Head of Department - History and Politics
Rickmansworth School, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 3AQ11 days remaining to apply
Closing date
13 October 2025 at 9am
Date listed
1 October 2025
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
- MPS/UPS incl. Fringe plus TLR 2c
Additional allowances
MPS/UPS incl. Fringe plus TLR 2c
Head of Department - History and Politics job summary
Head of Department - History and Politics
Rickmansworth School
About the role
Location: Croxley Green, Rickmansworth
Contract type: Full -Time - Permanent
Salary: MPS/UPS incl. Fringe plus TLR 2c
Start Date: January 2026
Rickmansworth School is seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Head of History and Politics to lead our vibrant and ambitious department. This is an excellent opportunity for a dedicated and skilled educator to shape and develop the delivery of history across Key Stages 3, 4, and 5, in addition to politics at Key Stage 5, while playing a strategic role within our school community.
History is a popular and successful choice at Key Stage 4 with three hundred students studying it for GCSE. In recent years, the majority of students have achieved grades 5-9 with 40% achieving grades 7-9 following the Edexcel syllabus. A Level History, using the Pearson Edexcel syllabus, is also popular with uptake typically comprising sixty students. Over 70% of our A Level students have achieved grades A*-B over the last two years, with 100% achieving grades A*-C in their summer 2025 examinations. Our politics department continues to develop with on average 50% of students achieving grades A*-B.
As Head of Department, you will be responsible for the leadership and ongoing development of a dynamic and inclusive curriculum, ensuring high-quality teaching and learning that inspires curiosity, critical thinking and a love of history and politics. You will lead a committed team of staff and oversee a wide-ranging extra-curricular programme, including clubs, debates, and events, fostering engagement and enthusiasm for the subjects across the school.
If you are passionate about history and politics education, have a strong track record of success and are keen to make a meaningful contribution in a supportive and forward-thinking school, we would be delighted to hear from you.
About the History and Politics Department
The History and Politics Department at Rickmansworth School is a forward-thinking team dedicated to inspiring curiosity, critical thinking and a strong understanding of the past and contemporary political systems. We teach engaging and challenging lessons in History across Key Stages 3, 4, and 5, and Politics at Key Stage 5. Our department also offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities, including debates, trips and historical projects. We aim to foster a love of learning, encourage independent thought, and equip students with the skills to succeed both academically and personally.
Our A-Level History and Politics students have the exciting opportunity to participate in a study trip to the United States, designed to deepen their understanding of key historical events and themes. The trip includes visits to significant sites, museums and landmarks that bring American history to life, from the foundations of the constitution to the civil rights movement and beyond. This hands-on experience allows students to connect classroom learning with real-world history, develop independent research skills and gain a broader cultural perspective.
In return, we will offer you
Outstanding CPD opportunities to support your professional growth
A school with exemplary student behaviour, where learning is valued
A collaborative working environment where teamwork is at the heart of everything we do
Highly skilled and supportive staff, working together to make a difference
A comprehensive wellbeing programme to ensure you feel valued and supported
Rickmansworth School is an outstanding, heavily over-subscribed 11-18 co-educational academy, consistently achieving excellent academic results. We provide a nurturing and dynamic environment for our 1575 ambitious young people. Our strong academic track record at both GCSE and A-Level ensures that the vast majority of our students go on to their first-choice universities.
Further information is available from our website - https://www.rickmansworth.herts.sch.uk
We encourage potential candidates to contact Rickmansworth School for an informal discussion about the role or to arrange a visit to the School, please contact the School on 01923 773296 or email applications@rickmansworth.herts.sch.uk.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and are an equal opportunities employer who has a zero tolerance to bullying and all types of harassment. Applicants must declare any criminal convictions and submit to a check with the Disclosing and Barring Service as the post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Applications Process
Deadline for applications: 08:00 Monday 13 October 2025
Interviews: 15 October 2025 - please ensure you can attend as this is the only date we can hold interviews
Please apply as soon as possible as shortlisting/interviews will progress up until the closing date. Should a suitable candidate be appointed, we reserved the right to close the advert early.
Due to the volume of application we receive if you do not hear from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume we will not be progressing your application further on this occasion.
Selection Process:
We are required for only shortlisted candidates to conduct online searches about an applicant as part of our shortlisting process in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance 2024 in order to identify any incidents or concerns which are publicly available online. On signing the declaration on application you will be agreeing to the acknowledgement that such searches will be conducted as part of the shortlisting process.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the school where there will be a number of related tasks, details of which will be discussed on the day. Interviews will be held with the Headteacher and possibly another member of SLT. There will also be a tour of the school estate and this may be conducted by other members of the school community.
Further information about the job
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
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 Rickmansworth School
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- 1550 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Rickmansworth School website
Rickmansworth School is an 11-18 heavily oversubscribed co-educational partially (35%) selective academy with nearly 1455 students on roll, increasing to around 1575 students over the next five years. Academic results are strong at KS4 and KS5 with the vast majority of students securing their first choice university destinations.
The School is in a very strong, stable financial position with over £4M recently spent on school expansion including a new Sixth-form centre, performing arts theatres and an Innovation & Design Centre. The School is also supported extremely well by a fantastic PTA and Foundation. Our outstanding staff well-being programme includes fortnightly well-being periods, access to our fitness suite and swimming pool, flu vaccinations and complimentary eye tests. The School’s admissions criteria gives preference to staff members’ children.
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