Salary:
Negotiable
Job type:
Full Time, Permanent
Start date:
September 2025
Apply by:
3 February 2025
Job overview
Beacon Academy Trust is currently seeking to appoint a dynamic and inspirational Principal who is driven by moral purpose and every young person's entitlement to a great education.
Key Purpose
As Principal of The Forest Academy, you will provide professional leadership to ensure success by securing outstanding outcomes and progression for all students. You will lead on continuous improvements in teaching, learning and assessment practice and will be responsible for creating a productive and purposeful learning environment and for the day-to-day management and organisation of the school. You will also secure the commitment of the wider community by developing and maintaining effective networks with local primary schools, other institutions, and employers.
The Forest Academy is an 11-16 school, with a co-located 6th form part of Beal Sixth Form, with a total student population of more than 1,000. This unique set-up allows the ability to operate as an autonomous 11-18 school but with strong collaborative links across Beacon Academy Trust and Beal Sixth Form.
As a Principal working as part of Beacon Academy Trust, you will be part of the Trust Executive and will work in a collaborative way with your colleagues, offering support and bringing your experience and ideas - genuinely working together to improve our schools. As a medium-sized trust, we can work in a progressive, autonomous and agile way to drive continually improving standards. We believe this is a genuinely unique offer in a headship and provides incredible opportunities for your own leadership and development.
The recently launched BMAT CPD hub ensures all BMAT staff receive tailored CPD to enable them to share mastery and develop expertise in their roles. You will receive structured, regular support, coaching, and a wide range of professional development and training to suit your needs.
Key Priorities
* Work with the CEO and Trust Executive, MAT Board, Governors, and staff to define and implement the Academy’s vision and strategic direction.
* Refine and implement the strategic direction for the academy, identifying priorities and targets for ensuring that all pupils achieve high standards and make progress.
* Drive the CALIBRE curriculum through intent, implementation, and impact at whole school, department, and classroom level.
* Drive the student recruitment strategy and ensure that TFA is responsive to the community it serves.
* Champion the vision, ethos, and activities of the Trust and the various provisions within it.
* Hold and articulate clear values and moral purpose, focused on providing a first-class education for students.
* Demand ambitious standards for all students at The Forest Academy and instill a strong sense of accountability in staff.
* Ensure that The Forest Academy’s systems, organisation, and processes are efficient and fit for purpose.
* Drive The Forest Academy’s outward-facing collaboration with other schools and organisations.
Interested candidates are encouraged to visit the school or book an informal discussion with a member of the Trust Executive – please contact
hr@beaconacademytrust.co.uk
What we are looking for:
* You will be an outstanding communicator, with proven strengths in engaging with, inspiring, and motivating the school community and the wider community.
* You will have a genuine interest in the education sector and how it is evolving and changing.
* You will have experience across the full secondary age range.
* You will understand wide-ranging school improvement strategies and have the ability to manage change and motivate staff.
* Above all, you will possess a relentless drive to continually raise standards and secure outstanding teaching for all students at The Forest Academy.
The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and expects all members of staff to share this commitment. Enhanced DBS (with list checks) is required for this post.
Please forward your electronic applications to
recruitment@beaconacademytrust.co.uk
Please note we reserve the right to close or extend this position depending on application numbers, therefore we would urge candidates to submit an application as soon as possible.
About Forest Academy
* Forest Academy
* Harbourer Road, Hainault, Ilford
* Essex
* IG6 3TN
* United Kingdom
The Forest Academy is a medium-sized, community school integral to the Beacon Multi-Academy Trust. We are a good school (Ofsted, 2023), serving a diverse and vibrant community in Hainault.
Values and vision
We are proud of the inclusive nature of TFA, particularly our Additionally Resourced Provision, Beacon Communication School, for students with a range of social communication difficulties including Autism and Asperger’s syndrome.
We have exceptionally high aspirations for all our students, and support them to set goals and think about their futures. Students from TFA and Beal 6th form go on to some of the best universities and apprenticeships, and we consistently secure 100% progression for our students.
Our school has an atmosphere of challenge and purpose. Our students experience a rich, varied curriculum ensuring excellent outcomes and high-quality progression routes.
Ofsted
The Forest Academy has been judged as a good school (January 2023).
“Forest Academy is a welcoming place for pupils of all cultures and faiths… Leaders and governors have high expectations for all pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Pupils feel safe and are happy. Staff have a positive working relationship with pupils, which reflects the school’s culture of respect. Pupils are polite and considerate of others. They learn in an orderly and calm environment.”
View Forest Academy’s latest Ofsted report.
Principal
Mr Will Mackintosh
Find out more about The Forest Academy here:
www.theforestacademy.co.uk
and Beacon Academy Trust here:
www.beaconacademytrust.co.uk
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