Vice Principal

Harris Garrard Academy, Erith, Kent, DA18 4DW

7 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  September

• Closing date

  12 May 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  5 May 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Deputy headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £82,816-£90,907
• Pay scale: L18-L22 (Outer London)
• Additional allowances:

  Performance and Loyalty Bonus + Pension Scheme (TPS) + Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan + Additional Harris Benefits

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are looking for an outstanding individual to join Harris Garrard Academy as Vice Principal.

The post of Vice Principal is one that mirrors the role of the Principal/Head of Academy, and the academy will support you as you aspire to Principalship.

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• QTS and a good undergraduate degree (or equivalent)
• Minimum of three years' experience at senior leadership level
• Experience of delivering high quality INSET to teaching staff
• Proven success in raising achievement as a subject leader across at least two key stages
• Evidence of leading, supporting and managing others, both individuals and teams, ensuring high quality performance
• Successful experience of processes of monitoring, evaluation and review
• Good level of ICT skills and experience of how new technologies can be used to raise achievement
• Experience of presenting to a wide audience
• Ideas of how Language, Literacy and Numeracy can be used across the curriculum to raise standards
• Experience of embedding innovative strategies for improving teaching and learning in a whole school situation
• Experience of managing and implementing change successfully at whole school level
• Experience of using coaching as a model for ensuring on going professional development particularly with subject leaders

What the school offers its staff

Harris Garrard Academy is a new school with drive and ambition. Located in the wider South Thamesmead area, we cater to a vastly vibrant 3-19 aged student community. Accessible by fantastic rail and bus transport links and very soon to be on the opening leg of the Elizabeth Line, the academy's stunning working environment is within a purpose-built school designed by Norman Foster and nominated for the Stirling Prize for architecture in 2004.

Senior Leader Development

With Harris, you will join a large network of like-minded senior leaders and have opportunities to learn from colleagues who are some of the best senior leaders in the country. Our senior leaders can benefit from tailored professional development programmes via the Harris Institute of Teaching and Leadership which will enable you to develop your pedagogy, leadership skills and drive school improvement.

Supported by experienced mentors, you can access national professional qualifications and draw on expert knowledge from dedicated subject consultants who offer invaluable subject and curriculum insight.

Benefits

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance (usually £2,000 for Inner London and £1,500 for Outer London), a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Teachers Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan, Employee Assistance Programme, and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.

Flexible working opportunities

We are committed to fostering a positive and supportive working environment for our staff, recognising that achieving a balance between professional and personal responsibilities is essential. We understand that each individual's circumstances are unique, which is why we offer flexible working options that can be adapted to meet the needs of both the academy and our employees.

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.

We are happy to negotiate individual responsibilities with you, but these could involve:

• Overseeing the strategic management of data, assessment and target setting (including reporting achievement data to governors and external bodies as required), working with the Principal to set challenging and aspirational whole academy targets.
• Leading on teaching, learning and assessment across the academy, providing the necessary Professional Learning opportunities to ensure the highest of standards are maintained in the classroom and in student outcomes.
• Leading on effective behaviour and inclusion, ensuring that the needs of all students are met within and beyond the classroom.

As a member of the Academy Leadership Group, you will need to meet these general expectations:

• To collaborate to build and realise the shared vision of excellence and high standards
• To play a major role in determining strategy
• To contribute actively towards the formulation and implementation of all academy policies and procedures
• To agree challenging subject targets, and ensure rigorous monitoring, evaluation and review of progress towards these
• To ensure high quality teaching and learning in line managed faculties
• To manage delegated budgets effectively
• To attend academy leadership meetings
• To engage in the process of appointing new staff
• To participate in duties lunch/break/before and after school
• To contribute to assemblies
• To share in the management of student disciplinary incidents
• To actively participate in the monitoring, evaluation and review of teaching and learning in line managed faculties

Commitment to safeguarding

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

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.

Vice Principal (Secondary) (1).pdf - 358 KB (opens in new tab)

About Harris Garrard Academy

• School type: Academies, ages 4 to 18
• Education phase: All through school
• School size: 1538 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 4 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Harris Garrard Academy website
• Email address: careers@harrisfederation.org.uk
• Phone number: 0208 320 4800
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/harris-garrard-academy

Harris Garrard Academy is an all-through 3–18 academy with approximately 1350 pupils on roll and joined the Harris Federation as a sponsored academy in September 2017. The academy is based in Thamesmead in a purpose built building. We are now on a journey towards “Outstanding”, led by highly experienced executive principals with proven track records of school transformation. Our vision is clear: nothing is impossible and everything is possible, irrespective of personal characteristics or background. Every problem has a solution. We believe we are more robust, resilient and determined as a team than as a group of individuals. We support, challenge and hold each other to account at all levels within the academy to ensure that our students achieve their potential, are motivated, engaged and fully prepared for life beyond our academy.

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