Academy Principal - Details of Role:
Start date: 1st September 2026
Salary range: Leadership Scale 26 - Leadership Scale 31 (£95,735 to £108,202)
Hours: Full time
Contract type: Permanent position
Closing date: 11th February 2026 (midday)
Interview dates: 26th and 27th February 2026
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Hosted visits to the school are warmly welcomed by appointment, where you can tour the school, and talk to the pupils and staff about life at Lydiard Park Academy. These will be held on:-
27th January 16:00
29th January 14:00
5th February 12:30
Please contact HR at the The Park Academies Trust to arrange a visit.
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Opportunity at Lydiard Park Academy:
Lydiard Park Academy requires a motivated Principal who is passionate about making a difference, with the ability to lead a friendly and successful 11-18 school serving the community of Lydiard Park and the surrounding area. We have a strong ethos and proud tradition of academic excellence, and provide a safe, well-disciplined and vibrant learning environment where young people are happy.
We are offering an exciting opportunity to develop your career by joining a Trust which truly values its staff and provides a highly supportive environment. You will play a key role in the leadership, growth and aspirations of our academy.
You will create a working environment within which colleagues are motivated and empowered to support all children to aspire, achieve and grow.
Please see the attached Job Description for further details.
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About Lydiard Park Academy:
Lydiard Park Academy is a successful and popular school providing education for over 1300 students in the West of Swindon. Having been judged as ‘Good’ consistently with Ofsted judgements across multiple inspections in all categories and continues to build on a culture of high expectation and success for all students.
At the centre of everything we do Lydiard Park Academy provides a safe, vibrant, and aspirational environment where staff and young people alike can flourish, making a meaningful impact on the community it proudly serves.
We encourage all staff to be committed to their professional development, supported through our programme of professional learning that supports everyone to develop their practice and leadership skills.
As a school in The Park Academies Trust, we aim to be a centre of educational excellence that inspire all pupils to turn their potential into performance. Located in Swindon, near the natural beauty of the Wiltshire Downs and the Cotswolds, we are also within easy reach of the university towns of Bath, Bristol and Oxford and just under an hour by train from London. Our ideal location means that our students benefit from a wide range of curriculum-enhancing opportunities.
About The Park Academies Trust:
The Park Academies Trust was formed in 2016 with the vision to make a significant contribution to improving education in Swindon and surrounds. A family of eight schools; Abbey Park School, The Deanery CE Academy, Highworth Warneford School, Bridlewood Primary School, Kingfisher CE Academy, Orchid Vale Primary School, and Red Oaks Primary School; the Trust offers a high quality all through education provision from nursery right up to our Sixth Form at Lydiard Park Academy, enabling staff and pupils alike to benefit from being part of a thriving multi-phase educational Trust.
Our aim is to offer all pupils a broad and inspirational curriculum while fulfilling individual learning needs. The positive and caring ethos at all our schools is combined with a clear mission to deliver the richest possible education experience which enables young people to leave our care as responsible citizens equipped to fulfil their personal goals and career aspirations.
What we offer:
• A positive and dynamic environment in a Trust which is growing in both size and success
• A strong pupil ethos centred on mutual respect and fulfilling potential
• Competitive salary
• A variety of career progression opportunities within the Trust, including our own bespoke leadership programme
• Support from dedicated and experienced colleagues across the Trust
• Staff benefits package, including salary sacrifice affordable technology, cycle to work scheme, shopping and holiday discounts
• Staff wellbeing: access to On Line Doctor, discounted gym membership, Employee Assistance Programme
• Attractive pension scheme
The Park Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All job offers are subject to satisfactory reference and enhanced DBS checks. In line with statutory guidance in 'Keeping Children Safe in Education', we will carry out an online search as part of our due-diligence on short-listed candidates.