Regional Director and Executive Principal

Star Academies, Blackburn, BB1 2HT

22 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  January 2027, subject to the successful candidate's notice period.

• Closing date

  23 October 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  1 October 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Other leadership role
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time: 37 hours per week
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £146,743.00 to £161,567.00 per annum

What skills and experience we're looking for

Who we’re looking for

Star Academies is looking for a highly experienced secondary school leader with the ability and authority to lead improvements in standards across our primary and secondary schools in Greater Manchester and Preston.

You will oversee a portfolio of schools across Greater Manchester and Preston, currently five secondary and two primary schools.

Star is a mixed multi academy trust made up of Muslim, Christian and non-faith schools. The person appointed must be comfortable with and have an understanding of working in faith and non-faith settings.

You will be credible and with a proven background in sustainable school improvement, particularly with secondary schools. You will be able to identify priorities, put in place interventions to secure gains in pupil outcomes, and work with our school Principals to make it happen, and empower them to lead and build capacity.

You will have a track record of successful school leadership with a clear understanding of how to deliver the highest possible standards across schools with differing contexts and improvement journeys. You will also be able to line manage school Principals, holding them to account for standards and outcomes, and where necessary coach and guide them to improve their own practice and that of others.

The position requires an individual who can work both strategically and operationally, consistently modelling best practice in leadership and pedagogy on a daily basis, and does not adopt a ‘one size fits all’ approach.

You will have:

• Credibility as an experienced and successful Principal with a demonstrable track record of success, in a secondary phase setting. Experience in the primary phase is desirable but not essential.
• The ability to lead, manage, develop and inspire school leaders to secure standards and outcomes consistent with the aspiration of top 5% performance nationally.
• The ability to support Principals and school leaders to manage change rapidly and sustainably.
• A proven record in school improvement, school-to-school support strategies, and how to implement them effectively.
• Strong strategic and operational planning skills.
• An understanding of the benefits and dynamics of wider partnerships in localities and regions.
• Full commitment to our mission, vision and values.
• Strong personal skills to flex in different contexts and situations to bring out the best in others.

What the school offers its staff

Star Central, which is based at our head office in Blackburn, Lancashire, provides leadership, strategic direction and support to Star Academies, Star Talent Academy and our schools.

The Star Central team includes experts from a range of professional backgrounds, who work together to provide an outstanding support service to the Star community. We support our schools to provide educational and operational excellence and to cultivate a strong Star community, with the aim of nurturing today’s young people and inspiring tomorrow’s leaders.

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

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

Recruitment_Information_Pack_Star_Regional_Director_and_Executive_Principal_Oct_2026.pdf - 725 KB (opens in new tab)

About Star Academies

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• Website: Star Academies website
• Email address: daniel.burgess@staracademies.org
• Phone number: 03303139800
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/star-academies

Head office location

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