Principal - Castle Newnham (part of Bedfordshire Schools Trust BEST) - CLOSING 12 NOON ON THURSDAY 2

Principal
Castle Newnham School
Bedfordshire Schools Trust

Contract: Full-time, permanent
Salary: L33-39, £113,646 - £131,578 - NB Negotiable for an exceptional candidate
Location: Castle Newnham School, Bedford

Bedfordshire Schools Trust (BEST) is seeking an exceptional Principal for Castle Newnham School to deliver strategic leadership on behalf of the Trust in the development of outstanding education provision.

BEST is a multi-academy trust delivering outstanding education across a community of 11 schools and five nurseries in Bedfordshire.

At BEST, our goal is to bring out the best in everyone. Through our high and aligned autonomy, a high accountability approach, we always put children first and nurture talent.

BEST schools strive to provide excellent results and a wide range of curricular and extracurricular activities. We accomplish this by sharing a common belief in high expectations, hard work, and community-based provision. Our schools collaborate to add value and compete to improve.

Castle Newnham School is a primary and secondary school with 1380 pupils, providing all-through education for children aged 4 to 16 in the heart of Bedford.

As part of BEST, Castle Newnham offers a broad and balanced curriculum designed to foster academic achievement, creativity, physical development, and global citizenship. Its supportive, highly inclusive school community provides rich opportunities for every child to excel and flourish.

This role is an exciting and rare opportunity to really make a difference as the school undergoes the process of becoming an all-through school, and the appointment of the new leader is central to fully delivering the vision of the governors and BEST.

Creating a genuine all-through school, with a unique offer to parents in Bedford, will be both challenging and demanding, but offers the right candidate a rare opportunity to really make your mark and leave a lasting legacy.

The successful candidate will lead this change process with a passion for making a difference in the academy and will ultimately deliver the best education for our young people.

The core purpose of the Principal role is to provide professional leadership and management for the academy that reflects the vision, values and beliefs of the Trust. This will promote a secure foundation from which to achieve high standards in all areas of the academy’s work.

The Principal will:

• Provide vision, leadership and direction for the academy


• Ensure the academy provides a learning environment that promotes and secures excellent teaching, effective learning, high standards of achievement and good behaviour


• Produce a balanced budget for the academy for each financial year, for approval by the Board, and ensure that all expenditure is within the agreed budget


• Ensure that the academy is prepared for regular inspections and audits, e.g. Ofsted, H&S, and Safeguarding


• Create a safe and productive learning environment which is engaging and fulfilling for all pupils and staff


• Work effectively with the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Trustees, Central Services and the Local Committee of the Board

The Principal will be responsible for securing high standards and delivering exceptional outcomes in all aspects of the work of the academy.

To find out more and register your interest in the role, please visit www.joinbest.co.uk

If you have any questions, please contact Liz Hayden on 07706 333575 or email [email protected]

• Closing date for applications: Thursday 27^th
  November 2025 at 12:00 noon


• Interviews: Wednesday 3^rd
  and Thursday 4^th December 2025

Bedfordshire Schools Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. An enhanced disclosure from the DBS will be required. All shortlisted candidates will also be subject to an online search in line with our safeguarding due diligence.