Head of Design Technology
Cottenham Village College, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB24 8UA11 days remaining to apply
Start date details
April 2026
Closing date
8 February 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
23 January 2026
Job details
Job role
- Teacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Subject
- Design and technology
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £33,235.00 - £52,064.00 Annually (FTE) MPS-UPS3 (£33,235 to 52,064) plus a TLR2a (currently £3,527)
Head of Design Technology job summary
Head of Design Technology
Cottenham Village College
Salary: £33,235 - £52,064 + TLR2a £3,527
Contract: Permanent
Closing date: 8th February 2026
Do you have a clear vision for how Design Technology can inspire creativity, problem‑solving and practical excellence across all year groups?
Do you empower colleagues through coaching, collaboration and high expectations, enabling your team to grow and thrive?
The RoleCottenham Village College is seeking an inspiring Head of Design Technology to lead a committed team and drive forward an already successful and creative subject area. This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and innovative teacher who is passionate about empowering students with practical skills, problem‑solving ability and design thinking.
About Cottenham Village College
Cottenham Village College is a highly successful 11-16 mixed academy located in the village of Cottenham, just outside the beautiful city of Cambridge. As part of the Astrea Academy Trust, the college is known for its inclusive ethos, hardworking students, and dedicated staff team who champion Scholarship, Curiosity, and Tenacity. The college prides itself on offering an ambitious curriculum, strong pastoral support, and a culture where every student is encouraged to thrive academically and personally.
It serves a wide local community, offering both secondary education and, as part of Cambridgeshire’s village college model, rich adult learning and leisure opportunities.
- Lead, develop and inspire the Design Technology department, ensuring high-quality teaching across KS3 and KS4.
- Oversee curriculum development, assessment and progress monitoring within the department.
- Promote a culture of creativity, safety and excellence within workshops and classrooms.
- Ensure effective use of resources and high standards of health and safety.
- Support whole‑school initiatives and contribute to the broader life of the college.
- Line manage departmental staff, providing coaching, support and performance management.
- A skilled and enthusiastic DT specialist with strong pedagogical knowledge.
- Proven experience of raising achievement and leading improvement within a team.
- A creative thinker with a commitment to practical, ambitious, and engaging learning.
- Someone who models the values of the school and builds positive relationships with students and colleagues.
- A reflective practitioner who embraces professional development and innovation.
- A leader with the ability to inspire confidence, motivate others, and contribute to the continued success of Cottenham Village College.
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 candidate pack to find out more about the role and how to apply or contact our recruitment team at recruitment@astreaacademytrust.org.
Closing Date:
The closing date for applications is 8th February 2026. 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. 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:
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, so don't miss out on this exciting opportunity. Please note that interview dates are flexible, and the academy reserves the right to interview shortlisted candidates during the application window. Apply today to avoid disappointment and become a part of our mission to create a positive impact!
Ready to Make a Difference?
If you're ready to take the next step in your career and contribute to our dynamic and forward-thinking team, apply today and be a part of our mission to create a positive impact!
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and staff. Every child should feel safe and should be protected from any form of child abuse. We have robust policies and procedures that support our commitment to Safeguarding, this includes our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. The in-house Safeguarding teams at each Academy work in partnership with families and safeguarding partners to ensure the safety of children is paramount. We are committed to ensuring that all staff access regular, contextual safeguarding training to meet the needs of the local community.
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 Cottenham Village College
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 877 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Cottenham Village College website
Welcome to Cottenham Village College, part of the Astrea Academy Trust, a highly-successful 11-16 mixed academy situated close to the beautiful city of Cambridge; here you will find hard-working, well-behaved students and friendly, dedicated staff who are committed to a fully inclusive, comprehensive education.
The college was established in 1963, one of several village colleges in the region that were the inspiration of educational pioneer Henry Morris, who believed that the school should be at the heart of its community and that education should be a lifelong process. This vision of a school that serves and involves its whole community, that fosters high aspirations and inspires a love of learning is as central to our ethos today as it was when it opened.
Through a highly-ambitious curriculum at CVC, we aim to foster students’ curiosity, unlock their potential and raise their aspirations, as well as ensure that students achieve high levels of attainment that will open doors for their future. A stimulating and broad curriculum also places students in a strong position to question and debate the world around them, making them intellectually resilient and prepares them for citizenship in a democratic society. We believe this is a right of all students and one which is liberating and empowering.
We are equally proud of the wider curricular provision at CVC, both in formal lessons and outside the classroom. Our extensive range of extra-curricular activities, including sports, music, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme and residential trips, help to give all students a fully-rounded education and creates opportunity for their personal, as well as their academic, growth.
Cottenham Village College is a friendly, positive and exciting place to work and to learn and we take great pride in the high standards our students consistently achieve. We have very high expectations of all members of the College community and provide an inclusive, friendly and supportive environment in which everyone can thrive and achieve. Students leave as happy, well-qualified and well-motivated individuals who go on to excel in local sixth forms, colleges, universities and the wider world.
I hope you find the information on the school’s website useful. If there is anything you cannot find, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you wish to visit the school to see it for yourself, please contact the school and we would be delighted to show you around.
Zoe Andrews, Principal
School location
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