Headteacher, Royal Docks Academy, BMAT

Location: Newham, East London

Start date: April or September 2026

Salary: Leadership scale 28 to 33 (£110,327 to £123,438) plus excellent benefits

BMAT is seeking an inspiring and accomplished senior leader to take on the role of Headteacher at Royal Docks Academy, an 11–16 secondary school in Newham, East London, with approximately 1,200 students on roll. BMAT is guided by a commitment to excellence, believing that outstanding leadership is the foundation of outstanding schools. Across our seven secondary and five primary academies in Essex and East London, we foster environments of high aspiration where individuals are valued, confidence grows and success is achieved by all.

Royal Docks Academy proudly serves the diverse and dynamic community of Newham, the principal host borough of the London 2012 Olympic Games. The school benefits from a dedicated and hardworking team of leaders, teachers and support staff, alongside a broad and ambitious curriculum. Over the past five years, the school’s reputation has strengthened significantly, with increasing numbers of parents expressing confidence in the education their children receive. The academy is fully inclusive and includes a specialist provision for 25 pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties, supported by a highly skilled PMLD team.

The successful candidate will ensure that all pupils leave the academy well prepared for the demands of a competitive world, having made strong progress throughout their time at the school. They will demonstrate a proven record of success, consistently high expectations for every pupil, and have a clear understanding of excellence in teaching, learning and SEND provision. Strong communication skills and a commitment to developing and empowering others will be essential.

Applicants may be experienced Headteachers or ambitious Deputy Headteachers ready to progress to headship. The new Headteacher will benefit from extensive opportunities to collaborate with fellow leaders across BMAT, alongside high-quality professional support throughout their career.

If you are a proven school leader with the ambition to make an even greater impact, we would welcome your application. To arrange a confidential and informal discussion about the role, please contact our recruitment partners Propelo on 01273 222 877. For details on how to apply, please visit https://bmat.our-careers.co.uk/.

 

Close date for applications: Thursday 29th January 2026 at 10am

Interviews: Tuesday 10^th and Wednesday 11^th February 2026

BMAT Education is committed to safeguarding children; successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance, we may also conduct an online search about any shortlisted candidates as part of our due diligence to identify any matters that might relate directly to our legal duty to meet safeguarding duties, in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)