Principal

Shorefields; Hockley; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation package

Induction programme

Executive coaching

Sabattical after five years

Job summary

Lift Plumberow, part of Lift Schools, seeks an inspiring Principal to lead a three-form-entry primary school and drive continued improvement. You will set a long-term vision, raise standards, and ensure high-quality teaching across the school with a focus on pupil outcomes.

A strong leadership track record and ability to empower staff are essential. You will lead strategic direction, manage day-to-day operations, and collaborate with the network to raise attainment while engaging families and

Qualifications

• Proven senior leadership experience with measurable impact on pupil outcomes.
• Strong understanding of curriculum, teaching and learning with ability to translate into classroom practice.
• Ability to evaluate school performance, set priorities and plan improvements over time.
• Ability to build and sustain a positive school culture and relationships with families.

Responsibilities

• Set a clear and ambitious vision for sustained school improvement.
• Drive excellence in teaching and learning to raise attainment at high standards.
• Develop a shared understanding of exceptional practice across classrooms.
• Lead evidence-informed approaches to school improvement and prioritise changes.
• Inspire and develop a stable, high-performing staff team and positive culture.
• Strengthen relationships with pupils, families and the wider community.
• Collaborate with Lift leaders to share expertise and improve across the network.

Skills

Senior leadership

Raising standards

Curriculum leadership

Staff development

Community engagement

Job description

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

Application Close: 23/11/2026 Midnight Date of Interviews: Monday 30 November 2026 and Wednesday 2 December 2

Build on strong foundations. Raise aspirations. Lead the pursuit of excellence.

We are looking for an inspiring and ambitious Principal to lead Lift Plumberow, a thriving, three-form-entry primary school at the heart of its local community.

With a strong school culture, excellent learning environment, established staff team and rich enrichment offer, Plumberow has much to be proud of. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced leader who can build on these strengths, raise standards further and ensure every child benefits from an exceptional education.

About the role
As Principal, you will build on Plumberow's strong foundations while bringing the vision, expertise and determination to take teaching, learning and pupil outcomes to the next level.

You will:

• Set a clear and ambitious vision for sustained school improvement, building on the school's established culture and strengths.
• Drive excellence in teaching and learning, with a particular focus on raising attainment at the higher standards.
• Develop a shared understanding of what exceptional practice looks like in every classroom.
• Lead a thoughtful, evidence-informed approach to school improvement, prioritising the right changes at the right time.
• Inspire and develop a stable, committed staff team, maintaining high expectations and a positive, collaborative culture.
• Be a visible and trusted leader who strengthens relationships with pupils, families and the wider community.
• Work collaboratively with other Lift leaders, sharing expertise and contributing to improvement across our wider network.

You will lead the strategic direction and day-to-day management of the school, ensuring that its strong foundations translate into consistently excellent experiences and outcomes for every child.

About you
We are looking for an accomplished school leader who combines a strong track record of raising standards with the ability to inspire others and lead sustainable improvement.

You will:

• Have successful senior leadership experience and demonstrable impact on improving pupil outcomes, particularly at the higher standards.
• Have a deep understanding of excellent curriculum, teaching and learning, and the ability to translate this into consistently strong classroom practice.
• Know how to evaluate school performance, identify priorities and plan improvement effectively over time.
• Understand the importance of school culture and how to build on what is already working well.
• Bring high expectations, sound judgement and the ability to balance ambition with thoughtful, sustainable change.
• Develop and empower colleagues, building trust, accountability and a shared commitment to excellence.
• Value strong relationships with families and the wider community.

Above all, you will be a leader who recognises the strengths of an established school while having the ambition, expertise and determination to make it even better.

About Lift Plumberow
Lift Plumberow is a welcoming, well-established primary school for children aged 4-11, with approximately 640 pupils across three forms of entry. Firmly embedded in its local community, the school enjoys strong relationships with families, local businesses and neighbouring Lift Greensward, where many pupils continue their education. With a positive learning culture, strong behaviour, a well-maintained environment and a stable, committed staff team, Plumberow provides an excellent foundation for children to learn and thrive.

Beyond the classroom, pupils benefit from outdoor learning, more than 20 extracurricular clubs and a newly introduced life skills curriculum, developing confidence, independence and practical skills for the future. With so much already in place, this is an exciting opportunity for a Principal to build on the school's strengths, further enhance teaching and learning, and inspire even more pupils to achieve the highest standards.

About Lift Schools

Lift Schools is made up of 62 primary, secondary and special schools, educating more than 35,000 pupils across the country. We believe education can transform lives - and we want every child in our schools to achieve their full potential.

How we'll support you
At Lift Schools, we believe talent drives performance. You'll benefit from:

• An individual development account of up to £100,000 over five years.
• Experiential learning opportunities, including study tours.
• Unlimited one-to-one executive coaching.
• A year-long induction programme.
• The option of a professional sabbatical after five years.
• A relocation package if moving for the role.

If you're an experienced senior leader or existing Principal who understands what it takes to move a good school towards exceptional practice, we'd love to hear from you.

Interview dates: Monday 30 November 2026 and Wednesday 2 December 2026

Start date: January or April 2027

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response. All candidates are advised to refer to the job description and person specification before making an application.

Lift Schools are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our people and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair and consistent recruitment process which is in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.

Lift Schools embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and there is a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Information about the School

At Lift Plumberow we aim to give every child the very best start possible to their education through vibrant and engaging teaching, enabling the children to become active learners and by using an exciting, broad and balanced curriculum.

We are a large three form entry school, with an average of 650 pupils on roll, sat in the heart of the Hockley community. Our school community offers learning from Reception to Year 6. The Early Years are crucial to a child's development and our Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 enable the children to get their school careers off to a flying start.

Throughout the school we want our children to enjoy a wide range of experiences which bring the curriculum to life and make learning fun. All of our staff work hard to ensure the best possible quality of education for the children in every year group. The school is well-known for its sporting achievements and we can proudly offer the provision for swimming lessons built into our curriculum.

Our results have been historically strong and above national averages, something we are very proud to celebrate! The behaviour and attitudes towards learning is extremely positive and this enhances the outcomes for the children. Our website aims to give you a taster of what Lift Plumberow is all about, along with a range of useful information.

At the forefront, along with providing opportunities for the children to excel, we aspire to establish and build positive relationships with parent/carers and all other members of the community.

We hope that you find the website useful. Please do not hesitate to contact the school if you require further information.

Mr. T Bottrill - Executive PrincipalMiss. N Newman - Head of School

Who is Lift Schools?

Lift Schools is made up of 62 primary, secondary and special schools, educating more than 33,000 pupils across the country. We believe education can transform lives – and we want every child in our schools to achieve their full potential.

Our mission:

• We will provide an excellent education to every child, in every classroom, every day.
• With excellent leadership and teaching in every school, we will help children go on to lead successful and happy lives.
• We will work with others beyond our network to benefit more children and communities.

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.

Laurence Johnson
Hamilton Gardens, Hockley
Essex, SS5 5BX Telephone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]