Principal
| Dyddiad hysbysebu: | 30 Ebrill 2026 |
|---|---|
| Oriau: | Llawn Amser |
| Dyddiad cau: | 13 Mai 2026 |
| Lleoliad: | Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS16 6QB |
| Cwmni: | Teaching Vacancies |
| Math o swydd: | Parhaol |
| Cyfeirnod swydd: | a2d73bb0-7760-4ddc-b6a4-b79390d7dd6f |
Crynodeb
What skills and experience we're looking for
Lighthouse Education Trust is a completely unique Multi Academy Trust focussing on providing high quality, destination led learning for students with a diagnosis of autism.
We are excited to be able to commence the search for the team for our new school, Lighthouse Harrogate, due to open in the academic year 2026/27.
Lighthouse School Harrogate is a completely unique secondary school focussing on providing high quality, destination-led learning for students with a diagnosis of autism. We already operate a very successful school in Cookridge near Leeds since 2012. We are a happy and vibrant community, where young autistic people learn, flourish and thrive. We are planning for an overall cohort of 80 students with an initial intake of 24. Students study KS3, and a range of Level 1/2 and Level 3 qualifications, including BTECs and GCSEs.
We are looking to appoint a Principal for our Harrogate school to drive forward the successful opening and lead a successful team. The ideal candidate will have some level of leadership experience, either as an existing Principal, or a Deputy wanting to take the next step in their career. As a current leader you will combine this with existing SEND knowledge and a strong understanding of complex and diverse needs.
We welcome visits to our Leeds school where we can show you how we have established a successful model and give you the chance to meet staff who demonstrate the passion that ensures that we can make a difference to our students.
Visitors to our recent Open Day for Professionals shared the following feedback:
A pleasure to be invited into a fantastic environment for young people tothrive supported by staff who genuinely care about each student's future.
Calm and inclusive environment, where students were considered, hadsome autonomy and could be themselves
All roles will be Trust appointments and whilst based primarily in Harrogate may be required to work across other schools in the trust which could extend beyond Leeds in the future.
What the school offers its staff
Our roles come with full training, induction and a range of benefits:
Salary paid across 12 equal monthly instalments, and an increase each September (subject to Trustee approval and the finances of the school).
Mental health and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do - our staff say they feel supported by the Senior Leadership Team and our Mental Health First Aider Team.
Access to a range of free health care services including, Employee Assistance Programme offering free counselling (general/menopause), physiotherapy, 24/7 GP service, stress coaching, nurse support services, financial wellbeing coaching, surgical assistance programme, free flu vaccinations, and eye tests for VDU users. See here for more information.
Up to date autism specific training, including person centred approaches, positive behaviour support strategies and understanding communication from our Speech and Language Therapists and our training and Wellbeing Teams.
Continuous Professional Development including access to coaching, mentoring and supervision, as well as e-learning and online training courses.
Many of our staff have grown into roles both within school and externally, including Administrators, Teaching Assistants, Teachers, Wellbeing Tutors, Intervention Support, Behaviour Specialists and Educational Psychologists. Please refer to our staff testimonials on the recruitment section of our website.
We are also committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and do not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply to join us and positively encourage you to choose a career at our inclusive school. You may be eligible for Access to Work interventions in order to assist you to return or remain in the workplace, eligibility information can be found on the government website.
Application process:
Please submit a school application form together with a cover letter of no more than one side of A4 for the attention of Emma Sullivan to Recruitment@Lighthouseschool.co.uk
All enquiries will be handled in the strictest of confidence and you are welcome to call the school and speak to Joanne Colley, HR Director on 0113 457 0605. We can offer tours on the following dates
Wednesday 6th May 9.30 - 10.30am
Friday 8th May 2.00 - 3.30pm
Please email Recruitment@Lighthouseschool.co.uk to arrange.
Closing date: Wednesday 13th May 2026 at 9.00am
First round interviews will be held on Tuesday 19th May and second round on Friday 22nd May.
