commitment to inclusive, student-centred education.
As Principal, you will champion our core values of Respect, Resilience, and Responsibility, driving continuous improvement and shaping a culture where every student can thrive and succeed.
Our Ideal candidate will have:
- Substantial experience in school leadership, ideally as a Vice Principal or Deputy Headteacher, with a strong track record of raising educational standards.
- Commitment to your own professional development, holding NPQSL or equivalent.
- A deep understanding of school improvement strategies and the ability to lead through periods of change.
- Proven ability to inspire, lead, and motivate staff within a performance management framework, including professional development and managing underperformance.
- A commitment to inclusive education, with the ability to foster a culture of high aspiration and expectation for every student, including those with SEND.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and strong relationships with students, staff, families, and the wider community.
What the school offers its staff
Creative Education Trust is a growing network of 17 schools, educating over 13,500 children and young people across England. Since 2010, we have worked in partnership with communities to deliver an education that inspires ambition, promotes equity, and unlocks opportunity for every learner.
We believe every child has talent, every community has strength, and every school can be a place where excellence thrives. Our curriculum is rich, broad, and inclusive, designed to build knowledge, nurture creativity, and prepare students for the future.
We are united by a shared purpose: to transform lives through education. Our schools are places where students feel safe, supported, and empowered to lead their own lives with confidence. Through collaboration, high expectations, and purposeful leadership, we ensure that success is both expected and achieved - together.
Visit our Trust website to explore how we support our staff and discover more about our mission, values, and opportunities.
Benefits
At Creative Education Trust, we believe that our people are our greatest asset, and we are committed to supporting you both professionally and personally. That is why we havecurateda benefits package designed to empower your growth, enhance your wellbeing, and make life just that little bit easier.
Whether you are looking to boost your career, save on everyday essentials, or invest in your future, there’s something here for everyone:
- TES Develop– Unlock your potential with access to a wide range of professional courses and development opportunities.
- VivUp– Enjoy exclusive discounts, lifestyle savings, and special offers to help your money go further.
- Professional Fees Paid– If you are required to be professionally qualified as part of your role, you will be reimbursed for one professional fee per year, so you can stay focused on what matters.
- Bike2Work Scheme– Save money, stay fit, and reduce your carbon footprint with our cycle-to-work initiative.
- Rental Deposit Loan– Moving home? We’re here to help with a loan to cover your rental deposit.
- Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)is widely regarded as one of the most valuable workplace pensions in the UK.
- TheTeachers Pension Scheme (TPS)is one of the best pension schemes in the UK. If you are a teaching member of staff and qualify for TPS, you are auto-enrolled into the scheme when you start your employment.
Health & Wellbeing
Your wellbeing matters to us, because when you feel supported, you can thrive. At Creative Education Trust, we are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, included, and empowered to bring their whole self to work.
We offer a range of health and wellbeing benefits designed to support your physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing, including:
- Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme– Free, confidential support 24/7 for life’s challenges, big or small.
- Discounted Gym Membership via GymFlex– Stay active and energised with flexible access to gyms nationwide.
- Health Cash Plan– Claim back everyday healthcare costs like dental, optical, and physiotherapy treatments.
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
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Upload additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Thistley Hough Academy
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- 1095 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Thistley Hough Academy website
- Email address
- sarah.catchpole@creativeeducationtrust.org.uk
- Phone number
- 07990037495
Welcome to Thistley Hough Academy – a community school in the heart of Penkhull, Stoke-on-Trent. Our academy prides itself on its warm and welcoming ethos in which every student is valued as an individual. This is an important part of our identity and this ideology will always remain at the heart of our work. As an academy we believe passionately in supporting all students to achieve their absolute best.
Thistley Hough was first opened in 1938 and over the last seven decades scores of local children have been successfully educated at Thistley Hough. We are proud of our history and we remain dedicated to the same vision - to provide the best possible education for local children of all backgrounds, abilities and beliefs. Over 35 languages are spoken at Thistley Hough and we value and respect all faiths and cultures.We believe in celebrating success and we want our students to be recognised for the amazing things that they achieve. I have very high expectations of our academy and I am clear that all students must be aware of exactly what is expected of them.
In order to be an outstanding academy it is my belief that there are several key things that we must ensure are in place every single day:
• Quality teaching, academic support and enrichment that delivers excellent results and engages students
• The highest expectations of behaviour, uniform and student conduct in order to create a calm and productive working environment
• Outstanding and fully inclusive pastoral care and academic guidance
• Provision tailored to the personal needs of all students as individuals so that they may all achieve personal excellence.
You can be assured that we are relentlessly focused on achieving these goals. We believe passionately in working closely with our community in order to ensure that every one of our students is cherished and nurtured. We want to work in partnership with all stakeholders to ensure success for our current students whilst continuing to strive for an outstanding school of the future.
Arranging a visit to Thistley Hough Academy
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email sarah.catchpole@creativeeducationtrust.org.uk.
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