Curriculum Leader of PE & Performing Arts
Alsager School, Stoke-on-Trent, Cheshire, ST7 2HR14 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
7 May 2026 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
23 April 2026
Job details
Job role
- Teacher
- Head of department or curriculum
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
Subjects
- Drama, Music, Physical education
Working pattern
- Full time: FTE - Monday to Friday
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- M1 to U3 (£32,916 to £51,048)
Additional allowances
TLR 1B - £12,392
What skills and experience we're looking for
Role overview
We are seeking to appoint a well-qualified and inspirational teacher to lead our PE & Performing Arts Faculty. This is an exciting opportunity to become a key strategic leader within the school, contributing to self-evaluation, whole-school development planning and our wider ethos, working closely with the School Leadership Group.
- Lead a faculty comprising PE, Drama and Music; line-manage two Deputy Curriculum Leaders and support staff to deliver consistently strong outcomes.
- Be accountable for pupil achievement and progress across the faculty; set high expectations and a culture of high aspiration.
- Use data and quality assurance processes to evaluate impact, address underperformance and drive improvement.
- Model excellent classroom practice and develop teaching and learning across the team.
- Contribute to whole-school priorities through effective strategic leadership.
Who we are looking for
The successful candidate will be passionate about their specialist subject (PE, Drama or Music) and able to inspire and motivate both students and colleagues. You will be a thoughtful, creative practitioner, eager to share and develop excellent teaching and learning, and confident in challenging underperformance to secure sustained improvement.
Person specification
Criteria - Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified teacher status. Honours degree in a relevant specialist subject (PE, Drama or Music). PGCE (or equivalent). Evidence of effective CPD in teaching, learning and subject knowledge.
Desirable
- Middle leadership development/training.
Criteria - Experience
Essential
- Successful teaching across the full age and ability range in an 11–18 setting.
- Excellent classroom practice (able to role-model and coach others).
- Experience of leading and developing colleagues/teams.
- Secure understanding of quality assurance, monitoring and evaluation.
- Confident use of data to diagnose need and implement effective strategies and intervention.
- Practical knowledge of curriculum pathways.
Desirable
- Leadership of whole-school developments.
- Experience of designing and leading CPD.
Criteria - Skills & abilities
- High expectations and commitment to raising achievement for all pupils.
- Strong assessment and intervention practice.
- Excellent communication with staff, students and parents/carers.
- Ability to motivate and build effective teams; able to challenge underperformance appropriately.
- Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
- Ability to use technology effectively to support learning.
- Commitment to maintaining a safe working and learning environment, including appropriate risk assessment.
Criteria - Personal attributes
- Enjoys working with young people; able to inspire and motivate.
- Creative, reflective and solution-focused.
- Ambitious for pupils and the school; outcome-driven.
- Strong team player with a willingness to learn and develop.
- Commitment to the wider life of the school.
Job description
The current conditions of employment of school teachers as laid down by the Department for Education.
The Post
This is a strategic leadership post within the school and as such the post holder will be expected to make significant contributions to whole school planning and issues in addition to the principle responsibilities within the faculty.
The post holder will lead a team of staff across 3 different subject areas (PE, Drama and Music), directly line manage some staff (including x2 Subject Leaders) within the faculty and will report to their SLT link.
Core Purpose
- To be responsible and accountable for pupil achievement and outcomes at all levels in all 4 subjects across the faculty.
- To ensure that Subject Leaders and all Faculty members have the highest possible expectations of their pupils and create a culture of high aspirations across the team.
- Develop, implement and contribute to the vision, ethos and policies of the school in conjunction with Subject Leaders and across the faculty, reflecting the school’s commitment to high achievement, positive behaviour and attitudes to learning.
- Monitor, evaluate and review the performance of the faculty and the 4 subjects to promote good practice and raise standards which will improve outcomes for pupils.
- To monitor and analyse data with Subject Leaders across the faculty and based on this analysis to implement effective strategies and intervention to raise pupil achievement.
- To ensure curriculum coverage, continuity and progression in the faculty, across all subjects for all pupils, across the full ability range and within each subject.
- To lead, develop and monitor programmes of study across the faculty and in all subjects.
- To establish effective working practices with College Managers and relevant support staff across the faculty to ensure the best outcomes for pupils.
- To establish effective partnerships and communication with parents across the faculty to ensure the best outcomes for pupils.
- To ensure the effective and efficient management and organisation of learning and financial resources across the faculty.
- To use accommodation to create an effective and stimulating environment for teaching and learning across all subjects within the faculty.
- To ensure that there is a safe working and learning environment across all subjects in the faculty in which risks are properly assessed.
Strategic Leadership and Development
- Contribute to the self-evaluation and strategic development planning of the whole school, lead and monitor faculty and subject improvement plans as well as action plans to tackle any areas of underachievement.
- To develop and implement in conjunction with Subject Leaders, a clear vision (short, medium and long term) for the faculty which will drive it forward and adapt to current priorities and changes in the educational landscape.
Leading Staff
- To lead, support, recruit, allocate and challenge staff in achieving school, faculty and subject priorities and targets and delegate responsibilities for appropriate aspects of work. Must be prepared to challenge any staff underperformance to secure improvements within the faculty.
