Principal

Job Description

Due to the forthcoming retirement of our well-liked and highly respected Principal, who has consistently placed pupils and families first in his various roles in education, we are seeking an exceptional leader to guide The Eastwood Academy into its next chapter.

The Eastwood Academy is a unique school that blends academic ambition with genuine warmth, nurture, and a strong sense of belonging. As the founding secondary school of Tenacitas Trust, it was judged Outstanding by Ofsted in December 2024 with zero areas for improvement. It remains recognised regionally and nationally for its culture, consistent performance, both inside and outside of the classroom, and the disciplined, ambitious way it operates.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a consistently high-performing, non-selective secondary school with a committed staff team and a strong identity. The role will suit a leader with clarity, calm authority, moral purpose, and the ambition to build on excellence while strengthening a culture rooted increasingly in nurture, care, and inclusion.

We are seeking a principal who believes in high expectations delivered with care, who inspires confidence through integrity and presence, and who understands how to bring out the best in pupils and staff through fairness, clarity, and genuine relational leadership.

If you are driven by culture, values, and the pursuit of excellence, we would be delighted to hear from you.

About The Eastwood Academy

The Eastwood Academy is a disciplined, ambitious, and caring school serving a proud local community. Pupils flourish within a calm and purposeful environment where staff combine high expectations with nurture, belief, and fairness.

The school is known for:

Outstanding outcomes and exceptional pupil progress
A strong, coherent curriculum grounded in evidence
High expectations built on consistency, discipline, and care
A warm culture where every pupil is known, valued, and supported to succeed
A rich enrichment and character education offer
A staff culture built on professionalism, teamwork, and shared pride
Success at Eastwood is built on effort, pride, self-discipline, and the belief that ambition and humility can sit side by side.

About Tenacitas Trust

Tenacitas Trust is a rebirthed, values-led organisation with renewed energy, warmth, and purpose. We are an ambitious trust guided by four core values:

Nurture Potential
Unite Community
Empower Success
Champion Tenacity
We believe excellence grows from disciplined effort and a genuine culture of care. Our Leadership Charter sets clear expectations around service, humility, empathy, integrity, and tenacity.

We look after our people properly. We invest in leadership development, prioritise meaningful wellbeing, and believe strongly that nurture and ambition must coexist.

About the Role

This is a defining leadership role within a maturing, values-led trust.

The next Principal will:

Lead with clarity, care, and calm authority
Uphold high expectations while nurturing relationships built on respect and fairness
Strengthen the school's culture of belonging, care, and collective pride
Demonstrate deep knowledge of curriculum, teaching, assessment, behaviour, and improvement
Sustain the disciplined professionalism that defines the school's identity
Build capacity across teams and develop emerging leaders
Contribute confidently to trust-wide development as Tenacitas continues to grow
Youwill work closely with a strengthened trust leadership team including the CEO, Director of Education, and CFO, and you will benefit from a collaborative network of leaders across the trust.

As the trust expands, there will be opportunities to play a wider leadership role across other Tenacitas schools in areas such as curriculum, quality assurance, or leadership development.

Why Join Tenacitas Trust

A trust culture grounded in nurture, ambition, clarity, and integrity

Genuine investment in leadership growth and professional development

A collaborative, caring, values-led family of schools

A serious, meaningful approach to wellbeing and workload

Opportunities to shape trust-wide work in a growing organisation

An Outstanding school with national recognition for culture and consistency

Person Specification Summary

We are seeking a Principal who:

Leads with authenticity, humility, clarity, and ambition
Balances nurture with high expectations and accountability
Brings strong organisational leadership and calm decision making
Demonstrates deep knowledge of curriculum, teaching, assessment, behaviour, and inclusion
Understands the importance of belonging, dignity, and relational care in a high-performing school
Brings disciplined professionalism and the ability to sustain an Outstanding culture
Builds strong, trusted relationships with pupils, staff, and families
Contributes confidently to wider trust work and leadership development
Above all, the successful candidate will embody the values of Tenacitas Trust and bring the calm, steady, caring leadership needed to unite the school community and ensure every pupil thrives.

How to Apply

Prospective applicants are welcome to arrange an informal tour of the school. A confidential conversation with the Chief Executive Officer can also be arranged on request.

To arrange a visit or initial discussion, please contact:

sharonfreeman@tenacitas.co.uk

Information about the School

Our trust is built on the values of Nurture Potential, Unite Community, Empower Success, and Champion Tenacity. These values guide every decision we make and are at the heart of our partnership with Eastwood. Together, we create an environment where pupils are inspired to thrive, staff are valued and empowered, and families feel a genuine sense of belonging and pride.

The Eastwood Academy has long been a beacon of aspiration and achievement. Its continued success reflects the dedication of its staff, the curiosity and talent of its pupils, and the unwavering support of its wider community. As part of Tenacitas Trust, Eastwood benefits from a strong network of collaboration, shared expertise, and strategic support, all designed to help the school maintain high standards and continually move forward.

We are committed to providing every pupil with the very best experience each day, nurturing not only academic excellence but also confidence, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning. At Tenacitas Trust, we celebrate progress and strive for success with tenacity, and it is this spirit that underpins our partnership with The Eastwood Academy. Tenacitas Trust is committed to promoting equality and diversity in the workplace. Shortlisted candidates will be subject to an online search to help identify information that is publicly available online which the Academy might want to explore with the candidate at interview. Further, we are fully committed to safeguarding and the successful candidate will be expected to undertake the appropriate pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS and Barred List check.