Head of Design & Technology
Katherine Warington School, Harpenden, AL5 5FH7 days remaining to apply
Start date details
January 2026
Closing date
23 September 2025 at 10am
Date listed
16 September 2025
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
- £39,398.00 - £52,490.00 Annually (Actual)
Head of Design & Technology job summary
We are looking to appoint an ambitious and experienced Teacher of Design and Technology to lead this Department in our already over-subscribed school that opened in September 2019.
Our Design and Technology department is a vibrant hub of innovation, brimming with cutting-edge equipment to support students' creative visions. We have a wide range of state-of-the-art machinery, from advanced 3D printers and laser cutters to computer-controlled (CNC) milling machines and a full suite of traditional hand tools. This ensures students have everything they need to design, prototype, and build their ideas, preparing them for careers in a rapidly evolving technological world.
We are seeking applications from candidates with experience of teaching to GCSE ideally combined with previous exposure to leading, managing and developing a team. This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to strengthen our current Key Stage 4 offering and grow it to offer A-Level subjects across the department.
Our Design Technology curriculum aims to develop students':
knowledge and understanding of both the design process and the use of materials in our modern world, with a focus on sustainability.
confidence, creativity, analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Our KS3 curriculum is designed to engage, inspire and challenge students, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, create and produce personal outcomes. In Year 7 and 8, they rotate twice through a carousel that encompasses Food Technology, Resistant Materials and Textiles. Students begin to develop their understanding of the design process through guided projects in Year 7, before extending this in Year 8. From Year 9, students can select GCSEs in Design & Technology: Product design or Design & Technology: Textiles, Food Technology or BTEC Home Cooking as options. Year 9 study is skills-focused, with GCSE content commencing in Year 10.
Key accountabilities associated with this role include:
ensuring high standards of achievement in Design & Technology
leading teaching and learning within the curriculum so that students make appropriate progress for their key stage
leading curriculum development and acting as a source of advice, guidance and authority
managing informal and formal assessment, implementing school assessment policies and leading the use of assessment information to enable teachers in your subject areas to set appropriate progress targets and review and evaluate student progress.
teaching across the age and ability range, focusing on the provision of a learning environment that enables all students to make outstanding progress regardless of their ability or starting point
sharing the responsibility of all staff to ensure that our students are challenged, encouraged, nurtured and developed as well-rounded young people
Further details regarding the skills, knowledge, experience and personal attributes we are looking for can be found in the attached Job Description and Person Specification.
However, we are particularly keen to hear from those who:
have a proven track record of enhancing the quality of teaching and learning through imparting detailed subject knowledge via the delivery of innovative and inspirational lessons.
can teach across the full range of ages and abilities
can work collaboratively with colleagues, taking a leading role in developing and the implementation of schemes of work to support student progress
are familiar with, and take into account, students’ prior levels of attainment, using them to plan lessons and set challenging, but achievable targets for future improvements
set high expectations for students’ behaviour by establishing a purposeful working atmosphere that is conducive to learning
can analyse data on student progress, achievement and attainment in line with school policy and practice
make the education of students their first concern and thrive on being accountable for achieving the highest possible standards of work and conduct
can effectively communicate both orally and in writing with students, staff, parents/carers and trustees
are keen to play an active role in the wider school community, supporting our ethos and values
In return, you will have access to our staff benefits package including:
An annual Flex Day to be taken on a day of your choice (with an additional day granted for every 4 years of service)
Free parking on site
Free use of the school gym
Cycle to work scheme
Free 24/7 access to our Employee Assistance Programme
Access to our in-house team of Mental Health First Aiders
Buddy system for new staff
access to mentoring and CPD opportunities
Regular staff socials
Discounts with local businesses
An opportunity to work with friendly and welcoming colleagues in a modern, aesthetically pleasing and forward-thinking environment.
The ethos of our school focuses on enabling every student and staff member to make outstanding progress. As such, you will be supported in your role, giving you the opportunity to enhance your skills and accelerate your career.
If you share our belief that young people have the right to a transformational educational experience that will enable them to fulfil their potential and realise their ambitions, then we look forward to hearing from you.
At KWS, we understand the value of having a workforce that reflects and represents our multi-ethnic student body from an equality, diversity and inclusivity perspective. We therefore welcome and embrace applications from all backgrounds.
We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and visitors to share this commitment. This post will require a Full Enhanced, with List Checks, Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS).
As part of our selection and appointment process, and in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance, we are required to conduct online searches on all candidates in order to identify any incidents or concerns which are publicly available online. By submitting and signing your application, you acknowledge that such searches will be conducted as part of the selection and appointment process.
Applications will be shortlisted throughout the process, and we may interview and close the advert early if we are in a position to recruit a suitable candidate. We therefore encourage interested candidates to apply early.
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 Katherine Warington School
- School type
- Free School, ages 11 to 19
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- 1017 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Katherine Warington School website
Katherine Warington School is a new comprehensive, co‐educational and non‐denominational academic secondary school (opened September 19) with 750 students currently (180 in each of years 7, 8, 9 and 10 – these year groups are already oversubscribed). The school will add a
further 180 students in each subsequent year and then open a 250 strong Sixth Form. By 2025 we will have grown to our capacity of 1,150 students. The school was established through the partnership of the Harpenden Secondary Schools Trust, which includes the three outstanding
schools in Harpenden: Roundwood Park, St George’s and Sir John Lawes and additional partners: the University of Hertfordshire and Rothamsted Research Centre (a world leading non‐profit agricultural science research centre).
Further details about the school, including our prospectus and virtual tour, can be found on our website: www.kwschool.co.uk
School location
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