Commercial Services Group Blue tapered spiral Creating Impact
Home School Services

Principal - Full-time

Leigh Academy Marden, Tonbridge

  • Ref:KCC886-2183-160L
  • Posted:03/03/2026
  • Pay:Highly Competitive
  • Start Date:September 2026
  • App Close Date:25/03/2026 at 09:00
  • Interviews:Wednesday 1st April 2026

Advert

Highly Competitive Salary + Performance Bonus + Private Healthcare + collaborative MAT network + additional LAT benefits.

 

Leigh Academies Trust is seeking to appoint an ambitious and visionary Principal for Leigh Academy Marden. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to lead a flourishing primary academy at the heart of the Marden community. We are part of a highly successful, financially sound, and mature multi-academy trust that balances professional autonomy for effective leaders with robust central support and a culture of deep collaboration.

We are looking for a leader who is relentless in their ambition for our pupils; someone dedicated to fostering an environment where every child thrives and achieves their full potential, regardless of their starting point.

We wish to hear from you if you are:

  • an enthusiastic, energetic and ambitious school leader with a track record of success at primary level;
  • a motivational and inspirational leader with high expectations of staff;
  • confident and able to communicate a clear vision for the school;
  • able to develop children to reach their full potential regardless of background or circumstance;
  • approachable and keen to work with staff across the Trust to ensure wide success;
  • able to establish and develop excellent relationships with the community and other stakeholders.

What we can offer you:

  • a highly competitive salary along with private healthcare and an opportunity to earn a performance bonus;
  • an exciting LAT career path with opportunities for further progression in the future;
  • security and support on your journey from close collaboration with a small central executive and a larger group of talented Principals to share best practice and innovation.

To support your application, we recommend viewing the Job Pack by clicking here, which outlines the full role responsibilities and person specification. This will guide you in preparing a strong application and understanding what we’re looking for.

 
 

Applying for this Opportunity

Naturally, we are seeking to appoint the best possible candidate and therefore the application process will reflect our desire to undertake all necessary measures to achieve this.

On the basis that interested candidates may be keen to visit the academy before making a formal application, you can arrange this by contacting Jo Johnson via email: jo.johnson@latrust.org.uk. Visits will be hosted by Tracey Trusler, Academies Director, or the current Principal. Please ensure you offer Jo a range of dates when you are available in your initial email to ensure we can coordinate a visit that works for both you and the academy.

Candidates wishing to have an initial conversation with our Trust Academies Director, Tracey Trusler, about this role can also arrange for a telephone call. Those wishing to do so should also contact Jo Johnson (as above) in the first instance.

Closing date: Wednesday 25th March 2026 (9am)
Shortlisting date: Wednesday 25th March 2026 (PM)
Interview date: Wednesday 1st April 2026

 

If you have any queries on any aspect of the application process or need additional information please contact Amy Wenban (Recruitment Advisor) on 01634 412 205 or amy.wenban@latrust.org.uk.

Information about the school

Welcome to Leigh Academy Marden, a thriving and growing community-based school which is at the heart of the village community.

We pride ourselves on delivering a broad and balanced curriculum, enriched through our after-school clubs and co-curricular activities, which are made accessible to all. As an IB World School, our curriculum provision is enhanced further through the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP). It is an aspirational high quality inquiry-led learning framework, where the National Curriculum is delivered through in-context experiences. Through the PYP, children are encouraged to be risk-takers, life-long learners and global citizens.

At Leigh Academy Marden, we believe that every child deserves the right to a nurturing and caring community, where children feel safe and inspired to learn. We have a shared vision that is ambitious and promotes high expectations for all. Collectively challenging ourselves and one another, showing both support and resilience to continuously improve and achieve, in learning and in life, is part of our daily practice.

We are beneficiaries of having such supportive and caring parents and carers, who share our vision of delivering ambitious, inclusive outcomes for our children and are undoubtedly our most important partners in ensuring we achieve such a high quality of education. Also integral to our successes is the drive and support of Leigh Academies Trust. Belonging to a Trust means we are part of a hub of innovative educational providers with access to a wealth of information and practices rooted in current thinking and research.

Our recent Ofsted report from March 2023 confirms that our behaviour and attitudes, Personal Development and leadership and management are all outstanding. Leaders have ensured that expectations for pupils to behave and work well are very high, including in the early years. Pupils treat each other with respect and kindnessin all year groups and celebrate each other’s differences. As a result, bullying isextremely rare, and pupils have every confidence that staff will resolve it if it doeshappen. Pupils share warm and trusting relationships with staff, who model positive behaviours.

Leigh Academy Marden is a happy school where pupils immerse themselves in the life of the school and the local community. For instance, they take part in the Easter bonnet parade and produce artwork for the ‘Poppy Walk’ to commemorate Remembrance Day.

Job Contact Information

  • Name:Talent Team, Leigh Academies Trust
  • Address:Carnation Road, Strood, Kent, ME2 2SX
  • Telephone: 01634 412 258
  • Email: Joinus@LATrust.org.uk

Documents

Below are documents that have been added to this vacancy.

Apply for this Role Today

Apply Now

Before applying for this vacancy please ensure you have read all the relevant information and documents provided by the school. If you are ready to apply for this vacancy please click the "Apply Now" button

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our students. You are advised that this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and therefore this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Please be aware that schools are also required to undertake online recruitment checks on shortlisted candidates under changes to Keeping Children Safe in Education.