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: 9:00 AM, 13th April 2026

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

Are you ready to lead a school on the rise? Lift Firth Park is seeking an exceptional Principal to guide us into our next chapter. This is your chance to shape a vibrant school that is proud of its identity, deeply rooted in its community, and ambitious for every child.

As the Principal of Lift Firth Park, you will play a pivotal role in steering our school through its next phase of improvement. This is a unique opportunity for an established leader to build on strong foundations and ensure long-term success for our students.

We are looking for a leader who combines strategic clarity with decisive action, someone who understands what it takes to secure sustained improvement at scale. You will collaborate closely with our Regional Education Director, Nigel Whittle, who has a deep understanding of the school, having previously served as Principal. You will also have the full support of our central team and the wider Lift Schools network.

The ideal 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

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. Our school reflects the richness of its local area, with over a third of students speaking English as an additional language.

We are undergoing rapid and sustained improvement, characterized by strong momentum, high expectations, and a clear sense of purpose. Our deep partnerships with Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, and local organizations enhance opportunities for our pupils and position the school as a cornerstone of the community.

At Lift Schools, we believe that talent drives performance. Here’s how we’ll support you:

• 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

We are looking for 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, driven, determined, and committed to creating lasting change, we would love to hear from you!

Lift Schools is dedicated to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils. We expect all our colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment. Our recruitment process is fair and consistent, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance, including 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 offer a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.