Head of Department - Visual Arts
Longsands Academy, St Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19 1LQ20 days remaining to apply
Start date details
Jan 2026
Closing date
2 November 2025 at 11:59pm
Date listed
13 October 2025
Job details
Job role
- Teacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Subject
- Art and design
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £33,235.00 - £52,064.00 Annually (Actual) TLR2D £5,885
Head of Department - Visual Arts job summary
Head of Visual Arts
Salary: £33,235 - £52,064 FTE Plus TLR 2D £5,885
Start Date: January 2026
Working hours: Full time, Permanent
Advert closing date: 02/11/2025
Are you a creative and inspiring educator with a passion for visual arts?
Do you champion diversity and inclusion through your teaching?
If so … we want to hear from you!
Longsands Academy, located in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, is a successful and inclusive secondary school that forms part of the Astrea Academy Trust. With a strong commitment to academic excellence, the school offers a knowledge-rich curriculum delivered by subject specialists in a supportive and engaging environment. Longsands fosters a scholarly culture that is both disciplined and joyful, encouraging students to reach their full potential.
The academy is currently seeking a Head of Visual Art to join its thriving Art department. This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate and experienced educator to lead and develop the subject, inspire creativity across the school, and contribute to a dynamic and ambitious learning community
Key responsibilities:
- Lead the strategic development of the Art curriculum, ensuring it is broad, balanced, and inspiring
- Oversee the planning, delivery, and assessment of high-quality Art lessons across all key stages
- Support and mentor Art staff, promoting professional development and sharing best practice
- Monitor and evaluate teaching standards, pupil progress, and departmental outcomes
- Promote creativity, critical thinking, and cultural awareness through visual arts
- Organise exhibitions, displays, and enrichment opportunities to showcase student work
- Manage departmental resources, budgets, and equipment effectively
- Ensure health and safety procedures are followed during practical activities
- Contribute to whole-school initiatives and collaborate with other departments
- Uphold the school’s values and ethos, fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment
What we can offer:
Comprehensive professional development, including access to sector-leading expertise and a dedicated Leadership Academy for aspiring and current leaders
Inclusive and supportive work culture, with a focus on collaboration and staff wellbeing
Opportunities for career progression across a growing network of schools in South Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire
Excellent CPD and development opportunities across the Astrea Trust
A full list of employee benefits is available in the ‘Join our Team’ brochure attached
About the Trust
Astrea Academy Trust is a values-led family of schools committed to delivering an education that inspires beyond measure. With academies across South Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire, Astrea champions excellence, equity, and enrichment for every child. The Trust fosters a culture of high expectations, collaboration, and continuous improvement, empowering pupils to thrive academically and personally. Staff are united by a shared mission to transform lives and build strong, inclusive communities through exceptional teaching and leadership.
Interested in Applying?
If you are passionate about education, looking for a fresh opportunity, or simply want to make a positive impact, we would love to hear from you. Take a look at the Job Description and Recruitment Pack to find out more about the role or contact our recruitment team at recruitment@astreaacademytrust.org.
Closing Date:
The closing date for applications is 02/11/2025. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity!
Commitment to Safeguarding and EDI:
Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All posts are subject to satisfactory background checks, including references and enhanced DBS checks. We value diversity and encourage applications from candidates who are underrepresented in our workforce, including people from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQI+ communities. As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to promoting a culture that ensures there are no barriers to the recruitment, development, and progression of disabled staff across the trust. We provide reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process to ensure disabled job applicants have the best opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.
Flexible Interview Dates:
Please note that interview dates are flexible, and the academy reserves the right to interview shortlisted candidates during the application window.
Ready to Make a Difference?
Step into a rewarding role where your passion and skills truly matter. Join our supportive, forward-thinking team and help shape futures—apply today and start your journey with us!
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and we expect all staff to share this commitment.
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 Longsands Academy
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- 1554 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Longsands Academy website
Longsands Academy, part of Astrea Academy Trust, is a successful, fully-inclusive secondary school at the heart of its community. We pride ourselves on providing an engaging and supportive environment in which our students feel empowered to reach and embrace their full potential with confidence. Our staff are committed to nurturing the abilities of every child with a curriculum which promotes academic excellence and is delivered by subject specialists. The opportunities we provide allow all students to showcase their talents, whether through the traditional school day or as a result of the wealth of extra-curricular activities on offer. Furthermore, in order to develop the important qualities of independent learning and resilience, our students are encouraged to take responsibility for their learning both in and out of lessons. We are extremely proud of the achievements of our students that are a result of the high expectations, students’ hard work and commitment and the supportive relationships that exist between staff, students and their parents/carers.
The pursuit of academic excellence is at the heart of the Academy. Through high expectations of behaviour, a commitment to great standards of teaching delivering a knowledge-rich curriculum, and positive working relationships with all members of the academy community, all students, regardless of their background or personal circumstances, are encouraged to achieve their academic aspirations. We believe that schools must teach powerful knowledge that takes students beyond their everyday experiences. We believe in a traditional, subject-based approach to teaching in order to create a scholarly culture that is disciplined and joyful. We want to ensure that we open doors for every students’ future and develop in them a life-long love of learning.
We are committed to developing our staff to be the very best that they can be by striving to ensure that all of our colleagues can access high-quality Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Our CPD programme is both department-based and in collaboration with academies within the Astrea family and external partners. Wide-ranging opportunities for professional development are available for staff at all stages of their career, including ECTs, experienced classroom teachers, middle and senior leaders and support staff.
School location
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