Job details
Job role
- Head of department or curriculum
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £67177 - £73708 per annum
Director of Humanities (Geography specialism) job summary
Edmonton, London, N18 1NB
Salary: L9-L13 (Outer London), £67,177 - £73,708 + Wellbeing Cash Plan + Car Scheme + Pension Scheme (TPS) + Additional Benefits
Hours: Full Time
Contract type: Permanent
Start date: April 2026 (or earlier if possible)
Inspire, lead, shape the future of Humanities at Lift Aylward
At Lift Aylward, we believe every child deserves an excellent education - in every classroom, every day. We're now looking for a passionate and strategic Director of Humanities to lead our dedicated team across Geography, History, Religious Studies and related disciplines.
This is a pivotal role at the heart of our curriculum leadership team, ideal for someone ready to shape an ambitious, knowledge-rich Humanities offer across our school. This position provides a clear pathway towards senior leadership.
About the role
As Director of Humanities, you'll:
* Lead the strategic direction of the Humanities faculty, ensuring exceptional outcomes for all.
* Develop and support subject leads and teachers through coaching and high-quality CPD.
* Design and implement an inclusive, engaging and evidence-informed curriculum.
* Use data and research to drive progress, identify gaps and close them swiftly.
* Champion a collaborative, ambitious culture with high expectations of all.
* You'll also play a key role in the wider school improvement journey, supporting Lift Aylward as we continue our path from Good to Outstanding.
About you
We're looking for someone who is:
* A confident classroom expert, ideally with a Geography or associated discipline.
* A current or former Head of Department or Faculty with proven impact on student outcomes.
* Skilled in curriculum design, pedagogy, and assessment.
* A strong track record of delivering exceptional outcomes at KS4 and KS5.
* Committed to developing others and building a thriving professional culture.
* Values-led, resilient and energised by the power of education to transform lives.
* You'll need Qualified Teacher Status and a relevant degree (ideally Geography or associated discipline).
About Lift Aylward
We are a community that inspires a love of learning that enables our alumni to lead long, happy and successful lives that leave a positive legacy. We do this every day through our intentional culture and commitment to our mission of providing an excellent education to every child, in every classroom, every day. Our values are lived including Excellence, Integrity, Kindness and Self Control.
Located in the heart of Edmonton, North London, Lift Aylward is a vibrant 11-18 learning community of over 1,000 students, including a thriving and ambitious sixth form. We're proud to serve a richly diverse community where many of our students speak English as an additional language and bring a wealth of cultural perspectives to school life. Our inclusive ethos ensures that every young person, whatever their starting point, has the opportunity to achieve and thrive. Lift Aylward was rated Good by Ofsted in July 2021, reflecting our strong commitment to high standards, excellent teaching, and a culture of care and aspiration.
Who is Lift Schools?
We're a diverse and inclusive network of schools with one clear mission; to provide an excellent education to every child - in every classroom, every day. And we do this across each of our 57 schools. As with our students, we want our team to be empowered to do their best work, supported by the best leadership they've ever had.
We acknowledge and appreciate the exceptional efforts of everyone here in making this an incredible organisation.
We offer you:
* Career development and training: Access a wide range of statutory and developmental training to boost your career.
* Our partnership with One World powers our innovative Instructional Excellence Program. We also offer a comprehensive range of CPD programs, including Ambition Institute's Early Career and NPQ offerings, tailored to both individual and network needs.
* Generous benefits: From your pension plan to healthcare and financial support, we've got you covered.
* Lifestyle perks: Enjoy discounted gym memberships, travel deals, and even electric vehicle incentives.
The role is due to commence April 2026 or sooner . This is a full time, permanent position.
Closing date: 28 November 2025
Interviews will take place on 1 December 2025.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response. All candidates are advised to refer to the job description and person specification before making an application.
Lift Schools are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our people and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair and consistent recruitment process which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.
Lift Schools embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.
We are a Disability Confident Employer and there is a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Further information about the job
The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.
Visas cannot be sponsored.
If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can
help you understand your next steps.
Commitment to safeguarding
Lift Schools are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our people and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair and consistent recruitment process which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.
Applying for the job
This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Lift Aylward
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 19
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- 1401 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 19
Lift Aylward, is a mixed 11-18 comprehensive school in Edmonton, the London Borough of Enfield, serving a truly multi-cultural community, where every student is valued and treated as an individual. Our unwavering standards have seen the school become the school of choice for both the local and surrounding areas.
At Lift Aylward, we believe every young person has the potential to lead a long, happy, and successful life that leaves a positive legacy. Our mission is clear: to provide an excellent education to every child, in every classroom, every day.
Our intentional culture – The Aylward Way – is grounded in our core values of Excellence, Integrity, Kindness, and Self-Control, which are taught, modelled, and celebrated throughout daily school life.
Our curriculum is built around three pillars:
- A knowledge-rich academic curriculum grounded in cognitive science
- A character curriculum that supports spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development
- The Aylward Entitlement, an enrichment programme designed to build cultural and social capital
We set the highest expectations for ourselves and our students because we believe every child has the right to succeed. Through shared values and a culture of ambition, equity, and belonging, we empower our students to thrive and leave a positive legacy.
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