Principal
Marling School
Gloucestershire
- New
- Salary:
- L33-L39, £113,646-£131,578
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- April 2026 (or earlier if available)
- Apply by:
- 19 November 2025
Job overview
Permanent
L33-L39, £113,646-£131,578
Start Date: April 2026 (or earlier if available)
We are looking for a bold and values-driven leader to become the next Principal of Marling School, a high-performing grammar school with a co-educational sixth form, known for academic excellence and a commitment to producing confident, independent learners with a respect for all.
About the role
As Principal, you’ll be the driving force behind Marling’s continued success. You'll lead the strategic vision and day-to-day operations of the school, shaping a learning environment that’s ambitious, inclusive and deeply rooted in the needs of our students and community.
This is a leadership opportunity for someone who is ready to inspire, challenge and support a
dedicated team, delivering an outstanding educational experience for every pupil. You’ll ensure high standards of teaching, drive pupil achievement, and foster a culture of excellence, curiosity and care.
At the same time, you’ll play a pivotal role across our wider network, collaborating, innovating, and helping shape the future of education.
About Marling School
Marling School is a high-achieving grammar school for boys aged 11 to 16, with a thriving coeducational sixth form. We serve 1,100 students in the heart of Stroud, building a culture of ambition and support that creates opportunity, nurtures character, and promotes academic excellence in a safe and inspiring environment.
We believe in developing skills alongside knowledge, preparing our students for both academic success and their future place in a global society.
Our curriculum is enriched with co-curricular opportunities from cultural and recreational clubs to international trips across the globe. We are proud of our role in the local community and strive to strengthen those connections even further.
What we’re looking for
We’re looking for a values-led, strategic leader with a strong track record of improving outcomes for all pupils. You’ll be an experienced teacher and senior leader, confident in what great teaching looks like and how to develop it in others.
You’ll bring insight, credibility and the ability to influence and inspire. Whether from a high performing or more challenging school, what matters is your ability to turn ambition into meaningful, lasting impact and a belief in the power of a grammar school education.
Above all, you’ll lead with integrity, optimism and care, building a school community that everyone is proud to be part of.
Who we are
Cotswold Beacon Academy Trust (CBAT) is a locally rooted, values-led trust, committed to delivering excellent education for every child. We are proud to be entering an exciting new chapter and subject to approval by the DfE intend for our trust to merge with Lift Schools later this academic year. Lift Schools are a network of 57 schools, with primary, secondary and special schools, have a reputation for sector leading professional development and are recognised as one of the highest performing trusts in the country across a number of key metrics. Lift Schools are united in their commitment to provide an excellent education, to every child, in every classroom every day. Subject to approval by the DfE, CBAT will join Lift Schools in 2026.
This partnership brings together the best of both trusts, CBAT’s strong local foundations and Lift’s national reach and capacity for collaboration and innovation. Together, we’re building something ambitious and future-facing: a trust where high standards, equity and professional growth go hand in hand.
We place children at the heart of every decision and are united by a clear moral purpose to transform lives through education.
For an informal, confidential conversation, please contact Tanya Bentham at recruitment@liftschools.org.
Closing date: Wednesday 19th November 2025, 12 noon
Interview date: Tuesday 2nd and Friday 5th December 2025 at Marling School
Cotswold Beacon Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will, in accordance with statutory guidance, be subject to a comprehensive pre-employment checking process including references from current and previous employers, health, right to work in the UK, an enhanced DBS check and a further check against the appropriate barred list. This role involves work with students and
provides regular access to children, therefore is a regulated activity. Please see our Recruitment and Selection Policy including Recruitment of Ex-Offenders on the CBAT website.
Attached documents
About Marling School
Why Work at Marling School?
We are searching for the best education professionals
At Marling, we expect high standards, encourage diverse ideas, and require respect and kindness from all stakeholders. Our school vision, ‘Raising Aspirations, Building Character and Succeeding together’ applies to staff and students alike and is central to what we do.
Subsequently, we seek to appoint colleagues with a shared mindset: we value individuals who work hard and recognise the importance of developing their professional learning because “Every Teacher needs to improve, not because they are not good enough, but because they can be even better*”.
Furthermore, the ability to work positively with others, be prompt and proactive and have a sense of humour and can-do attitude are vital to us.
In return, we can offer the following to our teachers and support staff:
• A highly committed and supportive staff team with a focus on innovation and continuous improvement.
• Motivated and engaged students who are proud of their school.
• A focus on Wellbeing and a culture of kindness, collegiality and compassionate leadership.
• Excellent facilities including over £6M of new buildings.
• A culture of personalised continuing professional development suited to career aspirations and stage.
And specifically for teaching colleagues:
• A lesson observation process that is developmental and not judgemental.
• Assessment policies that promote more feedback and less marking.
• A cover policy that means you will rarely be asked to cover colleagues’ lessons..
• The opportunity to work from home from lunchtime onwards where possible.
• Colleagues who actively share their knowledge of innovative technologies and AI to develop outstanding T&L and reduce workload.
If you think you could be the right fit for our school, we look forward to hearing from you!
*Dylan William
Have you considered becoming a teacher?
Marling School is part of the Cotswold Edge Teaching Alliance - a partnership of schools and institutions sharing their skills, experience, talent and capacity to help improve learning and achievement in schools across Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire. CETA members have a shared vision to work together to provide excellent provision and outcomes for all students in their schools and to support other schools to do the same. This is achieved by pursuing excellence in teaching, learning and leadership through training, support, research and development created and delivered by schools for schools. Working in partnership across the primary and secondary sector is central to the CETA ethos. Please visit the CETA website to find out more - www.ceta.school
Please note that you are wholly responsible for fact checking in respect of the information provided by schools. Please also check for the latest visa and work permit requirements that may apply. Tes is not responsible for the content of advertisements or the policies adopted by advertising schools. Tes asks that all schools follow Tes' Fair Recruitment Policy.