Eton Star Partnership

The Eton Star Partnership was established in 2021 to combine the experience and talents of two high performing educational organisations for the benefit of disadvantaged young people whose contexts make them less likely than their peers to progress to top-flight universities. It embodies the moral imperative shared by Eton College and Star Academies to transform the life chances of these students through the provision of an outstanding education. Its motto – Everything is possible – captures a spirit of optimism, ambition and creativity. Hard work and well considered partnerships can smash through glass ceilings.

A key objective of the Eton Star Partnership is the opening of new sixth forms in national ‘cold spots’ funded through the government’s free schools programme. The first of these will be in three locations: Dudley, Oldham and Teesside. Each sixth form will offer 480 places (240 per year group), catering for young people with high academic potential. They will offer an intensive academic curriculum, focused on A level subjects favoured by top universities, along with the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and a rich, vibrant co-curriculum programme. The sixth forms will also act as the Eton Star Partnership’s flagship for a broad range of partnership and school improvement activities across 11-18 education in each region.

The Eton Star Partnership Board seeks to appoint an outstanding Project Director and Executive Principal. They will create, lead and manage outstanding sixth forms that elevate the life chances of young people from disadvantaged communities. Initially, the remit will focus on coordination of the start-up phase, ensuring the Eton Star sixth forms have the infrastructure, curriculum, staffing and resources to open within agreed timescales. This will involve considerable relationship building with internal, local and national stakeholders. Post start-up, this person will be responsible for overseeing exceptional education provision in the Eton Star sixth forms and successful implementation of the Eton Star strategic vision.

With all this in mind, successful candidates will be senior strategic leaders, with an entrepreneurial mindset and a track record of driving high educational standards. They will feel comfortable in start-up mode: building teams from scratch and placing structure into ambiguity. The new Project Director and Executive Principal will need both educational credibility and diplomatic sensitivity in order to hit the ground running and maintain confidence from a broad group of senior stakeholders.

The Eton Star Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. It is fully committed to the principles of equality, diversity and inclusivity in its recruitment of teaching and operational staff. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the Eton Star Partnership on this appointment. For further information about the role, please read the appointment brief and apply using the link below. To discuss the role, please telephone +44 (0)20 7227 0880 (during office hours). Applications should be received by noon on Thursday 19th October.