Principal Teacher

Vacancy Information

Principal Teacher Salary PT point 7 (£71,649 per annum)

Temporary maternity cover until 27th February 2027.

Days And Hours Of Work

Monday - Friday

To start 4th May 2026

Musselburgh Grammar School is a vibrant and ambitious secondary, serving the town of Musselburgh and the nearby village of Whitecraig. The Musselburgh community is strong, lively and loyal and our school sits proudly at the heart of it. Musselburgh is the largest town in East Lothian with easy access to the City Bypass and is only 5 miles east of Edinburgh city centre with excellent bus and train links.

We are a fully comprehensive school with approximately 800 pupils ranging in age from 12 to 18, and over 60 staff in total. We are determined to ensure that every young person receives the very best at MGS, so we're constantly innovating and looking for new ideas to improve our young people's experience.

Our pupil-centred approach and ambition for young people is also reflected in our school values of Honesty, Determination and Respect. Continuing to improve attainment and achievement is our key objective, along with ensuring that our young people develop all the skills required for a positive and successful life after school, and we continue to record excellent exam results year on year.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic, highly motivated and forward-thinking teacher with a passio

n for education and working with young people, and who is looking to move into a leadership position to join our Extended Leadership Team in a temporary full time Curriculum Leader role. This fixed term maternity cover appointment will run from May 2026 until mid February 2027. Secondments are welcome, but candidates must have the support of their Head Teacher before submitting their application. Interviews will be held in the week beginning 23 February.

Our school is in an exciting period of change and we are currently refreshing our school's vision and values for 2026 which is our 400th anniversary year. As the CL of Humanities faculty and as part if the ELT, you will play a key role in shaping and driving our ambitious direction of travel.

The Key Responsibilities Of This Role Are To

• Lead the strategic improvement and day to day operations of the Humanities faculty
• Write, lead, and evaluate the Humanities Faculty Improvement Plan
• Ensure the highest attainment of all pupils in the Humanities faculty
• Contribute to achieving the achieving the School Improvement Plan priorities
• Lead an identified whole school remit

Foster strong and motivating partnerships with pupils, staff, parents, partners and the wider community.

Essential

• Full GTCS registration in a Social Subject
• Proven impactful experience within a secondary school.
• Evidence of continued professional development.
  
  

Job Details

Subject to the policies of the school and East Lothian Council, the duties of a Principal Teacher, as a member of the school's management team, is to perform such tasks as the Head Teacher/Depute Head Teacher will direct having reasonable regard to the overall workload of a classroom teacher.

Please download the Job Outline/Person Specification (available under 'Job Attachments') for the full range of tasks and duties associated with this job. You will need to refer to these in order to complete the application form. You must ensure you meet every 'essential' criteria stated on the Person Specification to be considered for interview.

The ' East Lothian Way' - values and behaviours we expect our employees to demonstrate in their everyday work. Should you be invited to interview, you may be asked questions based on these behaviours. Please refer to the document via the link to familiarise yourself with them.

Job Requirements

Relevant Qualifications

Full GTCS Registration (General)

Evidence of CPD

PVG Membership

This post is considered as a Regulated Role with vulnerable children and/or protected adults, as specified in the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020.

All preferred candidates for posts carrying out regulated work with these groups will be required to become a PVG Scheme member, or undergo a PVG Scheme update if they are already a member, prior to any formal offer of employment being made by East Lothian Council.

Please note: PVG member's records are constantly updated with any new vetting information that arises. Any information that is disclosed on a PVG membership or update check, if relevant to the post being applied for, will be discussed with the applicant and investigated prior to any formal offer being made.

Please Note

If you have spent more than 3 months working or living outwith the UK in the last 5 years then you will be required to present a copy of an overseas criminal record check. Details of how to apply and contact details can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Additional Information

For additional East Lothian Council employment information please click on the following link:

www.eastlothian.gov.uk/teachinginfo

Please Note - Pay arrangements for those starting after 1st day of school session

In accordance with Teachers Conditions of Service (SNCT - Appendix 2.19), Teachers who commence employment with East Lothian Council after the first day of the school session will have their salary for the remainder of the school salary year (which runs from 1 August to 31 July each year), recalculated to reflect how teachers accrue leave and pay.

In these circumstances, a calculation will be carried out upon commencement of employment and leave and pay will be adjusted. Further information will be provided to the successful candidate should this be applicable.

East Lothian Council Secondary Schools

Further details on all East Lothian Council Secondary Schools, including individual school websites can be found here: Secondary Schools

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If you require further information about this vacancy, please call , or email us on

Please note: We do not accept CV's (either electronically or by mail). All our vacancies must be applied for by fully completing the on-line application form. Although there is an 'import data from my CV' function on MyJobScotland, this only imports very limited data and should not be relied upon to complete the application form. If, for example, due to a disability, you are unable to complete the on-line application form you can contact us for a paper application via the telephone number or email address above.

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