Assistant Principal

Salary: £67,694 – £74,562
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: 28th January 2026

About Cottenham Village College

About the Role

As Assistant Principal, you will excel in the classroom – but, just as importantly, you will be instrumental in supporting colleagues across the school to enhance their effectiveness in the classroom and beyond, through mentoring, coaching, professional development and challenge. This is a pivotal leadership role where you will work closely with the Principal and senior team to shape the strategic direction of the school, raise standards, and ensure a culture of high expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive strategic improvements across behaviour, safeguarding, and teaching standards.
• Develop clear plans and implement priorities quickly to secure impact.
• Be an excellent practitioner and role model for staff and students.
• Support colleagues through mentoring, coaching, and professional development.
• Use evidence and data to monitor, diagnose, and evaluate performance, driving continuous improvement.
• Model and uphold the highest standards, ensuring accountability for routines and culture.
• Tackle underperformance robustly and effectively.
• Be a visible presence across the school, leading from the front and setting the tone.

What We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate will be an experienced and outstanding classroom practitioner with a track record of strong outcomes. We need someone with middle or senior leadership experience who can walk the walk and be a beacon of excellent practice in a classroom environment, whilst possessing the muscularity of intellect and professional credibility to drive up standards across the academy. You will be ambitious, resilient, and committed to creating a culture where every child can thrive.

To arrange a visit or to find out more, please contact Sharon O’Mullane at: Sharon.OMullane@astreacottenham.org

Closing Date:

The closing date for applications is 28th January 2026. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity!

Commitment to Safeguarding and EDI:

Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All posts are subject to satisfactory background checks, including references and enhanced DBS checks. We value diversity and encourage applications from candidates who are underrepresented in our workforce. As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to promoting a culture that ensures there are no barriers to the recruitment, development, and progression of disabled staff across the trust. We provide reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process to ensure disabled job applicants have the best opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.

Flexible Interview Dates:

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, so don't miss out on this exciting opportunity. Please note that interview dates are flexible, and the academy reserves the right to interview shortlisted candidates during the application window. Apply today to avoid disappointment and become a part of our mission to create a positive impact!

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you're ready to take the next step in your career and contribute to our dynamic and forward-thinking team, apply today and be a part of our mission to create a positive impact!