About This Role
Do you have what it takes to nurture today’s young people and inspire tomorrow’s leaders? Do you have the drive, passion and commitment to deliver inspirational leadership to school staff and young people in a disadvantaged community? If so, becoming a Star leader might just be the best career move you ever make.
About The Valley Leadership Academy
The Valley Leadership Academy is a secondary school for 11 to 16 year olds in Bacup. We joined Star Academies in 2019 and, like all Star schools, we have a leadership specialism.
We are a rapidly improving school with high ambitions and expectations for all of our pupils. We provide a knowledge-based academic curriculum alongside a rich and diverse leadership programme that grows character and inspires charitable and social action. Our pursuit of educational excellence is based upon our fundamental belief that every pupil has the capacity to become a successful and inspirational leader.
Who we’re looking for
We are looking for an exceptional Principal to lead us on our journey of sustained excellence.
We want to hear from ambitious, talented senior leaders and established Principals who will bring inspirational leadership to our school. You will be highly motivated and passionate about making a difference to the lives of young people with the natural ability to inspire and motivate both pupils and peers.
With substantial leadership experience as a Principal or Deputy, you will lead an approach that sees every challenge as an opportunity to continually improve standards of education and to foster an outstanding learning environment. As a Star leader, you’ll join the Star Academies family, a high-performing and supportive network of primary and secondary schools with some of the best leaders in education.
You will have
A degree-level qualification and Qualified Teacher Status.
Substantial experience of senior leadership and management within and across school settings.
The ability to create, and secure commitment to, a clear vision for an effective and high achieving school.
A strong commitment to our STAR values.
About Star Academies
Star Academies is a high-performing multi-academy trust that runs 36 primary and secondary schools. We are a values-based organisation that works to improve the life chances of young people in areas of social and economic deprivation to help them succeed at the highest levels of education, employment and the professions. Every single day you’ll be rewarded with the opportunity to shape a young person’s future - our STAR values embody what we believe is needed to succeed.
Professional development is key to our ongoing success, so we continually invest in our employees through our professional development hub, Star Talent Academy. With a wealth of training, mentoring and progression opportunities across a large, growing group of academies, joining our team of leading education experts could propel your career to the next level.
We can also offer you a range of rewards and benefits, including competitive salaries and pension schemes, generous holiday entitlements and healthcare cash plans.
Find out more
Please download the candidate information pack below for further information about the role. To arrange an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact Daniel Burgess, Lead Resourcing Partner, by emailing daniel.burgess@staracademies.org.
Key Dates
Closing Date: Monday, 13 April 2026 at midnight.
Assessment Centre Date: Friday, 24 April 2026.
Proposed Start Date: Tuesday, 1 September 2026.
Our Commitment Star Academies is committed to safeguarding, safer recruitment and promoting the welfare of pupils. Our comprehensive recruitment and selection processes aim to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Successful candidates are subject to rigorous pre-employment checks. We are equally committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity. We aim for our workforce to be representative of society and that each employee feels respected and able to give their best. We are committed to providing equality and fairness in our recruitment and employment practices and not to discriminate on any grounds. We oppose all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.