Astrea Academy Trust is looking for an experienced senior leader to become the new Vice Principal of Quality of Education at Longsands Academy in September 2024.

Longsands is brimming with potential. The position provides a genuinely exciting opportunity to be a pivotal member of a senior leadership team, in a school with a legacy of a ‘Requires Improvement’ Ofsted Judgement, in its next phase of school improvement as it moves towards excellence. Strong improvements have already been made since the Ofsted inspection in October 2019.

The position is a great match for someone who shares the Trust’s vision for educational excellence and has the focus to drive improvement at a pace, building on the school’s strong academic foundations. The academy and Trust are committed to a knowledge-rich curriculum and a traditional approach to teaching, behaviour and culture.

There is flexibility on when this post starts,  depending on the successful applicant. Leadership responsibilities will be discussed and agreed upon the appointment of the successful candidate.

We believe that schools must teach powerful knowledge, ’the best that has been thought and said’ and an ‘entitlement curriculum’ for all. We believe in explicit instruction and have been greatly influenced by Lemov’s ‘Teach Like A Champion’, Rosenshine and recent developments in cognitive science. We believe that the creation of a scholarly culture that is warm and strict, disciplined and joyful, where there is ‘purpose not power’, ensuring impeccable behaviour, where teachers can focus on teaching and pupils can focus on learning, underpins everything.

Astrea will support schools and senior leadership teams with the expertise of a Regional Director, as well as a highly effective team of national subject leads and Central Support for Finance, HR, Estates and other functions.

This position is open to both experienced and aspiring Vice Principals and senior leaders with a proven track record of school leadership and improvement. If you are aligned to our mission and values, have a strong track record of improving young people’s education and a drive to do more, we very much look forward to hearing from you.

We would encourage you to arrange a visit to the school and to have a conversation with the Principal, Catherine Cusick. To arrange a telephone or Teams call, please contact principalspa@astrea-longsands.org.

 If you are joining us from another school, academy or trust we recognise your continuous service date with confirmation from your current employer. This can be discussed in more detail at interview.

Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts are subject to satisfactory background checks including references and enhanced DBS checks.