Faculty Leader - Art, Design & Technology (Food or DT specialists only)
The Priory School, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY3 9EE31 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
6 March 2026 at 9am
Date listed
3 February 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
Subjects
- Art and design, Design and technology, Food technology
Working pattern
- Full time: Monday to Friday, 8.20am to 3.10pm as per Teachers terms & conditions
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- L5 to L7
What skills and experience we're looking for
Main Purpose
- Provide strategic leadership of Art, Design & Technology Faculty to secure excellence in curriculum, teaching, assessment, and outcomes for all learners, including disadvantaged, SEND, EAL, and high prior attainers.
- Contribute as a member of the Extended Leadership Team (ELT) to whole‑school priorities, culture, and performance - deputising for SLT as required.
- Build a high‑performing team, developing staff, talent, and succession, while safeguarding, promoting wellbeing, and optimising workload.
- Lead evidence‑informed improvement and innovation that aligns with the school’s vision and values, Trust strategy, and statutory frameworks.
- Promote creativity, innovation, and enterprise education within the faculty and across the wider curriculum. Lead enrichment and extra-curricular programmes that inspire future thinking and practical skills.
Duties & Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Culture
- Translate the school’s vision into an ambitious faculty strategy with clear milestones, resourced plans, and risk management.
- Lead the faculty’s contribution to whole‑school priorities as outlined in the School Development Plan.
- Champion the belonging framework and an inclusive culture that welcomes diversity, ensures equity, and actively addresses barriers to participation and achievement.
- Model and promote professional conduct and the Teachers’ Standards (Part 1 & Part 2).
- Work in partnership with the Assistant Faculty Leader to co-plan faculty improvement strategies, delegate responsibilities effectively, and maintain regular communication to ensure alignment.
- Champion a culture of creativity and innovation, embedding enterprise education and future-focused learning across the school.
- Lead whole-school initiatives that promote design thinking, sustainability, and entrepreneurial skills.
Curriculum Leadership
- Design, sequence, and quality‑assure a coherent, ambitious curriculum across KS3 & KS4 that builds powerful knowledge, disciplinary literacy, and progression (including SEND adaptations and EAL strategies).
- Ensure alignment with national frameworks, exam specifications & School/Trust curriculum principles.
- Maintain all curriculum documentation; audit and refine annually.
- Lead curriculum innovation and cross‑curricular coherence.
- Oversee exam entries, NEAs/coursework, controlled assessments, and JCQ compliance, working with the Exams Officer.
- Ensure the KS3 curriculum integrates Art, Design, Technology, and Food & Nutrition to develop creative problem-solving, technical skills, and cultural awareness.
- Embed enterprise projects and opportunities for students to design, create, and showcase work.
Teaching, Learning & Assessment
- Set and model high expectations for evidence‑informed pedagogy and climate for learning; regularly coach and mentor staff.
- Implement a proportionate QA cycle in line with school monitoring expectations with clear feedback and follow‑up.
- Lead QA strategy and delegate operational monitoring to Assistant Faculty Leader.
- Ensure robust assessment: valid, reliable, and fair; standardised and moderated; formative practices that drive planning and intervention.
- Embed inclusive classroom practice, adaptive teaching, and reasonable adjustments in partnership with the SENDCo.
- Lead intervention strategies for progress and attainment—including PP and other vulnerable cohorts.
- Maintain Ofsted readiness: staff can articulate curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, and impact; evidence is current and accurate.
Data, Standards & Impact
- Own faculty performance: Progress 8/Attainment 8, subject outcomes, destination data, attendance and behaviour within the faculty.
- Lead intelligent use of MIS/analytics platforms to track attainment, progress of key cohorts, and QA outcomes.
- Regularly report impact to SLT/Governors/Trust with diagnostic analysis, action plans, and evaluation of strategies (including cost‑benefit where applicable).
- Agree KPIs and success criteria and monitor them rigorously.
People Leadership, Talent & Wellbeing
- Line‑manage staff with clear objectives, high support/high challenge, and fair appraisal aligned to school priorities.
