Job Description

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Executive Headteacher

Salary: Leadership scale L35-L39 (Fringe weighting)

Contract: Permanent

Start date: 1 January 2026

We are seeking an executive headteacher to provide strategic leadership across three Olive Academies' sites: OA-Thurrock, OA-North View and OA-Tilbury Dockside*. In addition, the EHT will be responsible for the delivery of commissioned services.

The successful candidate will drive consistency, excellence, and innovation across all provisions, supporting vulnerable pupils and ensuring that outcomes not only meet but exceed trust-wide standards. The EHT will play a vital role in strategic planning, delivering sustained improvements, and building leadership capability. A strong track record of academy improvement and collaborative leadership is essential.

This is an opportunity for a dynamic and experienced leader to take the next step in their career, shaping practice and influence across the trust. Applicants must already hold a substantive head of academy or headteacher position and be ready to lead with vision and insight.

*OA-Tilbury Dockside is a 70-place SEMH Alternative Provision Free School, approved by the Department of Education in 2024, and scheduled for development in 2025/26 on the site behind OA-Thurrock.

How to apply

The job pack, application form and details of how to apply are available at https://oliveacademies.org.uk/vacancies/eht. Completed application forms should be sent to Susie Tyler, Office Manager, OA-Thurrock, E: susie.tyler@oliveacademies.org.uk.

We welcome visits from potential candidates. To arrange a visit, please contact Susie on the email above.

Closing date: Monday 22 September 2025

Interview dates: Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 September 2025

Olive Academies is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and your people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. To this end, both an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and a Barred List check are required for this role. We particularly welcome applicants from under-represented groups.

Information about the School

Based in the heart of Thurrock, our academy specialises in alternative provision and supporting the social and emotional educational needs of young people. Olive AP Academy - Thurrock supports up to 94 pupils for whom traditional teaching methods have not worked. Students, ranging in age from 11 to 16, join us following permanent exclusion from a mainstream school or due to having medical needs that prevent them from attending a mainstream setting. Our academy is a nurturing, inclusive community where students are able to grow and develop. We strive to ensure success for all our learners academically, socially and morally. We build a curriculum around the needs of our students and are proud that our Year 11 students leave with qualifications on par with their mainstream peers and transition into education, training or employment. Having a working beauty salon, kitchen and hospitality area, construction area, science laboratory and fitness suite onsite allows for a hands-on approach to the curriculum and the development of transferable skills for the future. Alongside our ever-growing curriculum, we offer our students additional qualifications in non-traditional subjects such as sailing, climbing, extreme mountain biking, bushcraft and first aid. All students receive therapeutic support and this can range from a set or personalised programme, counselling, speech and language intervention or small group activities around self-worth and wellbeing. We pride ourself on encouraging positive mental health and wellbeing and are pleased to have received a National Wellbeing Award, which acknowledges the support we provide for staff, students and families. Working in alternative provision can be challenging, but joining the Olive family is one of the most rewarding and positive career developments you will make. If you have the experience and enthusiasm to support us on our journey, I would love to hear from you. Thank you for your interest. Collette Hunnisett Executive Headteacher