Vice Principal

HARRIS FEDERATION; Grays; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Grays is seeking a Vice Principal. This role focuses on overseeing strategic management of data and driving educational excellence. Candidates should have a QTS, significant leadership experience, and a proven record of raising student achievement. The position offers a supportive environment dedicated to professional growth and work-life balance.

Benefits

Performance and Loyalty Bonus

Teachers Pension Scheme

Wellbeing Cash Plan

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years' experience at senior leadership level, preferably as Deputy/Vice Principal.
• Experience of delivering high-quality INSET to teaching staff.
• Proven success in raising achievement across key stages.

Responsibilities

• Overseeing strategic management of data and assessment.
• Leading on teaching, learning, and assessment across the academy.
• Ensuring effective behavior and inclusion for all students.

Skills

Leadership experience

Teaching skills

Data management

Behavior and inclusion

ICT skills

Education

QTS and a good undergraduate degree

Job description

WORKING WITH US

A School That Inspires Excellence

We are an 11-18 academy with a thriving Sixth Form, set in a modern, welcoming building designed to ignite curiosity and ambition. In February 2024, Ofsted rated us ‘Outstanding’ in every category, stating:

“Pupils benefit hugely from attending this remarkable school. Staff and leaders’ sky-high expectations are immediately evident in pupils’ scholarly demeanour. The school and trust have created a centre of true excellence. Pupils experience an extraordinary education at Harris Academy Ockendon.”

But what truly defines us is our culture. We help our students and staff dream bigger than they ever thought possible and support them in turning those dreams into reality. At HAOC, three values shape everything we do: Work Hard. Be Kind. Take Responsibility.

These are not just words; they are the foundation of a school where people feel valued, supported, and inspired to be their best.

A Leadership Team That Believes in You

Our Principal, Ms Jo Rainey, is a leader who believes in transformation. Originally from Belfast, Jo took over at Ockendon in 2018, turning it from one of the lowest-performing schools in the country to one of the very best. With a strong sense of integrity, deep passion for student success, and unwavering commitment to staff and students, Jo has built a school that people want to be part of.

Our Acting Assistant Director, George McMillan, knows that no school is beyond success and no child is beyond achievement. Originally from Glasgow, he has led several schools within the Harris Federation to excellence and Harris Academy Greenwich to world class status twice over, proving that high expectations, great teaching, and an ambitious culture can change lives.

Together at HAOC, Jo and George have created more than just a school, they've built a thriving community where students flourish and staff grow, finding purpose, progression, and fulfilment in their careers. This is a true centre of excellence, where every student is empowered to reach their full potential and every educator is supported to lead, innovate, and inspire.

Why Join Us?

• A high-achieving, inspiring 11-18 academy with a Sixth Form full of ambitious young people.
• A stunning, modern school building that provides an exceptional learning and working environment.
• An unbeatable location, just outside the M25, attracting staff from across Essex and London. Many of our team travel from Kent, Surrey, Southeast, and Central London because they love the school so much!
• A supportive, well-balanced working culture, where your professional growth matters, but so does your well-being.
• The backing of the Harris Federation, one of the most successful school groups in the country, while maintaining a unique and vibrant school identity.

The Harris Federation serves some of the most challenged areas in London and Essex, proving that education can change lives. While we share a collective mission, each Harris school has its own culture, its own identity, and its own way of making a difference.

Perhaps Harris Academy Ockendon is the school you’ve been looking for. If you’re ready to be part of something extraordinary, we’d love to hear from you.

Visits and Pre-Application Meetings

We warmly welcome prospective applicants to arrange a tour of the academy and a pre-application meeting with the Principal. These are available upon request between 22nd September 2025 and 1st October 2025.

To arrange a visit, please contact Julie Leedham, HR Officer, via email at [e-mail] or by calling 01708 851661.

We are looking for a Vice Principal to join us at Harris Academy Ockendon – A School That Transforms Lives!

