Vice Principal

Teaching Vacancies; South Ockendon; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused academy in South Ockendon is seeking a motivated Vice Principal to lead educational strategies and enhance student outcomes. The role demands strong leadership skills and a commitment to excellence, with a focus on fostering a supportive work environment. Applicants should have significant senior leadership experience, a passion for education, and the ability to inspire both staff and students. The academy offers a welcoming environment with outstanding facilities.

Benefits

Performance and Loyalty Bonus

Teachers Pension Scheme

Wellbeing Cash Plan

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years' experience at senior leadership level.
• Experience in delivering high quality INSET to teaching staff.
• Proven success in raising achievement across key stages.

Responsibilities

• Oversee strategic management of data and assessment.
• Lead teaching, learning and assessment across the academy.
• Ensure high quality teaching and learning in managed faculties.

Skills

Leadership

Teaching Excellence

Data Management

Curriculum Development

Coaching

Education

QTS and a good undergraduate degree (or equivalent)

Job description

Overview

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

At Harris Academy Ockendon, we are passionate about three things: creating a remarkable school for the community, your path to professional excellence, and work-life balance. We strive to inspire, challenge, and support students to grow into ambitious and successful young people while ensuring staff thrive with the support and opportunities they need.

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 ongoing professional development particularly with subject leaders

What the school offers its staff

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.
• Culture built on three values: Work Hard. Be Kind. Take Responsibility.
• A Leadership Team that supports growth and collaboration for staff and students.

Why Join Us?

• A high-achieving, inspiring 11-18 academy with a Sixth Form full of ambitious young people.
• A stunning, modern school building and exceptional learning/working environment.
• Unbeatable location just outside the M25, attracting staff from across Essex and London.
• A supportive, well-balanced working culture with focus on wellbeing and professional growth.
• Backed by the Harris Federation with a unique and vibrant school identity.

Senior Leader Development

With Harris, you will join a large network of likeminded senior leaders and access tailored professional development through the Harris Institute of Teaching and Leadership to develop pedagogy, leadership skills, and drive school improvement. You will be supported by experienced mentors and access national professional qualifications, with subject consultants offering curriculum insight.

Benefits

We offer a competitive rewards and benefits package including a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Teachers Pension Scheme, Wellbeing Cash Plan, Employee Assistance Programme, and other benefits. Learn more on our website.

Visits and Pre-Application Meetings

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

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

Further details about the role

We are happy to negotiate individual responsibilities, which could include:

• Overseeing the strategic management of data, assessment and target setting, reporting achievement data to governors and external bodies, and setting aspirational whole academy targets.
• Leading on teaching, learning and assessment across the academy, providing Professional Learning opportunities to ensure high standards in the classroom and student outcomes.
• Leading on effective behaviour and inclusion, ensuring 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:

• Collaborate to build and realise the shared vision of excellence and high standards.
• Play a major role in determining strategy.
• Contribute actively towards the formulation and implementation of academy policies and procedures.
• Agree challenging subject targets and ensure rigorous monitoring, evaluation and review of progress.
• Ensure high quality teaching and learning in line managed faculties.
• Manage delegated budgets effectively.
• Attend academy leadership meetings.
• Engage in the process of appointing new staff.
• Participate in duties during lunch/break/before and after school.
• Contribute to assemblies.
• Share in the management of student disciplinary incidents.
• Actively participate in monitoring, evaluation and review of teaching and learning in line managed faculties.

Commitment to safeguarding

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced DBS check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.