Head of Department - Mathematics

Mulberry Academy Hastings, Hastings, East Sussex, TN35 5DN

4 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 September 2026

• Closing date

  14 May 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  20 April 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 3, Key stage 4
• Subject: Mathematics
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £61,534 - £73,105
• Pay scale: Leadership Pay Range 8-15

What skills and experience we're looking for

Education and Training

• A good honours degree in Mathematics or a related subject.
• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and eligibility to work in the UK.
• A commitment to ongoing professional development and reflective practice to continually improve teaching and learning.

Experience

• Significant experience of teaching young people in a school setting, with a proven ability to engage and inspire students of all abilities.
• Experience of planning, delivering and evaluating high‑quality teaching across a subject curriculum, securing strong progress and outcomes for learners.
• Experience of subject leadership or contributing meaningfully to curriculum development, improvement initiatives and enrichment opportunities within a department.
• Demonstrable impact on raising standards, improving teaching and learning, and supporting positive student outcomes across a subject area.
• Strong classroom practice and behaviour leadership, with the ability to model and promote a positive, inclusive and purposeful learning environment.
• Secure understanding of how to support learners with differing needs and abilities to access the curriculum and make sustained progress.
• Effective use of assessment and feedback at both classroom and departmental level to inform teaching, intervention and curriculum review.
• Commitment to developing and implementing strategies to raise achievement, improve consistency and promote positive learning behaviours.
• Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues, supporting professional development and contributing to a strong team culture.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong subject knowledge with the ability to lead and develop high‑quality teaching across the department.
• Secure understanding of the National Curriculum and examination specifications.
• Commitment to high expectations, inclusive practice and strong student outcomes.
• The ability to motivate and engage students of all abilities, encouraging curiosity, mathematical thinking, and active participation in Mathematics.
• Ability to inspire learners and model excellent practice for colleagues.
• Effective organisational, communication and leadership skills.
• The ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and contribute positively to the department and wider school community.
• Strong behaviour leadership and the ability to promote positive learning routines.

Personal Qualities

• A strong commitment to excellence in teaching and learning, with the ability to inspire students and provide effective leadership for colleagues.
• Genuine passion for the subject and education, with the ambition and capacity to lead, develop and champion the subject at departmental level and beyond.
• A confident and influential communicator, able to work effectively with students, staff, parents and senior leaders.
• A clear commitment to high professional standards, reflective practice and continuous improvement, with the potential to contribute to strategic leadership and whole‑school development.
• Resilient, proactive and motivated, with the confidence and aspiration to take on increased leadership responsibility and progress into senior leadership for the right candidate.

What the school offers its staff

Why Mulberry Academy Hastings?

We’re proud of our people. At Mulberry Academy Hastings, we are building a culture where pupils, parents, teachers and staff work together in the service of our community. When you join our school, you will find a place where you belong and where your work truly makes a difference to the lives of young people.

Working in education is not always easy. We recognise the effort, creativity and commitment our staff bring every day. We value this deeply and show our appreciation by creating a culture where staff are supported to grow, develop and thrive.

Providing talent development opportunities

We want ambitious and talented people to join Mulberry Academy Hastings because they want to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people.

Professional development is central to our culture. All teaching staff benefit from weekly professional development, and each year we dedicate a two-week professional development programme in October. During this time teachers deepen their practice and collaborate on improving teaching and learning, while colleagues in support roles have structured time designed specifically for their own professional development.

We also build coaching into teachers’ timetables, ensuring every teacher benefit from regular professional dialogue, reflection and support to continually develop their practice.

As part of the Mulberry Schools Trust, staff benefit from Trust-wide expertise, strong collaboration, and opportunities to grow professionally. The East London Teaching School Hub further enhances this offer, delivering nationally recognised programmes and enabling staff to engage in and contribute to training across all career stages.

Providing a good pension

When you join the Mulberry Schools Trust, you will have access to an excellent pension scheme — either the Teachers’ Pension Scheme or the Local Government Pension Scheme, depending on your role.

Offering flexible working

We recognise the importance of balancing work and home life. We consider flexible and family-friendly working opportunities wherever possible, including part-time, term-time and job-share arrangements. At Mulberry Academy Hastings we also design timetables to support staff wellbeing. All teachers receive a weekly PPA sessions scheduled as an afternoon, which can be worked remotely if teachers wish, supporting a healthy work life balance.

Supporting your health and wellbeing

Balancing everyday life with the requirements of work can create pressures for all of us. Work is a significant part of our lives and we are committed to creating a healthy and supportive working environment.

All employees have free access to a 24-hour confidential counselling and wellbeing service, designed to support staff with a range of personal and professional challenges.

Recognising that the autumn term is the longest and most demanding, we restructured our calendar to better support staff wellbeing with a two-week break in October.

Actively promoting equality and diversity

Mulberry Academy Hastings is committed to building an equal, diverse and inclusive community. We want the very best people to work in our school regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy, family status or marital status. We are particularly keen to receive applications from candidates from historically under-represented and minority groups, helping ensure our workforce reflects the diverse communities we serve.

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.

This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate Mathematics specialist with strong subject and curriculum knowledge to lead and develop the department, inspire students, and make a significant impact within a supportive and ambitious school. For a suitably experienced candidate, this role may include leadership team responsibilities or offer the potential for leadership progression.

You will lead a highly collaborative Mathematics department committed to delivering engaging, high‑quality teaching and ensuring all students develop secure and confident mathematical understanding. Mathematics is a well‑established and valued subject at the school, with a team focused on curriculum development and the continuous improvement of teaching practice.

The successful candidate will have overall responsibility for the leadership of Mathematics, including the strategic planning and delivery of high‑quality teaching, oversight of assessment and progress tracking, and accountability for student outcomes across the department. Working closely with colleagues and senior leaders, you will lead the ongoing development and review of the Mathematics curriculum, fostering a culture of curiosity, consistency and high expectations in teaching and learning.

We are seeking a Head of Department who can engage learners of all abilities, set a clear strategic direction for Mathematics, and inspire both students and staff through enthusiastic and effective leadership. The role includes contributing to the wider life of the school through the leadership of enrichment and whole‑school initiatives.

The successful candidate will hold a relevant degree and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and will demonstrate a clear commitment to high-quality teaching and learning. You will be joining a school with a strong culture of collaboration, coaching, and professional development, where staff are supported to develop their practice to the highest level.

Commitment to safeguarding

Mulberry Schools Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check. This role is considered exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013, 2020 and 2023. It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

Applying for the job

This job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Additional documents

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

2025-2026 MAH Recruitment Pack - Head of Department Maths.pdf - 5.4 MB (opens in new tab)

About Mulberry Academy Hastings

• School type: Academies, ages 11 to 16
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 808 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Mulberry Academy Hastings website
• Email address: c.francis@hastings.mulberryschoolstrust.org
• Phone number: 01424 711950
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/the-hastings-academy

Mulberry Academy Hastings

Our mission is to provide all our students with the opportunities they need to become well-rounded citizens who believe in themselves, value others and can make a positive difference to their world.

We believe in every student’s potential, and we encourage them to aim high. We teach them to have respect for themselves, the community and each other.

All who work and are a part of Mulberry Academy Hastings are continually striving to ensure we are the academy of choice. It has a published admissions number of 180 (900 pupils in total) and hosts a special facility for up to 10 young people with speech, language, and communication difficulties.

Arranging a visit to Mulberry Academy Hastings

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email c.francis@hastings.mulberryschoolstrust.org.

School location

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