Head of History

Teaching Vacancies; Shrewsbury; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Teaching Vacancies is seeking a proactive History leader to provide strategic and operational direction for the History department, ensuring an ambitious curriculum and improved outcomes for all students.

The role includes accountability for teaching standards, curriculum development, quality assurance and safeguarding across the department, with responsibility for progression from KS3 to KS4 and for setting high expectations in conduct and achievement.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a History department and developing a broad curriculum.
• Ability to lead quality assurance and development planning.
• Experience with assessment, standards and reporting to leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for History and curriculum.
• Lead departmental self-evaluation, improvement planning and performance management.
• Design and evaluate History curriculum for KS3 and KS4.
• Oversee schemes of learning, resources and examination preparation.
• Lead quality assurance and provide feedback for professional development.
• Ensure inclusive pedagogy for disadvantaged students and SEND.
• Report curriculum quality and progress to senior leaders when requested.

Job description

What skills and experience we're looking for

Main Purpose

• To provide strategic and operational leadership for History, securing an ambitious curriculum, consistently strong teaching and improved outcomes for all students.
• To be accountable for the quality of education, standards, culture and day-to-day effectiveness of the History department.
• To carry out the professional duties of a teacher and curriculum leader in accordance with the current STPCD and Teachers’ Standards.

Strategic Leadership and Management

• Establish a clear vision for History aligned with the school’s values, improvement priorities and expectations.
• Lead departmental self-evaluation and improvement planning, using evidence to identify priorities, actions and success measures.
• Set high expectations for professional conduct, teamwork, classroom practice and student achievement.
• Organise the department effectively, allocating responsibilities and ensuring procedures, deadlines and communications are consistently managed.
• Lead, support and hold colleagues to account through coaching, line management, quality assurance and performance management processes.
• Contribute to whole-school evaluation, improvement and leadership activities as required.
• Design, implement and evaluate a coherent, ambitious and inclusive History curriculum at Key Stages 3 and 4.
• Ensure curriculum planning identifies the substantive and disciplinary knowledge students need and sequences learning effectively over time.
• Oversee schemes of learning, knowledge resources, assessment materials and examination preparation.
• Ensure the curriculum reflects appropriate breadth, depth and diversity and enables students to think and communicate as historians.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of curriculum developments, examination specifications and effective History pedagogy.

Teaching, Learning and Quality Assurance

• Model excellent teaching and ensure consistently high expectations across the department.
• Lead a proportionate programme of quality assurance, including review of curriculum implementation, student work, assessment, student voice and classroom practice.
• Use findings from quality assurance to provide constructive feedback, professional development and targeted support.
• Ensure teaching is adapted effectively for disadvantaged students, students with SEND and those requiring additional challenge.

Assessment, Standards and Accountability

• Ensure assessment is purposeful, reliable and aligned with the taught curriculum.
• Analyse attainment and progress information, including outcomes for key groups, to identify priorities and direct support.
• Plan, implement and evaluate intervention for students at risk of underachievement.
• Report accurately on curriculum quality, progress, risks and improvement actions to senior leaders and other stakeholders when requested.

What the school offers its staff

We will offer you:

• An extensive CPD programme to nurture and develop your talents at all levels,
• A professional, hard-working and supportive team that works together to create a welcoming, vibrant learning culture inclusive to all,
• Access to a network of successful schools to share best practice and develop career prospects at the highest level.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.