Principal
| Posting date: | 14 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 12 March 2026 |
| Location: | London, Not recorded, W12 7TF |
| Company: | Teaching Vacancies |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 32c3b1b5-d2c6-4720-bc77-e5595e5c66e3 |
Summary
What skills and experience we're looking for
Ark John Keats Academy seeks to appoint a new Principal who will lead the school through the next stage of its journey. The new Principal will lead a genuine all-through school (from reception to 6th Form), and have oversight of the primary phase, led by the Head of Primary. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Headteacher who seeks a new challenge in a large, all-through school with a solid foundation and lots of potential to build on. This is also a great opportunity for proven Deputy Headteacher, with experience of leading in a large school, who is looking to step into their first headship. The appointed Principal will join Ark John Keats this September (2026), or sooner if possible.
The Ark John Keats community is united by a shared vision, and our families and young people support our high expectations. We are ambitious about ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has access to an excellent education that will enable them to lead a life of genuine choice. We are incredibly proud of the outcomes that our students achieve academically, both in terms of their progress and attainment. Our outcomes in all key stages meet and exceed national averages and Pupil Premium students consistently achieve outcomes that exceed national averages for their peers. Ark John Keats is on a strong and exciting trajectory of improvement and we are confident and ambitious for the next few years of its development.
What the school offers its staff
• Influence across network-wide issues through our principal meetings and regional collaboration
• Guidancefrom a supportive Regional Director
• On-handexpertisefrom 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 competitiveremuneration.
Further details about the role
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 Head of Talent, Lexy di Marco, on Alexia.diMarco@arkonline.org
To apply, please submit an application via the Ark recruitment portal by 9am on Thursday 12thMarch. If you have any questions, concerns or time constraints with applying please contact us directly.
School visitsand interviewsare to be arranged as suitable for the candidate.
For more information about the role, the school and Ark, please view the full job pack.
Commitment to safeguarding
Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. In order to meet this responsibility, we follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. All employees must 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.
Ark John Keats Academy seeks to appoint a new Principal who will lead the school through the next stage of its journey. The new Principal will lead a genuine all-through school (from reception to 6th Form), and have oversight of the primary phase, led by the Head of Primary. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Headteacher who seeks a new challenge in a large, all-through school with a solid foundation and lots of potential to build on. This is also a great opportunity for proven Deputy Headteacher, with experience of leading in a large school, who is looking to step into their first headship. The appointed Principal will join Ark John Keats this September (2026), or sooner if possible.
The Ark John Keats community is united by a shared vision, and our families and young people support our high expectations. We are ambitious about ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has access to an excellent education that will enable them to lead a life of genuine choice. We are incredibly proud of the outcomes that our students achieve academically, both in terms of their progress and attainment. Our outcomes in all key stages meet and exceed national averages and Pupil Premium students consistently achieve outcomes that exceed national averages for their peers. Ark John Keats is on a strong and exciting trajectory of improvement and we are confident and ambitious for the next few years of its development.
What the school offers its staff
• Influence across network-wide issues through our principal meetings and regional collaboration
• Guidancefrom a supportive Regional Director
• On-handexpertisefrom 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 competitiveremuneration.
Further details about the role
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 Head of Talent, Lexy di Marco, on Alexia.diMarco@arkonline.org
To apply, please submit an application via the Ark recruitment portal by 9am on Thursday 12thMarch. If you have any questions, concerns or time constraints with applying please contact us directly.
School visitsand interviewsare to be arranged as suitable for the candidate.
For more information about the role, the school and Ark, please view the full job pack.
Commitment to safeguarding
Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. In order to meet this responsibility, we follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. All employees must 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.