Assistant Principal: Student Experience

Long Road Sixth Form College; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Long Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge is seeking an outstanding Assistant Principal to join the Senior Leadership Team. You will provide strategic leadership for the wider student experience, with a focus on safeguarding, wellbeing and student support.

You will shape strategy, develop people and help the college deliver an exceptional experience for every student, within a culture of high achievement and inclusion. The role offers significant professional impact and scope.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in strategic leadership within education.
• Experience developing and supporting staff across multiple teams.
• Strong focus on safeguarding and student wellbeing in a high-achieving environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the wider student experience.
• Oversee safeguarding, wellbeing and student support across college.
• Lead and develop senior teams to shape curriculum and pastoral provision.
• Drive culture of inclusion, high standards and student success.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Staff development

Safeguarding

Community engagement

Education

Experience in senior leadership in education

Job description

Assistant Principal

This is a rare opportunity to take on a significant leadership role in a friendly, successful and ambitious sixth form college, and to make a real difference to the experience and success of every student.

Long Road Sixth Form College is a thriving, inclusive 16-19 academy in Cambridge, with around 2,800 students. Situated on a spacious, green 23-acre campus next to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, we offer a broad and ambitious curriculum, including A levels, Applied Level 3 and Level 2 Diplomas, GCSEs and Level 4 programmes.

At Long Road, we are committed to helping every student achieve their full potential. We combine academic ambition with a strong focus on personal development, independence and wellbeing, supporting our students to become confident, resilient and socially responsible young adults, ready for university, further study, apprenticeships or the world of work.

We are seeking an outstanding, creative and committed leader to join our senior leadership team as Assistant Principal. Reporting directly to the Principal, you will provide strategic leadership for the wider student experience, with particular responsibility for ensuring that safeguarding, wellbeing and student support are at the heart of everything we do.

This is a particularly important role within the College. The Assistant Principal and the teams they lead have a direct impact on the experience of every Long Road student and make a vital contribution to their achievement, wellbeing and future success. You will have the opportunity to shape strategy, lead talented colleagues and further develop an already strong culture in which students feel safe, supported, challenged and able to thrive.

Students at Long Road benefit from high-quality teaching alongside dedicated pastoral and academic support. Our approachable teaching staff and progress coaches work closely with students through tutorials and individual progress reviews, helping them to develop the confidence, skills and independence they need to succeed.

At our most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2025, Long Road was judged Good or Outstanding in all five categories. The report recognised the College as a welcoming, inclusive and high-achieving environment in which students thrive. Inspectors praised students' exemplary behaviour, respect for one another and mature approach to learning, as well as the expertise and commitment of staff and the quality of teaching.

We welcome applications from talented leaders from a range of educational backgrounds, including schools, sixth form colleges, further education and universities. We value the different perspectives and experience that colleagues from across the education sector can bring. What matters most is that you share our commitment to the Long Road mission and have the vision, energy and determination to help us provide an exceptional experience for every student.

If you are looking for a rewarding and stretching senior leadership role, with genuine scope to influence strategy, develop people and shape the future of a successful and ambitious college, we would be delighted to hear from you.