Leadership Scale: L1 to L5

Start date: September 2026

Do you have the passion, expertise and heart to bring your own ‘Magic’ to Millside?

Millside Spencer Academy is seeking an ambitious, values driven and inspirational Vice Principal to join our thriving, high performing school community. This role is central to the next chapter of Millside’s journey — a young school already celebrating excellent provision, including Outstanding judgements for Personal Development and Behaviour & Attitudes (June 2025).

Opened in September 2022 in East Leake, Millside is a vibrant and nurturing school serving pupils aged 3–11. We are proud to belong to the Spencer Academies Trust, a nationally recognised, high performing organisation committed to excellence and inclusion.

Our Vision – Children Who SHINE

At Millside, we nurture children who are:

S – Successful: A knowledge rich curriculum that builds essential skills.

H – Happy: A culture grounded in kindness, emotional wellbeing and memorable experiences.

I – Independent: Learners who think deeply, take risks and grow in confidence.

N – Nurturing: A community built on empathy, inclusion and respectful relationships.

E – Enthusiastic: A love of learning that sparks curiosity and joy.

We are committed to creating the kind of school experience children will remember with pride — a place where they feel known, safe, inspired and appropriately challenged, and where their confidence and self-esteem are nurtured every day.

About the Role

This role is suited to a leader who can champion excellence in teaching and learning, play a key part in safeguarding and behaviour, and support the Principal in operational leadership.

Teaching and Learning Leadership

As Vice Principal, you will:

• Lead and develop high quality teaching and learning across the school, modelling excellent practice and ensuring consistently high standards of pedagogy.
• Play an active part in children’s learning — being visible in classrooms, celebrating successes, and helping shape positive learning memories that stay with children long after they leave us.
• Support curriculum implementation and contribute to its ongoing refinement, ensuring it inspires, challenges and reflects the children we serve.

Safeguarding & Behaviour

As Vice Principal, you will:

• Act as a key member of the safeguarding team, contributing to the culture of care and vigilance expected across the Trust.
• Lead behaviour strategy, promoting a positive, relational and inclusive culture where all pupils feel emotionally safe, valued and able to learn effectively.
• Champion approaches that build confidence, resilience and self-belief.

Operational Leadership

As Vice Principal, you will:

• Support the Principal in the day-to-day running of the school, ensuring systems are efficient, supportive and enable staff and pupils to thrive.
• Lead aspects of policy development, quality assurance and school improvement monitoring.
• Build strong relationships with staff, pupils, families and governors, strengthening our sense of community and shared purpose.

Strategic Leadership & Sustainable Improvement

As Vice Principal, you will:

• Deputise for the Principal when required, playing a central role in the strategic direction of the school.
• Contribute to the School Improvement Plan and Self Evaluation, ensuring improvement is sustainable, clearly communicated and owned by staff, pupils and the wider community.
• Ensure that development work aligns with values of integrity, inclusion and high expectations — the foundations on which long term excellence is built.

About you

We are looking for a Vice Principal who:

• Has substantial and successful primary teaching experience, with a strong track record of improving outcomes.
• Brings expertise in teaching and learning, behaviour leadership and safeguarding.
• Leads with integrity, empathy and ambition.
• Believes children thrive when they feel known, safe and inspired — and when learning is joyful, memorable and challenging.
• Can build trust, motivate colleagues and contribute to a supportive, aspirational culture.
• Values inclusion, diversity, and the long lasting impact of positive school experiences.
• Is committed to continuous improvement and the development of staff at all levels. 

You will embody Millside’s SHINE values and play a key role in shaping an environment where every child grows in confidence, character and curiosity.

Why Join Millside Spencer Academy?

As Vice Principal, you will benefit from:

• A supportive and collaborative Trust with strong leadership pathways.
• Outstanding CPD and leadership development, including a comprehensive induction programme.
• Opportunities to innovate within a young school with a strong culture and huge potential.
• A community that values wellbeing, inclusion and evidence informed practice.
• Being part of a high performing Trust with a strong national reputation.

Visits & Further Information

We warmly encourage visits — come and meet our children and staff and experience the Millside ‘Magic’ for yourself.

To arrange a visit or informal conversation with Steve Burley, Principal, please contact: info@millsidespencer.org.uk

Early application is strongly encouraged as we reserve the right to interview and close the advert ahead of the closing date.

Safeguarding & Equality

Spencer Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our children and young people. Therefore, we expect everyone to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to satisfactory pre- employment checks, including a satisfactory Enhanced criminal records with Barred List Check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and the completion of Level 2 Safeguarding training. It is an offence to apply for the role if an applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children (where the role involves this type of regulated activity).

The Trust and its member academies are committed to promoting equality and diversity in both employment and education provision. We aim to ensure that students, parents, governors, employees, contractors, partners, clients and other stakeholders within the Trust community are treated fairly, and with dignity and respect regardless of Protected Characteristics.

Spencer Academies Trust is a Disability Confident Committed Employer.