Welcome

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for your interest in leading Outwood Academy Hemsworth as its new Principal. This is a fabulous leadership opportunity for any leader driven by education’s power to transform childrens’ lives, broaden their horizons and unlock their aspirations. Outwood Academy Hemsworth is a community school in Hemsworth, Wakefield with 1120 students aged 11 to 18. The academy serves a catchment of high deprivation; 35% of its cohort are disadvantaged. It joined the Trust in 2018 and since this time much has been achieved to improve the school’s quality of provision and facilities and ensure the school has an inclusive ethos and strong culture of aspiration and belonging.

In October 2022, whilst inspectors recognised the school had made considerable improvements in the quality of education, personal development, sixth form provision and attendance and behaviour there is still more sustained improvement work required to ensure behaviour and attendance are good. Much work is underway to ensure long term sustained change and to strengthen wider community engagement. Our new Principal will play a central role in driving this improvement and further transforming the school’s culture. You will have an interest in education and outcomes across KS3, KS4 and KS5. We are seeking a Principal who first and foremost leads with moral purpose holding a commitment to making a difference in the lives and outcomes of students as a result of their quality experiences at school.

You may be seeking your first headship or be an experienced Principal/Headteacher looking for a worthy challenge, but regardless you must have the determination to narrow every gap, reduce every barrier and lead a school that serves its community by holding high expectations and a firm belief that the standard of education you provide makes the difference in your students’ future lives.

Outwood Academy Hemsworth’s new Principal will lead a highly committed Senior Leadership Team consisting of 3 Vice Principals, 4 Assistant Principals and 2 SENDCOs. The school has a strong team of Middle Leaders, teaching and support staff who are fully committed to our vision to raise standards and transform the life chances of our students. Your leadership will engender a strong sense of belonging and inclusion in your school promoting the power of education to change lives and inspiring the value of effort and high expectation.

We are proud to have been a part of Outwood Grange Academies Trust since 2018. Our Trust vision puts Students First by raising standards and transforming lives. We are determined to provide an excellent education for our students. Our Trust is one of the largest MAT’s in the country. As Principal of Outwood Academy Hemsworth both you and the school can draw on a range of expertise from across the Trust. When you work for Outwood you are the Trust; your expertise adds to ours and you join our family of schools. Our Trust works across geographical sub-regions. I lead the secondary academies across our Northern and Central regions. Outwood Academy Hemsworth is part of our Central region, comprising 6 schools in North Yorkshire and Wakefield. Toby Rutter, our Associate Executive Principal supports our Wakefield academies. Principals from the 14 schools across the two regions work closely together, sharing best practice and supporting one another to ensure continuous improvement for the regions’ students. As Principal, you are empowered to lead Outwood Academy Hemsworth fostering its own unique identity. Working within our Trust your professional development is prioritised through the executive support we provide, your access to a wealth of high quality nationally recognised leadership training and through the support of your peer network.

If this fantastic opportunity interests you, you are encouraged to please contact our recruitment partner Martin Blair at Hays Leadership on 07736791138 or at martin.blair@hays.com to arrange a visit, have a conversation to discuss the role in more detail or to make an application.

Warm regards

Lynn James

Regional Executive Principal