Vice Principal - Curriculum & Teaching

Longsands Academy, St Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19 1LQ

15 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  January 2027

• Closing date

  9 October 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  11 September 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Deputy headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £87,254.00 - £96,231.00 Annually (Actual) LS20-24

Vice Principal - Curriculum & Teaching job summary

Longsands Academy

Salary: LS20-24 (£84,303 - £92,967)
Contract: Full Time, Permanent
Start Date: January 2027
Closing Date: 9 October 2026

About Longsands Academy

Longsands Academy is a highly ambitious and successful secondary academy serving the St Neots community. Guided by our values of Scholarship, Tenacity, Curiosity, Respect and Responsibility, we are committed to providing an exceptional education that transforms life chances and opens doors to future success. As part of Astrea Academy Trust, we deliver a knowledge-rich curriculum, maintain the highest expectations of scholarship and behaviour, and invest significantly in the development of our staff. Our culture is one of collaboration, ambition and continuous improvement, where talented professionals are supported to flourish and make a lasting difference to the lives of young people.

The Role

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join Longsands Academy as Vice Principal for Curriculum & Teaching. As a key member of the senior leadership team, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the academy's educational vision, ensuring every scholar benefits from an ambitious curriculum and consistently excellent teaching.

We are looking for an exceptional leader who can combine strategic thinking with outstanding classroom expertise. You will lead school-wide improvements in curriculum design, teaching, learning and assessment, while developing colleagues through coaching, mentoring and professional development. Your leadership will ensure that high-quality teaching remains at the heart of everything we do and that every scholar is empowered to achieve their full potential.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for curriculum, teaching, learning and assessment across the academy.
• Lead the development and implementation of an ambitious, knowledge-rich curriculum.
• Drive improvements in teaching quality through coaching, mentoring and professional development.
• Monitor and evaluate the quality of education, ensuring consistently high standards across all departments.
• Use assessment and performance data to inform improvement planning and raise scholar achievement.
• Lead and support curriculum and subject leaders to secure excellence in their areas.
• Contribute to whole-school improvement planning and the strategic direction of the academy.
• Promote a culture of high expectations, scholarship and continuous improvement for staff and scholars alike.

What We're Looking For

• An outstanding classroom practitioner with a proven track record of securing excellent outcomes for scholars.
• Successful experience in senior or substantial middle leadership.
• Experience of leading curriculum, teaching and learning, or school improvement initiatives with demonstrable impact.
• A strong record of coaching and developing teachers and leaders to improve practice.
• Expertise in curriculum design, assessment and quality assurance.
• Experience of using data effectively to drive improvement and close achievement gaps.
• The ability to inspire, influence and motivate colleagues at all levels.
• A leader who shares our ambition, values and commitment to delivering an exceptional education for every scholar.

Commitment to Safeguarding and EDI:

Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to satisfactory background checks, including references and an enhanced DBS check. We value diversity and welcome applications from underrepresented groups. As a Disability Confident employer, we provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to ensure all candidates can fully demonstrate their abilities.

In line with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 and the statutory Code of Practice, the Trust requires all public-facing post holders to demonstrate fluent English. Within a school setting, this applies to all roles that involve direct or indirect interaction with pupils, parents, or members of the public.

Flexible Interview Dates:

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, so don't miss out on this exciting opportunity. Please note that interview dates are flexible, and the academy reserves the right to interview shortlisted candidates during the application window.

Ready to Make a Difference?

This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on the future of Longsands Academy. We are seeking a leader with the expertise, vision and determination to drive improvement, develop colleagues and secure the highest standards of teaching and learning in every classroom, ensuring every scholar achieves more than they ever thought possible. If you think this could be you, apply today!

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

Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and we expect all staff 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 Longsands Academy

• Organisation type: Academy, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary school
• Size: 1412 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Longsands Academy website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/longsands-academy

Longsands Academy, part of Astrea Academy Trust, is a successful, fully-inclusive secondary school at the heart of its community. We pride ourselves on providing an engaging and supportive environment in which our students feel empowered to reach and embrace their full potential with confidence. Our staff are committed to nurturing the abilities of every child with a curriculum which promotes academic excellence and is delivered by subject specialists. The opportunities we provide allow all students to showcase their talents, whether through the traditional school day or as a result of the wealth of extra-curricular activities on offer. Furthermore, in order to develop the important qualities of independent learning and resilience, our students are encouraged to take responsibility for their learning both in and out of lessons. We are extremely proud of the achievements of our students that are a result of the high expectations, students’ hard work and commitment and the supportive relationships that exist between staff, students and their parents/carers.

The pursuit of academic excellence is at the heart of the Academy. Through high expectations of behaviour, a commitment to great standards of teaching delivering a knowledge-rich curriculum, and positive working relationships with all members of the academy community, all students, regardless of their background or personal circumstances, are encouraged to achieve their academic aspirations. We believe that schools must teach powerful knowledge that takes students beyond their everyday experiences. We believe in a traditional, subject-based approach to teaching in order to create a scholarly culture that is disciplined and joyful. We want to ensure that we open doors for every students’ future and develop in them a life-long love of learning.

We are committed to developing our staff to be the very best that they can be by striving to ensure that all of our colleagues can access high-quality Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Our CPD programme is both department-based and in collaboration with academies within the Astrea family and external partners. Wide-ranging opportunities for professional development are available for staff at all stages of their career, including ECTs, experienced classroom teachers, middle and senior leaders and support staff.

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