Principal

Shorefields; Gosfield; Remote; GBP 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Gosfield School in Essex seeks to appoint the tenth Principal to lead our thriving all-through day school of around 370 pupils aged 2 to 18, as we prepare for our centenary in 2029.

The successful candidate will bring proven senior leadership, exceptional classroom practice, strategic vision from Nursery to Upper Sixth, and the ability to represent the school to current and prospective families while upholding safeguarding and financial governance.

Qualifications

• Seasoned school leader with outstanding classroom practice.
• Inspiring leadership with focus on Teaching and Learning.
• Strategic thinker with a vision for Nursery to Upper Sixth.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Governors and Senior Leadership Team across academic, pastoral, finance, operations and admissions.
• Represent and market the School to current and prospective families.
• Ensure safeguarding and child protection compliance across the school.
• Oversee teaching and learning excellence and financial stewardship.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Staff motivation

Safeguarding knowledge

Financial literacy

Public representation

Education

NPQH or equivalent senior leadership qualification

Job description

Job Ref No. ECC1234-136L Position Type: Principal Pay Range: Competitive salary and benefits package

Position Start Date: 01/09/2027 Contract Type: Full-time Contract Term: Permanent

Application Close: 12/10/2026 Midday Date of Interviews: 5 November 2026 Shortlisting Starts: 12/10/2026

The Governors of Gosfield School are seeking to appoint the School's tenth Principal, following the planned retirement of Mr Rod Jackson after six years in post. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a thriving all-through school into its centenary year.

Gosfield School

Gosfield is a small, independent all-through day school for some 370 pupils aged 2 to 18, set in 110 acres of Essex parkland at Cut Hedge Park. Founded in 1929 on family principles, we remain true to that philosophy today, captured in our School motto: Knowing Every Child, Nurturing Potential.

We admit pupils on the basis of who they can become in the classroom and beyond. Classes are small, and almost all of our Sixth Form leavers go on to their first-choice destination - university, a degree apprenticeship or employment. In September 2026 we welcomed the largest number of new pupils in the School's history, our sixth consecutive year of growth.

As a charitable trust, we have invested significantly in recent years to give our pupils the best possible start in life: a purpose-built Prep School and Nursery at Meadow Court, a Performing Arts Centre, a Forest School Classroom and Ecocentre, a new Gym, and Cricket, Netball and Performing Arts Academies whose members have achieved regional and national recognition.

The Principal is also our chief executive, leading an experienced Senior Leadership Team spanning academic leadership, pastoral care and safeguarding, finance and HR, operations, and admissions and marketing.

About you

You will have:

• Success as an experienced and well-qualified school leader, with a track record as an outstanding classroom practitioner
• The ability to inspire and motivate staff through consultative leadership, with a clear focus on Teaching and Learning
• The ability to think strategically and implement a vision for the whole school, from Nursery to Upper Sixth
• The presence to represent and market the School successfully to current and prospective families
• Strong financial literacy and commercial judgement, appropriate to a chief executive role
• A thorough understanding of safeguarding and child protection

This is an exciting opportunity to appoint an inspiring leader to take us into our 100th year at Cut Hedge Park in 2029.

Closing date: Monday 12 October 2026, 12 noon (UK time).

Longlist interviews will be held on Thursday 5 November, and final interviews on Wednesday 18 November 2026.

Gosfield School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. The appointment is subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check with a barred list check, and to online searches in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. Gosfield School is an equal opportunities employer and a registered charity, number 310871.

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.