Head of Department - Art & Design

St Benedict's Catholic High School, Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 8UG

25 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 September 2026

• Closing date

  23 March 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  26 February 2026

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: Art and design
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Pay scale: UPR/ MPR + TLR 1a (£10,174)

What skills and experience we're looking for

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT ART AND DESIGN

UPR/ MPR + TLR 1a (£10,174)

Required for September 2026

Full time, permanent contract

We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, inspirational and talented leader to take on the Head of Department role in our Art and Design department. We want a person who is passionate about learning and teaching in their specialist field across Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 and who is willing to take part in developing the vision, commitment and determination to raise standards across all levels and abilities.

St Benedict’s School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its students. All applicants are subject to the requirements of the Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education guidelines. This will include checks with past employers and the need for the successful applicant to hold or undergo a suitable enhanced DBS disclosure. This is a full time permanent contract.

Please download further information and an application form from our website at

www.st-benedicts.cumbria.sch.uk

Applications are to be made by completed CES Application Form please to

Andrea Hartley, HR Manager, at andrea.hartley@st-benedicts.cumbria.sch.uk

Please email enquiries to Andrea Hartley, HR Manager, at

andrea.hartley@st-benedicts.cumbria.sch.uk

Closing date for applications: noon on Monday, 23rd March 2026

Interviews will take place shortly thereafter

We do reserve the right to interview and appoint a suitable candidate before the closing date

What the school offers its staff

St Benedict’s is an 11-19 Catholic High School that serves a wide catchment area in West Cumbria.We are a true comprehensive with students of all abilities and diverse backgrounds.

Rated ‘Good with outstanding features’ by Ofsted, we are a larger thanaverage school, housed in modern accommodation with extensive grounds.

Our school is situated on the Cumbrian coast on the edge of the Lake District National Park and not as remote as you might imagine! It is an easy drive or rail journey to work along some of the most scenic routes in the UK and living in Cumbria might be just the lifestyle change to suit you, with relatively low house prices. It really doesn’t rain all the time!

In January 2019 we moved to our new £33m school, which was individually designed (not an ‘off-the-shelf’ model!) and we have state of the art facilities including a full size, floodlit 4G astroturf pitch, sportshall, activity studio, pool, new grass pitches and tennis courts.

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

St Benedict’s School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its students. All applicants are subject to the requirements of the Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education guidelines. This will include checks with past employers and the need for the successful applicant to hold or undergo a suitable enhanced DBS disclosure.

Applying for the job

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About St Benedict's Catholic High School

• School type: Local authority maintained school, Roman Catholic, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 992 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: St Benedict's Catholic High School website
• Email address: andrea.hartley@st-benedicts.cumbria.sch.uk
• Phone number: 01946 692275
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/st-benedict-s-catholic-high-school-whitehaven

VA Catholic School on a brand new campus

Arranging a visit to St Benedict's Catholic High School

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email andrea.hartley@st-benedicts.cumbria.sch.uk.

School location

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