Executive Principal

Salary: Competitive leadership salary, with an additional discretionary payment available for an exceptional candidate + relocation package + wellbeing cash plan + pension scheme (TPS) + additional Lift Schools benefits

Start date: September 2026

Lift Schools is seeking an exceptional Executive Principal to lead an ambitious and exciting next phase of transformation at Lift Rawlett.

This is a rare opportunity for a values-driven, strategic leader to build on strong foundations and take a rapidly improving school even further, working alongside our Regional Education Director, Nabila Jiwa. You will also offer executive leadership across the region.

A school on the rise

The school is on a rapid improvement journey. It has recently secured the best GCSE results in Tamworth, and continues to strengthen its culture, curriculum and outcomes.

At the heart of this progress is a deep belief in what young people can achieve. Together with staff, students and families, we are creating a school where:

• High expectations are the norm
• Relationships are strong and respectful
• Classrooms are calm, focused and purposeful
• The curriculum is rigorous, relevant and ambitious
• Kindness, inclusion and aspiration shape daily life

You will join a team that is already making real change happen and is ready for the next step.

About the role

As Executive Principal, you will provide strategic leadership and hold overall accountability for standards and quality within the school, while also contributing to improvement across Lift Schools.

You will:

• Lead the school's strategic direction and improvement journey, ensuring sustained excellence
• Work in close partnership with the Head of School to deliver a clear, ambitious improvement plan
• Drive high-quality teaching, curriculum development and strong outcomes for every pupil
• Create a culture of high expectations, strong behaviour and exceptional inclusion
• Build a school community rooted in care, belief and ambition
• Ensure effective operational, financial and people systems are in place to support long-term success
• Provide regional support up to one day per week, coaching leaders and contributing to wider school improvement activity across Lift

Who we're looking for

We are looking for a leader who:

• Has a proven track record of driving sustained improvement and strong outcomes
• Leads with clarity, warmth and moral purpose
• Builds cultures where staff thrive and pupils flourish
• Understands how to strengthen curriculum and teaching at scale
• Is ambitious, resilient and committed to collaborative leadership across a trust

Who we are

Lift Schools is a network of 58 schools across the country. We are diverse, inclusive and united by a single mission: to deliver an excellent education to every child, in every classroom, every day.

What we offer you

As a Lift Executive Principal, you'll receive sector-leading professional development and wellbeing support, including:

• An individual development account of up to 100,000 over five years
• Unlimited one-to-one executive coaching
• Evidence-informed professional learning opportunities
• A year-long induction programme
• Study tours and immersive CPD experiences
• Professional sabbatical eligibility after five years
• Relocation package available

Who we're looking for
We want leaders who are:

• Self-aware - thriving in high challenge, high support environments.
• Network-minded - committed to improving outcomes across all schools.
• Intellectually curious - eager to use evidence-informed approaches to drive success.

Whether you are an experienced Principal or an exisitng Executive Principal and you are driven, determined, and committed to creating lasting change, we would love to hear from you.

For an informal, confidential conversation, please contact Tanya Bentham

Closing date: Wednesday 18 March 2026, 5:00pm
Interview date: Wednesday 25 March 2026 (Lift Rawlett) and Monday 30 March 2026 (Ed City, London)

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response. All candidates are advised to refer to the job description and person specification before making an application.

Lift Schools are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our people and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair and consistent recruitment process which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.

Lift Schools embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and there is a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.