Vice Principal: Head of Campus & Whole School Inclusion Lead

Ready for the next step in progressing your career into a Leadership role?

Lead a Campus. Shape a School. Prepare for Headship.

Paignton Academy are seeking an exceptional leader to join our senior leadership team as Head of Campus, a perfect role for someone ready to take the next significant step towards headship. This is not a typical Vice Principal role.

As Head of Campus, you will hold full operational leadership responsibility for our Waterleat Road site, leading a thriving community of approximately 800 students while contributing strategically across our 1,600-student academy. This rare opportunity combines the breadth of whole-school leadership with the autonomy and accountability normally associated with Headship.

If you aspire to become a Headteacher within the next few years and are looking for the right opportunity to accelerate your journey, this could be the role that defines your career.

Why this opportunity is different

• Lead the day-to-day operation of an 800-student campus
• Shape culture, standards, attendance, behaviour and outcomes
• Lead and inspire staff through a clear vision and high expectations
• Work alongside an experienced Principal and executive leaders
• Influence strategic decisions across a 1,600-student academy
• Develop the skills, experience and confidence needed for future Headship

Leadership development through the Thinking Schools Academy Trust

• Access to experienced Principals, Headteachers and Executive Leaders
• Leadership coaching and mentoring
• Opportunities through the Trust's leadership development programmes
• Cross-school leadership experience and collaboration
• Professional networks extending beyond your own academy
• Career progression opportunities across a national trust
• A culture built on professional trust, challenge and support

A genuine pathway to Headship

Leading a school community: Take full operational responsibility for the Waterleat Road campus, overseeing daily routines, staff leadership, parental engagement and student culture.

Driving school improvement: Lead strategic work around inclusion, behaviour, attendance, safeguarding, SEND and personal development, directly influencing outcomes and life chances for young people.

Leading at scale: Contribute to improvement priorities across a large, split-site secondary academy while working collaboratively with senior and executive leaders.

Developing as a future Headteacher: Benefit from leadership coaching, mentoring, professional networks and collaboration opportunities through The Thinking Schools Academy Trust.

We would be delighted to hear from your if you are an ambitious senior leader, looking for a role which provides a unique bridge between Vice Principalship and Headship.

About Us

At Paignton Academy, we focus on developing well-rounded students who excel academically and grow socially, emotionally, and morally. We inspire our students to be kind, resilient, and responsible, preparing them to face challenges and contribute positively to society.

Paignton Academy is on a significant improvement journey which was recognised in its most recent Ofsted report (December 2024):

The school has redesigned its curriculum to be broad and ambitious. The knowledge pupils will learn is organised in a logical order. The impact of these improvements is evident in key stage 3, where pupils demonstrate they know and remember more of what they have been taught.

Since the previous inspection, the quality of provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) has improved. Pupils’ needs are identified quickly, and appropriate support is put in place. Teachers have a growing understanding of how to adapt their teaching successfully for the benefit of these pupils. The school ensures that pupils with SEND are included in the wider life of the school.

Pupils’ behaviour has improved. Lessons are calm and purposeful. The ‘speak up, speak out’ campaign has led to more pupils feeling confident to report concerns.