Vacancy

Employment type: Full-time
Salary: £110,892 - £130,274 
Close date: 15th January 2026 at Midday
Date of Interviews: 29th & 30th January
Position start date: September 2026

Towers School and Sixth Form Centre is looking to appoint a Principal who embodies our ethos, vision, and values, and who will guide the academy into its next dynamic phase of growth and development.

Click here to visit the Towers School homepage and watch our video.

This is a rare and exceptional opportunity to lead a large, successful, and oversubscribed standalone academy in Ashford, Kent. Independent from a Multi-Academy Trust, Towers School offers genuine autonomy for the Principal to shape strategic direction, curriculum design and educational ethos. The successful candidate will have the freedom to innovate, inspire and deliver meaningful change, supported by an exceptionally experienced Senior Leadership Team and a committed staff body with very low turnover.

Founded in 1967, Towers School has grown into a thriving community hub, now serving over 35 feeder schools and educating students across all year groups. Our Sixth Form continues to expand rapidly, with post-16 results improving year on year. We are proud of our excellent local reputation for academic achievement, pastoral care and community involvement.

We are looking for:

• A visionary leader who embraces the independence of a standalone academy and can steer teaching methodologies, curriculum design and ethos in a direction that benefits all stakeholders.
• An inspirational Principal who will empower staff, foster collaboration and create a collective sense of energy, motivation and purpose.
• A leader who values pastoral care and inclusion, ensuring every child thrives through respect, opportunity and support.
• A community-minded individual who will continue our active role in Ashford, including participation in the Headteachers’ Management Committee and engagement with local partners.
• A Principal who is approachable, performance-driven and able to balance strategic vision with strong interpersonal and management capabilities.
• Proven experience of Principal in at least one secondary school, including experience of Sixth Form/Post 16 leadership.

We can offer you:

• Exceptional stability, with a highly experienced Senior Leadership Team and very low staff turnover.
• A large, oversubscribed school with nearly 200 staff and a rapidly growing Sixth Form.
• Significant investment in facilities, including over £5 million in CIF funding in the last decade, a new £2.5 million science block, and outstanding sporting facilities such as a 3G pitch and two sports halls.
• Cutting-edge IT provision with over 500 Chromebooks and three dedicated IT rooms.
• A supportive Governing Body and engaged Trustees, committed to working with the new Principal to enable the school to reach its full potential.
• A strong welfare and pastoral structure, including the Rosa and Rashford Centres, which provide specialist support for students with additional needs.

This is a unique leadership opportunity for an ambitious Principal motivated by impact, professional freedom and collaboration. If you are, or have been, a successful Principal who can demonstrate how you have raised standards, delivered performance improvement and set a high standard of professional conduct, then we would be delighted to hear from you.

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).