Principal in Croydon

About Us

Harris Westminster Sixth Form brings together the strengths of the Harris Federation and the academic excellence of Westminster School to create a uniquely aspirational environment for high‑achieving students from diverse and often disadvantaged backgrounds. Our mission is simple yet powerful: to provide exceptional academic opportunity to motivated young people, regardless of their starting point or circumstance. Our community is built on ambition, academic curiosity, and the belief that talent is everywhere. We are proud of the rich diversity of our student body, and we work tirelessly to ensure every young person feels a strong sense of belonging and purpose within our Sixth Form. Students thrive here—not only because of our rigorous academic expectations, but because they are supported by a deeply committed staff team who inspire confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning. Harris Westminster students consistently achieve outstanding outcomes and secure places at some of the most competitive universities in the country. Through high-quality teaching, super‑curricular enrichment, and a culture that celebrates scholarly endeavour, our students routinely exceed expectations and demonstrate remarkable intellectual ambition. Alongside academic excellence, we champion core values that develop the whole person: ambition, perseverance, legacy, kindness and scholarship. These are the principles that shape our community and guide our students as they prepare to become future leaders, thinkers, and changemakers.

Our Location

We are located in the heart of Westminster, surrounded by some of London’s most significant cultural, political, and academic institutions. Our central location gives students and staff unparalleled access to lectures, museums, internships, and partnerships that enrich learning beyond the classroom. Excellent transport links make our Sixth Form easily accessible from across London.

Why work for us?

Working at Harris Westminster means joining a high‑performing, intellectually vibrant community that values scholarship, creativity, and deep subject expertise. Staff benefit from exceptional professional development supported by both the Harris Federation and Westminster Academy, and they enjoy the opportunity to work with highly motivated students who embrace challenge and strive for academic excellence. The culture is built on trust, autonomy, and purposeful work, with a strong emphasis on maintaining staff wellbeing by removing unnecessary tasks and ensuring that energy is focused on what truly matters: teaching, leadership, and supporting students to achieve their potential. Above all, joining Harris Westminster means becoming part of a team united by a clear mission—to change lives through education and to shape the future of an influential and nationally recognised Sixth Form.

Summary

Harris Westminster Sixth Form is seeking an exceptional Principal to lead this nationally recognised academic institution from September 2026 or January 2027. The Sixth Form was created with a clear and ambitious purpose: to bring together academic excellence and social mobility on an unprecedented scale. We are now looking for a leader who shares this ambition and can guide the school into its next chapter of success and innovation. As a selective Sixth Form with a deliberately broad intake, Harris Westminster attracts some of the most motivated and high‑potential students from across London. Many join us as the first in their family to aspire to top universities, and they flourish in an environment that challenges them intellectually while supporting them to excel. Our record of progression to leading universities reflects both the calibre of our students and the expertise, commitment, and passion of our staff. Centrally located in Westminster, our Sixth Form benefits from an environment rich in opportunity. Partnerships, lectures, cultural institutions, and professional networks sit quite literally on our doorstep, enabling staff and students to extend learning far beyond the classroom. This unique context makes Harris Westminster an inspiring place to work, lead, and shape the future of young people with extraordinary potential.

Main Areas of Responsibility

As Principal, you will need to provide the leadership and management necessary to secure high quality teaching and learning to raise standards of achievement. The Principal’s effective leadership will result in an academy where:

• There is a positive ethos that reflects the Academy’s commitment to high achievement, effective teaching and learning, and good relationships.
• Staff, governors and parents have confidence in the leadership and management of the Academy.
• Staff and governors recognise their accountability for their tasks and contribute fully to the development and successful implementation of policies and practices.
• The life of the Academy and the curriculum effectively promote students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and prepare them for adult life.
• Effectiveness is kept under rigorous review, and links with the wider community contribute to students’ attainment and personal development.
• Efficient and effective use is made of staff, accommodation and resources.
• Delegated responsibilities to ensuring that finance and administration are effective, and the carefully costed development plan is focused on improving educational outcomes.

Qualifications & Experience

The successful applicant must have a proven track record of school improvement, and have gained successful previous experience in leading, or as part of, an SLT to transform a school and raise outcomes. We are looking for a strong communicator who can demonstrate strengths in engaging with and inspiring not just staff, but also students and parents of the local community. You will provide the leadership and management necessary to secure high quality teaching and learning to further raise standards of achievement. We are looking for an experienced senior leader who ideally has:

• Qualified Teacher Status, Degree, Further relevant professional studies.
• Relevant Further Degree or NPQH.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of current curriculum developments and how pupils learn.
• Leadership in curriculum development and in monitoring and evaluation strategies.
• Proven track record of raising attainment in an urban, multi-ethnic environment.
• Track record of raising standards in English and Mathematics and good knowledge of raising standards in Literacy and Numeracy.

Rewards & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level. You will be joining a network of likeminded leaders in education and have opportunities to learn from colleagues who are some of the best school leaders in the country. We highly value and encourage all our staff to develop and reach their full potential, and you will have endless opportunities to develop and progress your career with us. Being a leader at Harris, you will be given the autonomy to evolve your academy’s vision, values, performance, and culture, but you will never be alone; everything you do will be wrapped in support and encouragement from the wider Federation. You will also have full access to our rewards package which includes a performance bonus, private medical cover and lots more benefits available via our schemes.

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, 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.

Next Steps

For an informal conversation with the Executive Principal then please contact Hannah Syrad, PA to Executive Principal via email on h.syrad@harriswestminstersixthform.org.uk. Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. You will need this when completing your application. NOTE: you can start a quick apply using a LinkedIn profile or CV to populate the application form. Look for these options at the top of the application page.