&slshquot;Inspiring Futures - One Classroom at a Time&slshquot;

Our Story

King's Lynn Academy (KLA) stands at an exciting inflection point. Following the retirement of our long-serving and transformational Principal, Eastern Multi Academy Trust (EMAT) is seeking an inspirational and ambitious leader to build on an extraordinary journey of improvement and take the school to the next level of excellence.

KLA was placed in special measures in 2016. By joining EMAT and through courageous, collaborative leadership, the school earned a 'Good' judgement from Ofsted and has since become the most oversubscribed secondary school in Norfolk - growing from approximately 600 to nearly 1,000 pupils. This is a story of community trust rebuilt, standards raised, and ambition restored.

We now seek a principal who is ready to sustain and accelerate that momentum: an educational leader with the vision to achieve outstanding outcomes, the relational skills to inspire staff, pupils and community alike, and the strategic acumen to manage a school now entering an exciting phase of physical expansion from 6 to 8 forms of entry.

About King's Lynn Academy

Situated on Queen Mary Road in the heart of King's Lynn, KLA serves a diverse and proud community in West Norfolk. Our 978 pupils - across Years 7 to 11 - benefit from an ambitious, knowledge-rich curriculum, a strong culture of personal development, and a staff team deeply committed to the belief that every child deserves excellence.

Key facts about our school:

Ofsted-rated Good, with strong leadership and management and personal development
Most oversubscribed secondary school in Norfolk - heavily oversubscribed across most year groups
Approved expansion from 6FE to 8FE, adding 300 pupil places from 2025 onwards
An ambitious EBacc-aligned curriculum with a two-year KS4 model and a focus on retention and recall
A whole-school Personal Development Plan entitlement - at least three face-to-face developmental meetings per pupil per year
Strong commitment to SEND provision, pupil mental health and therapeutic support
Award of Duke of Edinburgh, enriched extra-curricular programme and strong community links
Investment in staff professional development through a comprehensive EMAT CPD offer and ECT/ECF provision

About Eastern Multi Academy Trust

EMAT is a growing, values-driven Trust of 12 primary and secondary academies across West Norfolk, Breckland and Brandon (Suffolk). Founded in 2017, our Trust mission rests on four pillars:

Empower Motivate Achieve Transform

Our vision is captured in our motto: Transforming Lives, Transforming Communities. We believe schools must be at the heart of the communities they serve, and our track record demonstrates this - every school that has joined our Trust has improved its Ofsted outcome. KLA is our flagship secondary and central to our Trust's identity and long-term strategy.

EMAT's strategic priorities include:

Raising attainment and accelerating progress, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
Strengthening curriculum quality and consistency across all phases
Developing exceptional leaders at all levels, investing in a structured CPD and Expert Practitioners framework
Embedding safeguarding, mental health and personal development as cornerstones of school culture
Sustainable growth - managing estate investment and expansion with financial discipline
Environmental responsibility through a published environmental strategy

The Role

As Principal of King's Lynn Academy you will provide outstanding educational and operational leadership, working closely with the EMAT CEO and central team to sustain and deepen the school's improvement journey. You will be accountable for the quality of education, the wellbeing of every pupil and staff member, and the school's position at the heart of the King's Lynn community.

Why Join Us?

At EMAT, you'll be part of a supportive, forward-thinking Trust that invests in its people and we offer all employees:

A leadership team who listen and act on feedback.
High-quality CPD and clear career development pathways.
A highly trained team to support learning.
Wellbeing support, including access to employee assistance programmes.
Family-friendly policies and flexible working opportunities.
Being part of a Trust that values inclusion, diversity, and collaboration.
Peace of mind with some of the most generous pension schemes in the job market

Safeguarding & Equal Opportunities

Eastern Multi-Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all colleagues to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to appropriate safeguarding checks, including an enhanced DBS check (with Children's Barred List where applicable), satisfactory references and medical clearance.

We are proud to be an inclusive employer, committed to equity, representation and belonging. We value the diversity of our workforce and believe that different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives strengthen our schools and enrich our communities.

We actively welcome applications from suitably qualified individuals of all backgrounds, including those from under-represented groups, and from candidates who are neurodiverse. If you require any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please let us know, we are committed to making reasonable adjustments so that everyone can perform at their best.

We also welcome applications for part-time, flexible and job-share working, where this can be accommodated within the role.

How to Apply

Please review the full job description and person specification and complete the application to show how you meet the essential requirements. We'd also love to hear about your teaching philosophy, what you can bring to the role, and your aspirations for the future.

To view our candidate pack please contact our Executive Search Consultant, Alpha Parish (at Academicis) to arrange a confidential initial discussion about the role.

Visits can be arranged following a discussion with Alpha Parish, who is overseeing bookings. Alpha can be contacted via email: aparish@academicis.co.uk or phone: 07436 971517 | 01223 907979.

Never Miss a New Opportunity

King's Lynn Academy, King's Lynn, Norfolk jobs

Principal