Head of School in London

Ark Brunel Primary Academy is a school with great potential, and we are now seeking to appoint a Head of School to lead the school through the next phase of development. The Head of School will lead a vibrant one-form entry primary school serving the diverse community in North Kensington, with over 54% of our pupils on free school meals. This is an exciting opportunity for an excellent Vice Principal who is committed to serving in disadvantaged contexts and is looking to step into headship with the support of an experienced and dedicated Executive Principal.

The successful candidate would have the support of the wider Ark network and fellow Ark heads. Equally, this could also be the ideal role for an existing Headteacher who values collaboration and is looking to join a network of schools where they can have wider impact. The appointed Head of School will join Ark Brunel this September.

The Ark Brunel school site enjoys state-of-the-art facilities for our children to enjoy and enhances our ability to bring our rich curriculum to life. We are proud to be a leading inclusive primary in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, and our on-site SEND unit is highly praised. The incoming Head of School will work alongside a parent community who are ambitious and aspirational for their children. They are supportive of our aims and methods to ensure their children reach their highest potential.

We warmly welcome and encourage confidential conversations about the role and visits to our school for suitable candidates. If you are interested in finding out more about this opportunity, please contact our Senior Recruitment Advisor, Shevonnae Sokoya, at Shevonnae.Sokoya@arkonline.org. To apply, please submit an application via the Ark recruitment portal by 9am on Friday 24th April. If you have any questions, concerns or time constraints with applying please contact us directly. For more information about the role, the school and Ark, please view the full job pack.

Benefits:

• Influence across network-wide issues through our principal meetings and regional collaboration
• Guidance from a supportive Executive Principal
• On-hand expertise from our dedicated network education and operations teams who are ready to support you and your school
• Bespoke teacher development programmes supported by the Great Teacher Rubric
• Excellent career development opportunities across both the region and wider Ark network
• Access to excellent senior leadership training
• Highly competitive remuneration

Ark Brunel is an inclusive, one-form entry primary school serving the local community in North Kensington. With over 54% of our children on Pupil Premium, it is imperative that the incoming Head of School is committed to serving a community with a diverse range of needs. Our most recent Ofsted inspection (May 2024) praised our school for its ambitious nature and our commitment to ensuring all pupils achieve their full potential, which is actualised through our broad and rich curriculum.

We are a Rights Respecting School and believe children should know their rights and responsibilities to be well-rounded citizens and leaders of the future. Ark Brunel Primary Academy is part of the Ark network, one of the country’s most successful multi-academy trusts. The newly appointed Head of School will have the support of a dedicated Executive Principal and have access to exceptional coaching and training opportunities, as well as the opportunity to collaborate with principal colleagues across London and our wider network.

Diversity and inclusion: We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective.

Safeguarding statement: Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred.

Please note we will be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage you to submit your application at your earliest convenience.