- Lead CPD strategy for the faculty: evidence‑informed, collaborative, and impact‑evaluated; develop coaching, instructional coaching, and peer learning.
- Support ECTs, trainees, and new staff induction; mentor aspiring leaders and plan succession for key roles.
- Promote staff wellbeing and sustainable workload: simplify processes, reduce unnecessary burdens, and use technology intelligently.
- Address underperformance with support plans and clear timelines, working closely with SLT and HR.
Inclusion, Safeguarding & Pastoral
- Ensure safeguarding is paramount: all staff understand and follow KCSIE (latest version), school procedures, and safer working practice including online safety.
- Work with SENDCo to secure effective graduated response, EHCP implementation, and quality of SEND provision.
- Champion attendance and behaviour standards within the faculty; ensure consistency with whole‑school systems and restorative approaches.
- Lead equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Enrichment, Partnerships, Stakeholders & Community
- Build strong relationships with parents/carers, governors, Trust networks, local schools and community partners.
- Contribute to marketing, recruitment, transition, and open/information evenings; articulate the faculty’s offer and celebrate success.
- Coordinate enrichment, careers (Gatsby Benchmarks), trips/visits, and extracurricular opportunities that broaden students’ experiences.
- Develop partnerships with local businesses, creative industries, and higher education institutions to enhance enterprise and innovation opportunities.
- Coordinate exhibitions, showcases, and competitions to celebrate student creativity.
- Lead and promote extra-curricular clubs and events such as design challenges, art exhibitions, and food innovation workshops.
Resource, Finance & Risk
- Hold the faculty budget: plan, forecast, procure resources; ensure value for money and adherence to financial regulations.
- Oversee learning environments, equipment, technicians, and health & safety risk assessments.
- Manage data protection/UK GDPR compliance in faculty systems and promote good cybersecurity.
- Embed sustainability in curriculum and operations.
Digital Strategy & Contingency
- Lead digital learning within the faculty: use of AI, platform adoption, accessibility tools, and staff/student digital literacy.
- Maintain remote learning contingencies for continuity of education and assessment where required.
Meetings & Communication
- Actively contribute to Extended Leadership Team (ELT) meetings and strategic planning; lead faculty meetings with purposeful agendas and action logs.
- Provide timely updates to SLT/Governors/Trust; cascade information and secure follow‑through.
Professional development
- Drive faculty CPD and contribute to whole-school training.
- Help keep knowledge and understanding relevant and up-to-date by reflecting on your own practice, liaising with school leaders, and identifying relevant professional development to improve personal effectiveness.
- Maintain current Safer Recruitment training and demonstrate compliance with relevant safeguarding standards.
- Take opportunities to build the appropriate skills, qualifications, and/or experience needed for the role, with support from the school.
Form Tutor Responsibilities
In addition to the core duties of this role, the postholder will undertake the responsibilities of a Form Tutor, providing high-quality pastoral care and guidance for a designated group of students. This includes:
- Acting as the first point of contact for parents/carers on pastoral matters.
- Registering students accurately and delivering the agreed tutor programme.
- Monitoring attendance, behaviour, and wellbeing, liaising with Heads of House and Student Support teams.
- Promoting participation in house events and extracurricular activities.
- Supporting safeguarding and inclusion by understanding the needs of all tutees, including SEND and disadvantaged students.
Other Responsibilities
- Responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
- Comply with and assist with the development of policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
- Be aware of and comply with all schools policies and procedures.
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equal opportunities for all.
- Contribute to the overall ethos and aims of the Schools and Trust.
- Appreciate and support the role of other professionals.
- Attend and participate in relevant meetings, training and learning activities as required.
The postholder may be required to carry out any other duties that are commensurate with the post. Whilst every effort is made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post each individual task undertaken may not be identified.
This job description is subject to review, in negotiation with the post holder at any time. However, an annual review of this job description and allocation of responsibilities will take place as part of agreed performance management arrangements.
