Head of School

Ark; St Leonards; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Network-wide influence

Executive Principal support

Bespoke leadership development

Leadership training access

Competitive remuneration

Job summary

Ark Little Ridge Primary Academy in St Leonards-on-Sea is seeking an ambitious Head of School to build on its strong foundation and secure outstanding outcomes for the local children.

The incoming Head will join a high-achieving school praised in its latest Ofsted and will benefit from a collaborative leadership structure, the support of an Executive Principal, and extensive Ark network collaboration. The start date is January, with flexibility for the right candidate.

Job description

Ark Little Ridge Primary Academy is a popular and oversubscribed two-form entry primary school securing excellent outcomes for the local children in St Leonards-on-Sea. Ahead of the upcoming retirement of our current Principal, we are looking for an ambitious Head of School to build on the school’s strong foundation, in partnership with the Executive Principal, Natalie Rankin.

The incoming Head of School will join a high-achieving primary school praised in its most recent Ofsted (October 2023); but with more work still to do. We welcome applications from skilled and ambitious school leaders with a clear understanding of what it takes to sustain excellence and the determination to drive the school’s next phase of development. The successful candidate will benefit from a collaborative leadership structure and the support of a highly experienced Executive Principal with a strong track record of developing exceptional leaders. The Executive Principal's level of involvement will be tailored to the experience and development needs of the appointed candidate. We are seeking a leader with ambition, humility and a commitment to continual improvement.

This is an exciting opportunity for a talented school leader to lead a successful school with strong outcomes. Whether you are an experienced Headteacher looking for a collaborative leadership environment and the opportunity to influence outcomes across a network, or a school leader seeking your first headship, you will benefit from the support of the wider Ark network and the strong community of fellow Ark Heads. The new Head of School will ideally join Ark Little Ridge in January, although start dates can be negotiated for the right candidate.

We warmly welcome and encourage confidential conversations about the role and visits to our school for interested candidates. If you would like to find out more about this opportunity, please contact our Senior Recruitment Advisor, Shevonnae Sokoya, on [e-mail].

• Influence across network-wide issues through our principal meetings and regional collaboration
• Guidance from a supportive Executive Principal
• On-hand expertise from our dedicated network education and operations teams who are ready to support you and your school
• Bespoke teacher development programmes supported by the Great Teacher Rubric
• Excellent career development opportunities across both the region and wider Ark network
• Access to excellent senior leadership training
• Highly competitive remuneration.

About Us

We are a two-form entry school, with 60 pupils in each year group, ranging from reception through to year 6. Our staff make a tremendous effort to get to know each pupil and provide them with the very best care. We are dedicated to providing children with the best possible education and we strive to be the best that we can be at all times.

The vision for our pupils is clear: Our children will be secure in the knowledge of who they are and where they come from, and confident in looking to where they will go next. To achieve their ambitious goals, our pupils and staff work hard and have high aspirations. We ensure all children have access to a broad balanced and purposeful curriculum, as well as providing excellent enrichment opportunities.

Ark Little Ridge Primary Academy is part of the Ark network, one of the country’s most successful multi-academy trusts. The newly appointed Head of School will have the support of a dedicated Executive Principal and have access to exceptional coaching and training opportunities, as well as the opportunity to collaborate with principal colleagues across Hastings and our wider network.

Diversity and inclusion:

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.

Safeguarding statement:

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link.

Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response.