Primary Principal - Hartsholme Academy

Humility. Positivity. Ambition. Joy. 

Are you ready to lead a community where these aren't just words, but a daily reality?

At Hartsholme Academy, you won’t  just manage a school; you will cultivate environments of delight, joy, and fierce ambition. As the home of the highest-performing primary and secondary schools in the area , you would be  part of the Harbour Learning Trust—a family dedicated to the belief that every child deserves an education that prepares them fully for an extraordinary future.

We are seeking a Principal who leads with an inclusive heart, a strategic mind, and an infectious excitement for what we are building together.

• Location: Hartsholme Academy, Lincoln

• Salary Scale: L18 – L24

• Contract: Permanent

• Reports to: CEO

• Closing Date: Monday 20th April 2026

• Interviews: Friday 24th April 2026

• Start Date: September 2026

What Your Impact Will Look Like:

• Igniting Extraordinary Potential: You will lead by example, cultivating an inclusive culture where both staff and pupils feel a profound sense of belonging and purpose.

• Crafting an Inspired Curriculum: By championing outstanding teaching, you will ensure every child experiences a journey of discovery that meets their unique needs and sparks lifelong curiosity.

• Building a Powerhouse Team: You will be a talent scout and a mentor, recruiting the best colleagues and empowering them to innovate, take risks, and thrive within a culture of professional growth.

• Bridging School and Home: You will act as the vital link between our ambitious academic goals and the families we serve, fostering a community rooted in care, empathy, and mutual respect.

• Driving Strategic Excellence: In close collaboration with the Trust, you will use your "clinical skill" to analyse data and turn it into impactful plans that keep Hartsholme at the forefront of primary education

• Foster True Inclusion: Ensure outstanding pastoral care and implement policies that guarantee diversity, equality, and a sense of belonging for all.

The Person: What We Are Looking For

We are looking for a relentlessly positive leader who possesses the emotional resilience to navigate challenges with grace and the integrity to always do what is right for our children. You must be an excellent primary practitioner with at least 2 years of senior leadership experience in the primary phase, ready to join us at this exciting phase of our development.

Please read through our recruitment pack and scan the QR code within this to read our most recent Ofsted report.

About our Trust

We are proud to have the highest performing primary and secondary schools in our area and we are honored to have been shortlisted for the TES Inclusive Trust of the Year Award. Most importantly, we are committed to improving the life chances for our children and giving them the tools and the values to lead happy and successful lives.

Our Vision to empower and inspire children, adults and communities to be ambitious, healthy and kind, dedicated to making our world a better place.  The work we do is underpinned by our DANCE values and our magnificent seven behaviours;

Our Fantastic Five Values 

D - Harbour children deserve joyful (delight)schools that ignite creativity and learning through play. We invest in colleagues to ensure success and promote lifelong well-being for everyone.

A - We recruit the best colleagues and nurture talent in safe environments, inspiring our children to strive for excellence (ambition). By learning from the best, we improve and give back to our communities.

N - Harbour schools are rooted in care, valuing respect and empathy (nurture). We create supportive environments where children and colleagues thrive, preparing them for the future.

C - We promote pride, inclusion, and civic responsibility, celebrating diversity and community. Colleagues will experience belonging through collaboration, well-being, and continuous development.

E - Success comes when colleagues are empowered to innovate, take risks, and learn from failure. At Harbour, we encourage creativity and collaboration, helping both children and colleagues achieve their goals. 

 Our Magnificent Seven Behaviors

● We will act with integrity, honesty and transparency in all that we do

● We will trust our fellow professionals and value their skills and knowledge

● We will work collaboratively and encourage others to do the same

● We will work inclusively, building and celebrating inclusive and diverse communities

● We will be kind to ourselves and in all our dealings with others, acting with

compassion and empathy

● We will communicate regularly and with clarity with our stakeholders and with each other, welcoming and reflecting on constructive feedback from others

● We will be aspirational for all, wanting the best for ourselves and for everyone

Come and join our happy, values led trust that truly believes in “success and happiness for all”

Harbour Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All posts are subject to satisfactory background checks and enhanced DBS.