SPARK Schools is a social impact disruptor and is leading change in the education space through its network of affordable private schools. The SPARK Schools network provide transformational education innovation through Africa’s first blended learning model, which elevates student achievement and provides the tools teachers need to serve their students effectively.

The blended learning model, which combines classroom teaching and online instruction, allows teachers to anticipate student needs and equips schools to provide personalized education at an affordable cost. SPARK Schools is pioneering this transformative education model to ensure the accessibility of university and careers for all.

SPARK Schools has a culture of collaboration, because getting South Africa to lead global education takes a team effort. We are innovators who strive for excellence through persistence and a sense of urgency to achieve SPARK Schools’ vision, mission and social transformational objectives. Our work environment is vibrant/cheerful, fast-paced/dynamic, engaging/stimulating, tech-enabled and data driven.

SPARK Schools is a high growth, mission and values-driven, entrepreneurial organisation, operating 21 primary schools and 5 high schools and serving over 16,000 families in 2025. We are looking for dynamic people to join our team.

Purpose of Role:

The Principal drives student achievement by leading a team of excellent staff to prepare SPARK scholars for university and beyond. The Principal sets a rigorous vision for student achievement and implements strategic steps to lead staff, families, students, and the greater community to fulfill that vision. The Principal collaborates with the Assistant Principal(s) and School Operations Officer to uphold high expectations for school culture, student achievement, and professional development.

The Principal drives decision making within the SPARK Schools model in terms of the instructional program and school operations to ensure that every SPARK scholar is academically successful and an excellent representative of the SPARK core values. The Principal is integral to the SPARK Schools “culture” and our commitment to rigorous, engaging learning experiences for our scholars.

Reports To: High School Acadamic Manager

Responsibilities:

Create and maintain a school culture that values high achievement, strong character, and a love for learning.
Implement a highly rigorous and engaging instructional program that promotes content mastery, creative problem solving, and character development, which is consistent with SPARK Schools’ mission and vision.
Use quantitative (assessment) and qualitative (anecdotal) data to drive decision-making and instruction at the school.
Set ambitious goals, academically and otherwise, and hold staff and students accountable for achieving those results.
Manage behaviour policy, student behaviour, and oversee the implementation of individualised plans for students who repeatedly do not meet SPARK Schools’ behavioural expectations.
Promote a culture of self-reflection and continual improvement of staff effectiveness
Facilitate the professional development of SPARK staff by maintaining a consistent weekly observation and coaching cycle and collaborating with SPARK Support staff to provide relevant weekly professional development sessions.
Conduct termly evaluations of SPARK staff to nurture their professional growth and leadership capacities.
Facilitate a high-achieving work environment where staff feel genuinely valued and supported.
Build relationships with all relevant stakeholders, including parents, families, the greater community, and the Department of Basic Education, and leverage these relationships to increase student achievement.
Lead termly and monthly school-wide community events, leveraging the capacity of the school leadership team, teachers, and active parents for support.
Lead the process for achieving accreditation with Umalusi for the delivery of National Senior Certificate examinations.
Lead the process for administering National Senior Certificate examinations and relevant district and provincial standardised examinations, including examination routines & procedures as outlined in the implementation guides and by DBE regulations.
Manage the Instructional Assistant Principal(s) and the School Operations Officer and facilitate their leadership development in the context of SPARK’s network-wide leadership development program.
Ensure study hall attendance and late pick up is tracked accurately and submitted to billing on time.
Implement a rigorous study hall product with measurable academic outcomes using data-driven strategies.
Organise and manage the high school clubs as per the implementation guide.
Lead the site-specific crisis management team through the understanding and implementation of the SPARK Schools crisis management strategy.
Participate in the selection of new school based personnel.
Responsible for the onboarding of all new staff members.
Define, implement, and share school wide policies, systems, and procedures with parents, students, staff, and community (for example, arrivals, dismissals, cover timetables, study hall timetables, and examination administration) to facilitate student achievement and align with SPARK Schools network -wide best practice.
Participate actively in staff development opportunities as a member of the SPARK Schools team.
Conduct self in a professional manner at all SPARK Schools events and to all stakeholders.
Manage the school's financial budgets.

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