Principal

About The Role

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.

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

To apply, please submit an application via the Ark recruitment portal by 9am on Thursday 12th March. If you have any questions, concerns or time constraints with applying please contact us directly.

School visits and interviews are to be arranged as suitable for the candidate.

For more information about the role, the school and Ark, please view the full job pack.

Benefits

• Influence across network-wide issues through our principal meetings and regional collaboration
• Guidance from a supportive Regional Director
• On-hand expertise from 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 competitive remuneration.

About Us
Ark John Keats Academy is an inclusive all-through school, offering children the opportunity to attend from age 4 in reception all the way to age 18 in the sixth form. With over 40% of our students eligible for free school meals, the successful candidate will champion our diverse community and hold high expectations for what high-quality inclusive education should be. They will demonstrate a deep commitment to the local community of Enfield and bring experience of working in similarly disadvantaged contexts.

Ark John Keats Academy is part of the Ark network, one of the country's most successful multi-academy trusts. The newly appointed Principal will have the support of a dedicated Regional Director and have access to exceptional coaching and training opportunities, as well as the opportunity to collaborate with principal colleagues across London and our wider network.

Diversity and inclusion:
We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone - staff and students - can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark's diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link .

Safeguarding statement:
Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.

Ark requires all employees to 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. To read more about Ark's safer recruitment process, please click this link .

Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage to submit your application at your earliest convenience.