35 days remaining to apply

  • Start date details

    1 September 2026

  • Closing date

    20 April 2026 at 12:59am

  • Date listed

    15 March 2026

Job details

Job role

  • Headteacher

Visa sponsorship

Visas cannot be sponsored

Working pattern

Full time

Contract type

Permanent

Full-time equivalent salary

£98,105.00 - £105,594.00 Annually (Actual) Leadership Points 27 to 30

Principal job summary

Heartwood Learning Trust is looking for a dedicated and values driven Principal to provide strong leadership and management for Vale of York Academy, continuing the work of the current Principal. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to make a difference.

Underpinned by our Trust values Respect, Teamwork and Kindness, we are a collaborative multi-academy Trust with a supportive central team and a great team of Principals.

At Vale of York Academy our ethos is ‘Always giving the best’. Our ambition is that all our learners should experience “Life in all its fullness” and that we provide “a place to thrive”. We believe that our core purpose as an academy is to prepare our students for life after secondary education, by ensuring that they are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to lead successful lives. We want our learners to make a positive contribution to our local community and beyond. Vale of York is a vibrant school, full of opportunity and high expectation for all. At Vale of York each student benefits from a setting where everyone is valued as a unique individual. We work in partnership with Heartwood Learning Trust, which allows us to share and grow expertise, and offer a breath of experience for all our children. We believe in the power of positive relationships and work hard to maintain a culture of kindness and inclusivity.

The job holder will be required to:

  • Be a highly visible presence around the school and model expectations and standards to staff and pupils

  • Secure an excellent quality of education

  • Provide strategic leadership for all aspects of the school

  • Promote, support and develop an inclusive approach to meet the needs of all pupils

  • Ensure that provision responds to the context of the school and the needs of the school community

We are looking for an experienced senior leader with:

  • A positive “can do” attitude and high expectations

  • A desire to make a difference to all pupils and the school community

  • Experience of successful senior leadership in a school

  • The desire to work in strong partnership with other Principals in the Trust to ensure improved outcomes and experiences for all

  • A proven track record of positively impacting disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND

  • The ability to lead, manage and motivate colleagues

In return we can offer:

  • Experienced and supportive Trust leadership with a collaborative approach and an appreciative culture

  • Experienced group of Secondary Principals and leaders who work in a highly supportive way

  • An established, experienced and strong central team that works closely with stakeholders across our schools/academies.

  • A commitment to continuing professional development

  • Structured support to unlock talent

  • Teachers Pension Scheme

  • School Teachers national pay and conditions

  • Access to an Employee Assistance Programme

  • Cycle to Work scheme

If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, we encourage you to have an informal conversation about the role with Helen Winn, Chief Executive Officer. Please email Recruitment@hlt.academy

Interviews will take place on 23rd April 2026

Job Details

Hours of Work: 1 FTE

Position Type: Permanent Post

Line Manager: Chief Executive Officer

Travel Required: Occasional

The salary is dependent on current qualifications and experience, please see the attached job description for more information.

Application Process

Please complete the online application form to apply for this role. All candidates are advised to refer to the job description and person specification before making an application. You should use the information supplied with in the Job Description & Person Specification to make the best of your application by identifying some specific pieces of work you may have undertaken in any of these areas. Your application may be viewed in regard to some or all of the skill specific areas over the course of the selection process. Applications via agencies will not be considered.

Interviews will take place as soon as possible after the closing date.

We are committed to safeguarding and protecting our children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts are subject to a safer recruitment process which includes enhanced criminal records and barring checks, scrutiny of employment history, robust referencing and other vetting checks.

Our safeguarding system is underpinned by a range of policies and procedures which encourage and promote safe working practice across the Trust. On joining you will be required to undergo continuous professional development to maintain safe working practice and to safeguard our children and young people.

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

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 Vale of York Academy

School type
Academy, ages 11 to 16
Education phase
Secondary school
School size
701 pupils enrolled
Age range
11 to 16
Ofsted report
View Ofsted report
School website
Vale of York Academy website
See more jobs
teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/vale-of-york-academy-york

Vale of York is an 11-16 comprehensive school which serves a mixed catchment extending from the City Centre of York to the satellite village of Skelton on the northern edge of the City. The academy is over-subscribed; it has a growing population of more than 600 students who enter the school with attainment at around national averages, but with an increasing number of high attainers and gifted and talented pupils. Our commitment to every child is absolute and we strive to meet the needs of all our pupils whether they are capable of achieving ten Grade 9’s at GCSE or require the support of a full time teaching assistant or individual package of learning in order to reach their full potential. We believe that Vale of York should be the first choice school for every student in our immediate catchment and that we have an important role in transforming the lives of all our young people and their community.

School location

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