Head of Chemistry

ISC group; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Accommodation may be available

Job summary

Hampton School seeks a well-qualified Head of Chemistry to lead the department, shape the curriculum and drive outstanding learning across key stages. You will inspire staff, develop innovative courses and maintain high expectations for all pupils.

The role involves teaching up to 26 lessons per week, coordinating schemes of work from GCSE to A level, and supporting Oxbridge preparation; accommodation may be available and a strong commitment to CPD is expected.

Qualifications

• Well-qualified science leader with senior teaching experience in chemistry.
• Experience delivering curriculum development and staff leadership.

Responsibilities

• Set vision and strategic direction for the Chemistry department and curriculum.
• Lead monitoring and development of teaching and learning across GCSE to A level.
• Support CPD and professional development for department staff.
• Teach up to 26 lessons per week and coordinate schemes of work.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Curriculum development

Job description

Hampton School is seeking to appoint a well-qualified, enthusiastic and driven Head of Chemistry with strong leadership and motivational skills. You will be responsible for the vision and strategic direction of the Chemistry department and curriculum, to promote outstanding learning and teaching.

Chemistry is a core subject up to IGCSE and around 120 Sixth Form pupils study OCR Chemistry A level.

All staff in the Department are subject specialists and there is great scope to make your mark on the development of the department. The successful applicant will be committed to delivering genuinely imaginative, varied and challenging courses at all levels in the school including stretching the most able up to Oxbridge level.

The successful candidate will be expected to teach up to 26 (40 minute) lessons per week, which may include a games afternoon and a form tutor period. Chemistry is taught as a separate science subject from the outset. In the First and Second Year, pupils are taught in Form groups for one double period per week.

From the Third to Fifth Year, pupils follow the AQA Chemistry GCSE course and are taught for three periods per week. All pupils are entered for GCSEs in the three separate sciences. Results are excellent, with a phenomenal 74% of pupils achieving grade 9 in GCSE Chemistry in 2026.

The School has its own salary scale and offers generous non-contractual benefits, well above the maintained sector, to attract high-calibre candidates. Accommodation may also be available for the successful applicant. There is a very strong commitment at Hampton to supporting the continuing professional development of colleagues.

In the Sixth Form, sets of around 12 pupils are taught by two teachers who work in parallel. Pupils are taught for seven periods per week in the Lower Sixth and eight periods per week in the Upper Sixth. Extension classes are offered to those applying to Oxbridge and to Chemistry-related courses and the School has tremendous success in the Chemistry Olympiad and Cambridge Chemistry Challenge (two Roentgenium award winners in 2026).

The department also runs two Sixth Form elective courses: Further Chemistry, where pupils cover first year undergraduate chemistry (solid state chemistry, molecular orbital theory and functional group levels in organic chemistry) and undertake an independent project; and Biochemistry, where pupils investigate the chemistry of a wide variety of biological molecules. Results in the Sixth Form are outstanding; in 2026, 40% of pupils achieved an A*, 80% A*/A and all pupils achieved at least a B grade.

Specifications

• GCSE AQA Chemistry
• A level OCR Chemistry A

A contribution to the wider life of the School is also expected from staff at Hampton and Teachers may be responsible to other colleagues in their work, (e.g. a Form Tutor will have the Head of Year as their immediate line manager for pastoral work).

We encourage applications as soon as possible however the School reserves the right to offer the post at any stage in the appointment process.