At Harris Academy Ockendon, we are passionate about three things:

1. Creating a remarkable school for the community we serve – a place where students are inspired, challenged, and supported to grow into well-rounded, ambitious, and successful young people, ready to put a ding in the universe.
2. Your path to professional excellence – we believe in nurturing talent, growing together, and empowering futures. Just as we are dedicated to our students, we are equally committed to ensuring our staff thrive and have the support and opportunities they need to succeed.
3. Work-life balance matters – being an exceptional school should not come at the cost of well-being. HAOC is a life-friendly school where teaching and leading with balance is a priority. At HAOC work fits your life.

“Being great at number 1 and number 2 should not mean we can’t do number 3!”

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

We are happy to negotiate individual responsibilities with you, but these could involve:

• Overseeing the strategic management of data, assessment and target setting (including reporting achievement data to governors and external bodies as required), working with the Principal to set challenging and aspirational whole academy targets.
• Leading on teaching, learning and assessment across the academy, providing the necessary Professional Learning opportunities to ensure the highest of standards are maintained in the classroom and in student outcomes.
• Leading on effective behaviour and inclusion, ensuring that the needs of all students are met within and beyond the classroom.

As a member of the Academy Leadership Group, you will need to meet these general expectations:

• To collaborate to build and realise the shared vision of excellence and high standards
• To play a major role in determining strategy
• To contribute actively towards the formulation and implementation of all academy policies and procedures
• To agree challenging subject targets, and ensure rigorous monitoring, evaluation and review of progress towards these
• To ensure high quality teaching and learning in line managed faculties
• To manage delegated budgets effectively
• To attend academy leadership meetings
• To engage in the process of appointing new staff
• To participate in duties lunch/break/before and after school
• To contribute to assemblies
• To share in the management of student disciplinary incidents
• To actively participate in the monitoring, evaluation and review of teaching and learning in line managed faculties

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• QTS and a good undergraduate degree (or equivalent)
• Minimum of three years' experience at senior leadership level, at least once as a deputy/ Vice Principal
• Experience of delivering high quality INSET to teaching staff
• Proven success in raising achievement as a subject leader across at least two key stages
• Evidence of leading, supporting and managing others, both individuals and teams, ensuring high quality performance
• Successful experience of processes of monitoring, evaluation and review
• Good level of ICT skills and experience of how new technologies can be used to raise achievement
• Recent experience of involvement in innovative curriculum development
• Experience of presenting to a wide audience
• Ideas of how Language, Literacy and Numeracy can be used across the curriculum to raise standards
• Experience of embedding innovative strategies for improving teaching and learning in a whole school situation
• Experience of managing and implementing change successfully at whole school level
• Experience of using coaching as a model for ensuring on going professional development particularly with subject leaders

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

Senior Leader Development

With Harris, you will join a large network of likeminded senior leaders and have opportunities to learn from colleagues who are some of the best senior leaders in the country.Our senior leaders can benefit from tailored professional development programmes via the Harris Institute of Teaching and Leadership which will enable you to develop your pedagogy, leadership skills and drive school improvement.

Supported by experienced mentors, you can access national professionalqualifications and draw on expert knowledge from dedicated subject consultantswho offer invaluable subject and curriculum insight.

Flexible Working

We are committed to fostering a positive and supportive working environment for our staff, recognising that achieving a balance between professional and personal responsibilities is essential. We understand that each individual’s circumstances are unique, which is why we offer flexible working options that can be adapted to meet the needs of both the academy and our employees.

Benefits

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Teachers Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan, Employee Assistance Programme, and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION

Thank you for your interest in this position. If you would like to discuss this opportunity, or to request a visit, please email the academy via the Why work page on harriscareers.

Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. This will be help you when completing your application, and throughout the recruitment process.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may interview and offer to a candidate before the closing date. Please note that we only accept applications submitted before the closing date via our careers website.