Commitment to safeguarding
Lighthouse School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its students and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS certificate is required for successful applicants, and all newly appointed staff who have lived or travelled overseas for 12 months or more in the past 10 years will be required to undertake an overseas check as part of our pre-employment checks. Information can be found on the government website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants/guidance-on-the-application-process-for-criminal-records-checks-overseas
Lighthouse Education Trust is a completely unique Multi Academy Trust focussing on providing high quality, destination led learning for students with a diagnosis of autism.
We are excited to be able to commence the search for the team for our new school, Lighthouse Harrogate, due to open in the academic year 2026/27.
Lighthouse School Harrogate is a completely unique secondary school focussing on providing high quality, destination-led learning for students with a diagnosis of autism. We already operate a very successful school in Cookridge near Leeds since 2012. We are a happy and vibrant community, where young autistic people learn, flourish and thrive. We are planning for an overall cohort of 80 students with an initial intake of 24. Students study KS3, and a range of Level 1/2 and Level 3 qualifications, including BTECs and GCSEs.
We are looking to appoint a Principal for our Harrogate school to drive forward the successful opening and lead a successful team. The ideal candidate will have some level of leadership experience, either as an existing Principal, or a Deputy wanting to take the next step in their career. As a current leader you will combine this with existing SEND knowledge and a strong understanding of complex and diverse needs.
We welcome visits to our Leeds school where we can show you how we have established a successful model and give you the chance to meet staff who demonstrate the passion that ensures that we can make a difference to our students.
Visitors to our recent Open Day for Professionals shared the following feedback:
A pleasure to be invited into a fantastic environment for young people tothrive supported by staff who genuinely care about each student's future.
Calm and inclusive environment, where students were considered, hadsome autonomy and could be themselves
All roles will be Trust appointments and whilst based primarily in Harrogate may be required to work across other schools in the trust which could extend beyond Leeds in the future.
What the school offers its staff
Our roles come with full training, induction and a range of benefits:
Salary paid across 12 equal monthly instalments, and an increase each September (subject to Trustee approval and the finances of the school).
Mental health and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do - our staff say they feel supported by the Senior Leadership Team and our Mental Health First Aider Team.
Access to a range of free health care services including, Employee Assistance Programme offering free counselling (general/menopause), physiotherapy, 24/7 GP service, stress coaching, nurse support services, financial wellbeing coaching, surgical assistance programme, free flu vaccinations, and eye tests for VDU users. See here for more information.
Up to date autism specific training, including person centred approaches, positive behaviour support strategies and understanding communication from our Speech and Language Therapists and our training and Wellbeing Teams.
Continuous Professional Development including access to coaching, mentoring and supervision, as well as e-learning and online training courses.
Many of our staff have grown into roles both within school and externally, including Administrators, Teaching Assistants, Teachers, Wellbeing Tutors, Intervention Support, Behaviour Specialists and Educational Psychologists. Please refer to our staff testimonials on the recruitment section of our website.
We are also committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and do not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply to join us and positively encourage you to choose a career at our inclusive school. You may be eligible for Access to Work interventions in order to assist you to return or remain in the workplace, eligibility information can be found on the government website.
Application process:
Please submit a school application form together with a cover letter of no more than one side of A4 for the attention of Emma Sullivan to Recruitment@Lighthouseschool.co.uk
All enquiries will be handled in the strictest of confidence and you are welcome to call the school and speak to Joanne Colley, HR Director on 0113 457 0605. We can offer tours on the following dates
Wednesday 6th May 9.30 - 10.30am
Friday 8th May 2.00 - 3.30pm
Please email Recruitment@Lighthouseschool.co.uk to arrange.
Closing date: Wednesday 13th May 2026 at 9.00am
First round interviews will be held on Tuesday 19th May and second round on Friday 22nd May.
Commitment to safeguarding
Lighthouse School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its students and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS certificate is required for successful applicants, and all newly appointed staff who have lived or travelled overseas for 12 months or more in the past 10 years will be required to undertake an overseas check as part of our pre-employment checks. Information can be found on the government website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants/guidance-on-the-application-process-for-criminal-records-checks-overseas