- To consider and take responsibility for your own professional development. In addition to supporting and encouraging the professional development of all staff within the faculty, especially the Subject Leaders (and beyond if needed), in line with whole school policy and practice. Which includes contributing to training and development activities within the faculty (and beyond if needed) and be aware of the latest trends and research in the area.
§ To establish clear expectations and constructive working relationships among those involved with the faculty (especially the Subject Leaders), including through team working and mutual support, coaching, devolving responsibilities and delegating tasks, as appropriate; evaluating progress and developing an acceptance of accountability.
- To lead the faculty and directly line manage Subject Leaders within the faculty through the appraisal/performance management process.
Leading Teaching and Learning
- To lead teaching and learning across the faculty by example through being an excellent classroom practitioner themselves.
- To be responsible and accountable for the quality of teaching and learning at all levels across the faculty.
- To evaluate learning and teaching across the faculty in the context of the school and use this analysis to identify effective practice and areas for improvement, and take action to improve further the quality of teaching and learning.
- To establish and implement clear practices for assessing, recording and reporting on pupil achievement in line with school policy and to use this information to recognise achievement and to assist pupils in setting targets for further improvement.
Other
- To undertake any reasonable duty at the request and discretion of the Headteacher.
This role will be reviewed and monitored through the Appraisal process. The person appointed will be expected to work co-operatively as part of a team in all aspects of developmental work, including contributing to schemes of work.
We look forward to appointing staff who are keen to become involved within all aspects of the PEPA faculty and school life in general.
What the school offers its staff
Rewards and Benefits
Our people are at the heart of our success. We recognise that every school and every individual is of equal importance, we respect and have tolerance of all, and we ensure that everyone feels known, appreciated and valued.
We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, investing in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring and a wide range of top-quality training programmes at every level.
You will have opportunities to learn from colleagues who are highly experienced, knowledgeable, and committed education practitioners to support your development and career with the trust.
You will have the autonomy to evolve your school’s vision, values, performance and culture, but you will never be alone, you will have continuous support from the wider trust.
You will also have full access to our rewards package:
Learning and development
We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities including structured qualifications, and you will be able to access support, coaching and mentoring by senior members of staff from across the trust.
Competitive pension scheme
Teaching and School leadership staff are part of the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS).You receive a guaranteed pension through the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. This is a defined benefit scheme, via career average arrangement; benefits are accrued each year based on 1/57th of your pensionable salary including overtime.
Employee Assistance Programme
We have partnered with Legal and General to offer free and confidential advice to our staff. This is available 24 hours, 7 days per week for you and your immediate family. Some of the services include support with family, financial information, legal advice, stress and anxiety, and bereavement. You will also have access to ‘in the moment’ counselling sessions.
Flexible working
We offer various flexible working arrangements, and all staff are encouraged to submit applications for flexible working to suit their individual circumstances.
Discounts on shopping, leisure, and travel
Through our Legal and General EAP our staff have access to a wide range of offers and discounts on high street and supermarket shopping, leisure facilities such as cinema and gym, and travel options such as holidays and hotel stays.
Gym- Access to Alsager Everybody Health and Leisure.
Flu vaccinations - All staff have the option to access their annual flu vaccination via a local pharmacy.
Further information about the job
About Alsager School
Alsager School is a high-achieving, inclusive 11–18 mixed comprehensive with around 1,500 students on roll, including approximately 220 in the Sixth Form. As the only secondary school in the town, we serve a broad catchment area across Alsager and neighbouring parts of Cheshire and Staffordshire.
We are proud of our school community. Our students are friendly, respectful and ambitious, and visitors regularly comment on the calm, purposeful atmosphere around the school and the pride students take in their work.
The PE & Performing Arts Faculty comprises PE, Drama and Music. A team of experienced and well-qualified staff work collaboratively to secure strong outcomes and a rich extra-curricular offer. The school is committed to consistently good and outstanding teaching, and staff engage in ongoing professional development.
The Faculty is led by the Curriculum Leader, supported by two Deputy Curriculum Leaders. Planning and course management are shared responsibilities; teamwork, shared ideas and mutual support are key strengths of the team, alongside a strong tradition of extra-curricular activity.
Subject snapshots Physical Education (PE)
PE is delivered by a team of specialist staff and is supported by excellent facilities, including a sports hall, swimming pool, floodlit Astroturf, gymnasium, extensive playing fields, dance area, courts and a fitness suite. PE is taught across Key Stages 3–5, with a strong uptake of accredited courses at Key Stage 4 and post-16.
Drama
Drama is taught as a discrete subject at Key Stage 3 and offered at GCSE and A level. The department has a strong tradition of performance and enrichment, including school productions, theatre trips and workshops. Drama accommodation includes two fully equipped studios adjacent to the school’s main performance space.
Music
Music is delivered by specialist staff and supported by instrumental tutors who visit weekly. Facilities include two classrooms (including a Music Technology suite), practice rooms and recording facilities. Music is taught at Key Stage 3 and offered at GCSE and post-16, alongside a varied extra-curricular programme (choirs, ensembles and performances).
Commitment to safeguarding
Alsager School is committed to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of all students and expects all staff to share this commitment.
Applying for the job
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Alsager School
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1519 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Alsager School website
- Email address
- n.clarkson@thecornoviitrust.org
- Phone number
- 01270 871100
School location
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