About our Trust

Our Vision to empower and inspire children, adults and communities to be ambitious, healthy and kind, dedicated to making our world a better place.  

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

Job title:                                                      Vice Principal (Primary) 

Location:                                                     Ermine Academy, Redbourne Drive, Lincoln LN2 3HG

Contract:                                                    Permanent 

Salary Scale:                                              L6 - L10 - £58,569 - £64,691

Closing date:                                             20th February 2026    

Interview date:                                       25/26/27th February 2026 - Exact date to be confirmed

Start date:                                                  Easter 2026

At Ermine Primary Academy, we don’t just "manage" a school; we cultivate a community of delight, joy, and fierce ambition. We are a school where our values are at the heart of everything we do, creating a "school family" that is as warm and welcoming as it is academically driven

As part of the Harbour Learning Trust, we lead with inclusive hearts and an infectious excitement for the extraordinary future we’re building together. We are looking for a Vice Principal who leads with heart and drives with excellence to join our safe, happy, and fun learning environment ensuring  success and happiness for all.

The Role - Architect of success and Happiness

At Ermine, we believe that "achieving your best" extends far beyond the school gates. As Vice Principal, you will be the heartbeat of our Senior Leadership Team—a visionary partner to the Principal, helping to steer a school where every child is prepared fully for their future.  You would be joining Ermine at an exciting time having recently opened two Mainstream SEND Hubs which marks our commitment to breaking down barriers to education.

In a nutshell, you will:

• Build the Future: Play a leading role in strategic school improvement and self-evaluation.

  Build Community Resilience: Champion a model that allows children to stay in their local school, fostering a true sense of belonging 

  Foster True Inclusion: Ensure our broad and balanced curriculum provides opportunities for every child to develop their unique strengths.

• Champion Excellence: Model "what good looks like" as an exemplary classroom practitioner, mentoring our dedicated staff to reach their full potential.

• Cultivate Culture: Maintain the warm, friendly, and nurturing environment that makes Ermine a special place to learn.

• Master the Mechanics: Oversee the curriculum, analyse pupil progress data, and ensure our systems are as efficient as they are effective.

• Empower the Team: Recruit, retain, and develop "brilliant people" through world-class professional development.

We aren't just looking for a set of qualifications (though QTS and senior leadership experience are essential!). We are looking for a specific kind of human you must be;

• Values-Driven: You lead with integrity, compassion, and personal humility
• Relentlessly Positive: You see the potential in every challenge and every child.
• A Lifelong Learner: You model a desire to improve, showing our pupils that learning never stops
• Strategically Minded: You can dive into data and emerge with a plan that raises standards for every single pupil
• Live Our Values: Model our "DANCE" values and leadership behaviours in every interaction, proving that personal humility and professional excellence go hand-in-hand

What can we offer you?

We value our staff as much as our students. At Harbour Learning Trust, you aren’t just an employee; you’re an investment.

• A "School Family" Atmosphere: A dedicated team who really care and a Trust committed to your well-being.

• Growth: Extensive, outstanding training and professional development opportunities.

  A vibrant learning environment where "Success and Happiness for All" is a reality for every pupil, regardless of their starting point

• Benefits: Local Government Pension Scheme, Employee Benefits Scheme, Employee Assistance Programme, and Cycle to Work Scheme.

• Impact: A vibrant learning environment where you can truly make a difference.

We always offer the opportunity to discuss our roles and visit our Academy before you apply.  Our Principal would be delighted to show you around and introduce you to everyone and everything that makes Ermine Primary Academy such a special place.  Please note all applications must be received via MyNewTerm. Please take a look at the attached documents for more information about us as a Trust, along with more information on the role, and the type of person we're looking for.

Harbour Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All posts are subject to satisfactory background checks including references and enhanced DBS checks. In accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education, the Trust carries out an online search as part of the due diligence on shortlisted candidates. References taken up upon interview.