Principal

Salary: L33-L39, £113,646 - £130,274 (negotiable for an exceptional candidate) + relocation package + wellbeing cash plan + pension scheme (TPS) + additional Lift Schools benefits

Start date: September 2026

Closing date: 9:00am, 13th April 2026

Interview dates: Friday 17th April 2026 (Lift Firth Park) and Monday 20th April 2026 (Ed City)

We're looking for an exceptional Principal to lead Lift Firth Park into its next chapter.

This is your chance to shape a school on the rise, one that's proud of its identity, rooted in its community, and ambitious for every child.

About this role:

Lift Schools is seeking an exceptional and experienced Principal to lead Lift Firth Park through its next phase of improvement. This is a rare opportunity for an established Principal to build on strong foundations and shape the long-term success of a school on a clear upward trajectory.

We are looking for a leader who combines strategic clarity with decisive action and who understands what it takes to secure sustained improvement at scale. You will work closely with our Regional Education Director, Nigel Whittle who knows the school deeply, having previously served as Principal. You'll benefit from the full backing of our central team and the wider Lift Schools network.

This role is particularly suited to serving or former Principals who bring a strong record of school improvement and are ready to extend their impact. Lift Firth Park offers an exceptional platform to consolidate success, strengthen culture, and deliver lasting outcomes for pupils and the community.

We are seeking a leader with a demonstrable track record of improving schools, securing measurable gains in pupil outcomes, and building high-performance cultures where staff and pupils thrive.

The successful candidate will:

• Have a proven track record of sustained school improvement
• Demonstrate measurable impact on pupil outcomes and life chances
• Show evidence of building disciplined, inclusive, high-expectation cultures
• Lead with clarity, integrity and compassion
• Thrive in high challenge / high support environments
• Be motivated to influence improvement beyond their own school

As Principal, you will:

• Lead the strategic direction and daily life of the school
• Secure excellence in teaching, learning and curriculum
• Embed a culture of high expectations, belonging and inclusion
• Develop, support and retain high-performing staff
• Build strong partnerships with families and the community
• Contribute to improvement across the Lift Schools network and the wider system

About Lift Firth Park

Lift Firth Park is a vibrant and ambitious 11-16 secondary school at the heart of a diverse Sheffield community. Serving around 1,200 pupils in Shiregreen, the school reflects the richness of its local area, with over a third of students speaking English as an additional language.

The school is undergoing rapid and sustained improvement, with strong momentum, high expectations and a clear sense of purpose. Deep partnerships with Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Wednesday Football Club and local organisations strengthen opportunities for pupils and position the school as a cornerstone of the community.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an established Headteacher to build on strong foundations, harness existing momentum and shape the next phase of improvement, creating a lasting legacy for pupils and the community.

About Lift Schools

We are a diverse, inclusive network of 58 schools united by one mission: to deliver an excellent education to every child, in every classroom, every day. We believe every child deserves the best, regardless of background or ability, and we need outstanding leaders to make this happen.

How we'll support you

At Lift Schools, we believe talent drives performance. You'll benefit from:

• An individual development account of up to £100,000 over five years
• Experiential learning opportunities, including study tours
• One-to-one unlimited executive coaching
• High-quality, evidence-informed professional development
• A year-long induction programme
• The option of a professional sabbatical after five years
• A relocation package if moving for the role

Who are seeking a leader who is:

• Self-aware - thriving in high challenge, high support environments.
• Network-minded - committed to improving outcomes across all schools.
• Intellectually curious - eager to use evidence-informed approaches to drive success.
• If you are an experienced Principal ready for a new opportunity, if you are driven, determined, and committed to creating lasting change, we would love to hear from you.

For an informal, confidential conversation, please contact us.

Closing date: 9:00am 13th April 2026

Interview dates: Friday 17th April 2026 (Lift Firth Park) and Monday 20th April 2026 (Ed City)

Lift Schools is committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair and consistent recruitment process which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and there is a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.