Lead Practitioner in Food Technology

Whickham School; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Gateshead is looking for a Lead Practitioner in Food Technology to drive innovation and transform teaching practices. This role emphasizes collaboration, development of colleagues, and a focus on impactful teaching. With reduced teaching time, you will coach fellow educators while enhancing student engagement in Food Technology across KS3-KS5. This position offers opportunities for leadership and a strong commitment to teacher development, alongside benefits like flexible working arrangements and access to modern technology.

Benefits

Dedicated planning time

Flexible work-life balance

Access to fitness facilities

Salary sacrifice schemes

Higher admission priority for children

Qualifications

• Experience in teaching Food Technology at KS3-KS5 level.
• Proven track record of developing teaching practices in a team environment.
• Commitment to evidence-based teaching and continuous professional development.

Responsibilities

• Transform teaching practices through innovative approaches.
• Coach and mentor colleagues, fostering a collaborative environment.
• Conduct whole-school training to enhance teaching outcomes.
• Engage and motivate pupils to excel in Food Technology.

Skills

Vision for whole-school impact

Ability to develop others

Evidence-based practice

Confident teaching across KS3-KS5

Strong relationship-building

Job description

Qualifications & Experience

• Has the vision to see beyond your own classroom to whole‑school impact
• Thrives on developing others and seeing them succeed
• Grounds your practice in evidence and research, not just "what works for me"
• Can teach confidently across KS3-KS5
• Understands that great teaching is about relationships, high expectations, and relentless focus on progress

Role Overview

Imagine a role where you don't just teach - you transform teaching. As our Lead Practitioner in Food Technology, you'll be at the heart of educational innovation, working alongside a dynamic team of lead practitioners who are redefining what excellent teaching looks like. This isn't about adding to your workload - it's about amplifying your impact. You'll have reduced teaching time to focus on what matters: developing cutting‑edge practice, coaching colleagues, and ensuring every lesson counts for the pupils at Whickham School.

What Makes Whickham Special?

We're not just another high‑performing school (though our Progress 8 of +0.26 in 2024 and 81%+ achieving 4+ in English and Maths in 2025 speaks for itself). We're a community that genuinely invests in our staff: Your work‑life balance matters to us:

• Dedicated collaborative planning time – one hour every fortnight with your subject team
• Reduced teaching allocation so you can focus on development and coaching
• Flexible approach to work‑life balance considerations
• Access to fitness facilities outside school hours

We invest in your growth:

• Work with our established team of lead practitioners shaping whole‑school practice
• Leadership development opportunities that are meaningful, not just box‑ticking
• Evidence‑based CPD that actually makes a difference

Practical benefits:

• Salary sacrifice schemes including bicycle and electric vehicle leasing
• Higher priority for your children's admission to our heavily oversubscribed school
• Modern, outstanding technology facilities to work with

Your Impact

You’ll join our successful IT, Business and Technology Faculty – a team of 13 staff who consistently deliver some of the school's top results. But more importantly, you'll:

• Model excellence – demonstrate what outstanding Food Technology teaching looks like across KS3–KS5
• Develop others – coach and mentor colleagues using evidence‑based approaches
• Drive innovation – lead our Whickham Learning Model implementation, ensuring every pupil experiences the four stages of effective learning
• Shape practice – plan and deliver whole‑school training that transforms teaching across all subjects
• Make it real – work with pupils who are genuinely engaged, in a school where behaviour is strong and aspiration is high. Our uptake of food at level 2 & 3 is high and growing.