Head of Design & Technology
Thornhill Academy, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR2 7NA7 days remaining to apply
Start date details
January 2026
Closing date
22 October 2025 at 10am
Date listed
15 October 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
- UPS/MPS plus TLR2b (£5,876.60 per annum)
Additional allowances
UPS/MPS plus TLR2b (£5,876.60 per annum)
Head of Design & Technology job summary
Head of Design & Technology
📍 Location: Thornhill Academy
💰 Salary: UPS/MPS plus TLR2b (£5,876.60 per annum)
⏳ Contract and Working Pattern: Full Time, Permanent
📅 Start Date: January 2025
Inspire Creativity. Shape Futures. Lead Innovation.
Thornhill Academy, part of Consilium Academies, is seeking an inspirational and dynamic Head of Design & Technology to join our passionate and forward-thinking team. This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious educator to lead a thriving department, inspire both staff and students, and contribute to the continued success of our school.
About Us
At Thornhill Academy, we are proud to serve a diverse community in the heart of Sunderland. With students from over 14 different ethnicities and 35 languages spoken across our academy, we are a school that truly celebrates difference, inclusion, and cultural richness. Our mission is simple - to ensure every student, regardless of background, achieves academic success and personal growth.
Following our ‘Good’ Ofsted rating in May 2024, Thornhill Academy continues to build on its strong foundations. With construction of a brand-new school building beginning in 2026 as part of the national School Rebuilding Programme, this is a truly exciting time to join our journey of growth and transformation.
As proud members of Consilium Academies, we are guided by the Trust’s values of Excellence, Equity, and Integrity, and by our own school values of Effort, Fairness, and Kindness. Together, we are committed to delivering an exceptional education for every child, and to supporting every member of our staff to flourish professionally.
About the Role
As Head of Design & Technology, you will lead the strategic development of the DT curriculum and ensure the highest standards of teaching and learning. You will inspire a love for creativity, design, and innovation in our students, equipping them with skills for future success.
You will:
- Provide inspirational leadership within the Design & Technology department.
- Develop and deliver a high-quality, engaging curriculum that fosters creativity and technical skill.
- Support and mentor colleagues to deliver outstanding teaching and student outcomes.
- Use data effectively to monitor progress and drive improvement.
- Lead curriculum innovation to ensure our students experience a broad, modern, and ambitious DT offer.
- Contribute to whole-school improvement as part of the wider leadership team.
About You
We are looking for an outstanding practitioner and leader who is:
- Passionate about Design & Technology and committed to inspiring young people.
- Skilled in curriculum design and implementation across a range of DT disciplines.
- A proven classroom practitioner with a record of improving outcomes.
- Able to lead and motivate others, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Committed to inclusion, equity, and providing every student with opportunities to excel.
- Dedicated to professional growth—for yourself, your team, and your students.
Why Join Us?
At Thornhill Academy and Consilium Academies, we invest in people. You will benefit from:
- Access to Consilium’s Centre for Professional Learning, offering bespoke professional development.
- A collaborative Trust network with opportunities for progression and leadership development.
- A culture that values wellbeing, inclusion, and staff support.
- The chance to shape the future of DT in a school on a transformational journey.
- The excitement of joining our community as we prepare for our state-of-the-art new building.
Applications and Information
For further information about the role please see attached recruitment pack including, job description and person specification.
If you have any questions about the role or would like to arrange a visit to Thornhill Academy, please contact kate.jackson@consilium-at.com
Closing date for applications is 9.00am Wednesday 22nd October 2025
Interviews will take place on a date to be arranged
Please ensure that within your application you provide the names, addresses, and contact details for two referees, one of whom should be your current or most recent employer.
We look forward to welcoming a new team member who shares our commitment to excellence in education!
Consilium Academies is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointments are made subject to an Enhanced DBS Check, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants.
The Trust is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Under Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, the Public Sector fluency duty requires state funded schools to ensure candidates for their customer facing roles have the necessary standard of spoken English.
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 Thornhill Academy
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- 564 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Thornhill Academy website
School location
Similar jobs nearby
Teacher of Design Technology (Fixed Term January 2026 - 12 months)
Bede Academy
Sixth Avenue, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 2SY
Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed
Find more school jobs in Sunderland and Tyne and Wear