What the school offers its staff
Hours & Working Weeks
Work-life balance is important in our Trust.
Having the ability to organise your working hours in a way that suits you, whilst not compromising your hours and standard of work, alongside meeting the requirements of the post and the needs of the Trust can help to achieve this work-life balance. It may be to avoid a busy commute or to allow time to work around childcare or caring for dependents. We will be looking for core-working hours, which will be agreed with the successful applicant and other hours are to be worked around other commitments.
We also support home-working and this will be discussed at interview.
You must exhibit a high level of self-motivation and self-discipline and be able to manage your own time effectively for this to be successful.
In addition to a comprehensive induction and a commitment to your ongoing training and career progression, we also offer:
ü Unbeatable Pension Scheme
Thinking about your future? We are too and it’s never too early. We’ll automatically enrol you onto the relevant pension scheme – we will pay a whopping 28.68% into your Teachers Pension scheme or 19% if you are a member of our amazing support staff through the local government pension scheme – you’ll find it hard to beat that.
ü Holiday
Whilst holiday allowances vary across the roles, we offer no less than 27 days plus bank holidays– and to top it off, your holiday entitlement grows as your career does – as after five years’ service you’ll be awarded five extra days. Plus, we run a special leave policy making allowances for paid time off for those unplanned life events or family milestones that we just wouldn’t expect you to miss.
ü Saving Scheme
Saving for those rainy days has never been easier than with our salary savings scheme where you can have your savings taken directly from your salary into an accredited savings scheme.
ü Support for you and your family
We understand that becoming a parent, growing your family or looking after those who mean the most to you, can be life changing. That’s why we’re proud to provide policies that fit around your family, whenever you might need it.
ü Your wellbeing
It’s a top priority for us, and that’s why we look after your physical wellbeing with free eye tests, flu vaccinations, and an outstanding occupational health service. We also look after your mental wellbeing too, with our employee assistance programme, providing legal, financial, health, parenting and life advice with 24 hour access for you and your family members. We also provide access to independent counselling specialists to beat those long waiting lists and ensure you have access to the right support at the right time.
ü Online GP Service
Struggling to get an appointment with your local GP, we’ve got you covered. As an employee at The 3-18 Education Trust you will have 24 hour access to a GP appointment, these usually take place within 2 days at a time to suit you, prescriptions provided when required to be collected at your local pharmacy. This service is also open to your dependants.
ü We’ve always got you covered
If the unexpected happens – for example, you can’t work because of illness or you’re in an accident – we’ve got you covered with excellent sick pay benefits. Plus, in the event of death in service, we’ll pay up to three times your salary. All these give you financial protection and take away any worries – all at no cost to you.
ü Cycle to work scheme
Choose a brand-new bike and accessories and save on tax and National Insurance. Select a bike worth up to £3,000 and spread the cost over 12 months, interest free.
ü Home and Electronics Scheme
The latest Xbox on the birthday list? Washing machine broken down at just the wrong time of year? We have you covered with our newest salary sacrifice scheme, open all year round and open to all staff, spreading the payments for those expensive items over 12 months.
ü Awards for long service
We owe so much to our long-serving colleagues. That’s why we’re all about rewarding their continuous service and celebrating their key milestones. Just the way it should be.
ü Career Progression
From bitesize learning right through to professional qualifications. With our trust wide dedicated CPD leads, we believe every colleague should have the chance to progress – personally, professionally and as far as possible.
ü Additional Perks
Many of our sites have access to freshly made hot meals at a discounted rate, free carparking, gyms and swimming pools all open to members of staff at greatly reduced rates or free.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
The 3-18 Education Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, as such this post requires acknowledgement and understanding of safeguarding and child protection policies which can be found on the school website. Successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.
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 The Priory School
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 856 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- The Priory School website
- Email address
- pri-hr@pri.318education.co.uk
- Phone number
- 01743284000
Arranging a visit to The Priory School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email pri-hr@pri.318education.co.uk.
School location
Similar jobs nearby
Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed
Find more school jobs in Shrewsbury and Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin