Principal

Job Description

Salary: L33-L39, £113,646 - £130,274 (negotiable for an exceptional candidate) plus relocation package

Start date: January 2026 or earlier if possible

We are seeking an exceptional Principal to lead Lift New Rickstones into its next chapter of its success and growth, a leader who can inspire, develop, and deliver excellence for every student, every day.
This role is for a strategic, ambitious school leader with a proven record of improving outcomes and building a culture where staff and pupils thrive. You will work closely with the Regional Education Director and our central team, shaping the future of a high-performing school while contributing to the wider success of our trust.

About Lift New Rickstones
Located in Witham, Essex, New Rickstones School is a vibrant secondary school with a thriving sixth form. We prepare our students for an ever-changing world, giving them the skills, resilience, and ambition to embrace the opportunities ahead.

Our values, Ambition, Character, and Opportunity, underpin everything we do:

• Ambition- the drive to learn, improve, and succeed.
• Character- confidence, resilience, kindness, and integrity.
• Opportunity- experiences that broaden horizons and open new paths.

We are proud to offer:

• An ambitious curriculum from Year 7 to Year 13, tailored to the needs and aspirations of every learner.
• High-quality teaching, supported by exceptional pastoral care.
• A rich extra-curricular offer, including sports, arts, trips and leadership opportunities.
• Strong partnerships with parents, our local community, and further education providers.

Why this role is for you
You are someone who:

• Believes in the potential of every child, regardless of background or starting point.
• Thrives on both the strategic leadership of a school and the daily reality of being a visible, approachable Principal.
• Brings high expectations for achievement alongside a compassionate, inclusive approach.
• Values collaboration and the impact of being part of a strong, forward-thinking trust.

As Principal, you will:

• Lead the strategic direction and day-to-day running of the school.
• Maintain a relentless focus on excellent teaching, learning, and curriculum provision.
• Champion a culture of high expectations and inclusion.
• Build strong relationships with students, staff, parents, and the wider community.
• Contribute to the improvement and innovation of Lift Schools as a whole.

About Lift Schools
We are a diverse, inclusive network of 57 schools united by one mission: to deliver anexcellent education to every child, in every classroom, every day. We believe every child deserves the best, regardless of background or ability, and we need outstanding leaders to make this happen.

How we'll support you
At Lift Schools, we believe talent drives performance. You'll benefit from:

• An individual development account of up to £100,000 over five years
• Experiential learning opportunities, including study tours
• One-to-one unlimited executive coaching
• High-quality, evidence-informed professional development
• A year-long induction programme
• The option of a professional sabbatical after five years
• A relocation package if moving for the role

Who we're looking for

We want leaders who are:

• Self-aware - thriving in high challenge, high support environments.
• Network-minded - committed to improving outcomes across all schools.
• Intellectually curious - eager to use evidence-informed approaches to drive success.

Whether you are an experienced principal or an aspiring head ready for the next step, if you are driven, determined, and committed to creating lasting change, we would love to hear from you.

For an informal, confidential conversation, please contactTanya Bentham at recruitment@liftschools.org.

Closing date: Wednesday 24 September 2025, 5pm

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response. All candidates are advised to refer to the job description and person specification before making an application.Lift Schools are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our people and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair and consistent recruitment process which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.

Lift Schools embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and there is a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Information about the School

Lift New Rickstones, located in Witham, Essex, is a vibrant secondary school with a thriving sixth form. We are proud to be part of Lift Schools, a family of 57 schools united by the mission to provide an excellent education to every child, in every classroom, every day.

At Lift New Rickstones, we prepare students for an ever changing world by equipping them with the skills, resilience, and ambition to embrace future opportunities. We believe that who you become is just as important as what you achieve, and our goal is to ensure every young person is supported, challenged, and inspired to thrive both academically and personally. Our values underpin everything we do:

-Ambition – the drive to learn, improve, and succeed. -Character – confidence, resilience, kindness, and integrity. -Opportunity – experiences that broaden horizons and open new paths.

We offer an ambitious and inclusive curriculum from Year 7 through to Year 13, delivered through high-quality teaching and exceptional pastoral care. Beyond the classroom, our students benefit from a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, including sport, the arts, leadership programmes, and trips that create lasting memories and broaden perspectives.

We are proud of our strong partnerships with parents, the local community, and further education providers, which help us ensure our students leave Lift New Rickstones prepared, confident, and proud of who they are. Everything we do is designed to make sure our students are safe, happy, and ready to succeed in the 21st century.

Who is Lift Schools?

Lift Schools is made up of 57 primary, secondary and special schools, educating more than 33,000 pupils across the country. We believe education can transform lives – and we want every child in our schools to achieve their full potential.

Our mission: -We will provide an excellent education to every child, in every classroom, every day. -With excellent leadership and teaching in every school, we will help children go on to lead successful and happy lives. -We will work with others beyond our network to benefit more children and communities.