26 days remaining to apply

  • Start date details

    As soon as possible

  • Closing date

    28 April 2025 at 11:59pm

  • Date listed

    31 March 2025

Job details

Job role

  • Head of department or curriculum

Visa sponsorship

Visas cannot be sponsored

Key stage

Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5

Subject

Design and technology

Working pattern

Full time: 32.5 hours 52.143 weeks

Contract type

Permanent

Pay scale

MPS/UPS

Additional allowances

TLR2A

What skills and experience we're looking for

Job Purpose: We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Subject Leader to join our team. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading the department, raising standards of attainment and achievement, and ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, balanced curriculum.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead the department team in raising standards of attainment and achievement across the curriculum.
  • Develop and maintain positive attitudes towards the subject and confidence in teaching it.
  • Establish short, medium, and long-term plans for the development and resourcing of the subject.
  • Monitor progress, evaluate the effects on teaching and learning, and guide further improvement.
  • Implement clear policies and practices for assessing, recording, and reporting on student achievement.
  • Set expectations and targets for staff and students in relation to standards of achievement and quality of teaching.
  • Ensure high-quality, consistent teaching and learning across all ability groups.
  • Provide guidance on appropriate teaching and learning methods.
  • Lead professional development of subject staff through example and support.
  • Use data effectively to identify and support students who are underachieving.
  • Ensure the provision of a broad, balanced, relevant, and differentiated curriculum.
  • Establish constructive working relationships among staff involved with the subject.
  • Manage and deploy teaching/support staff, financial, and physical resources within the department.

Requirements:

  • Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
  • Proven experience in teaching and leading a department.
  • Strong subject knowledge and a passion for the subject.
  • Ability to inspire and motivate students and staff.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and contribute to a positive working environment.

Additional Responsibilities:

  • Participate in the academy’s CPD programme.
  • Communicate effectively with parents and external bodies.
  • Contribute to the academy’s planning and quality assurance activities.
  • Support the academy’s ethos and policies.

Closing Date: Monday 28th April 2025 at midnight

Shortlisting: Tuesday 29th April

Interviews: WC 06th May (will be confirmed at a later date)

What the school offers its staff

Shire Oak School, a comprehensive secondary school, was formed in 1970 by merging Shire Oak Grammar School, opened in 1961, with Walsall Wood Secondary Modern School, which had been moved to new buildings adjoining those of the grammar school in 1966. In September 2003 we received designation as a specialist science college.

In April 2011, our school became an 11 to 18 comprehensive converter Academy. In October 2018, Shire Oak Academy alongside Aldridge School, Queen Mary’s Grammar School, Queen Mary’s High School and The Walsall Studio School formed The Mercian Academy Trust.

This is an exciting and innovative time for the Academy and we are looking to appoint an individual who is:

- An inspirational and enthusiastic team member.

- Clear about what constitutes outstanding outcomes for all students.

- A passionate, creative Subject Leader who believes in all students’ capacity to succeed and will embrace our ethos ‘Turning Potential into Excellence’.

We can offer you the support of a strong, hard-working team and the opportunity to work with students who meet the high expectations we have of them.

The Academy has been heavily oversubscribed for a number of years and we are incredibly proud of our external examination results.

For a more detailed look at our Academy access our website onwww.shireoakacademy.co.uk.

Further details are available by contacting the Headteacher’s PA by e-mail ons.read@soa.merciantrust.org.uk

The Mercian Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Pre-employment checks include an enhanced disclosure and barring service check as a requirement of this post. Our Safeguarding Policy is available on our website, and we encourage applicants to review it before applying.

This position is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check (formerly CRB) under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Further details regarding this check are available from the school or by visitingwww.crb.gov.uk.


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.

Applying for the job

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs are not accepted.

Visas cannot be sponsored.
How to apply
If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

About Shire Oak Academy

School type
Academy, ages 11 to 18
Education phase
Secondary
School size
1425 pupils enrolled
Age range
11 to 18
Ofsted report
View Ofsted report

Arranging a visit to Shire Oak Academy

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email bonnie.burns@merciantrust.org.uk.

School location

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