Head of Food and Nutrition
Alcester Grammar School, Alcester, Warwickshire, B49 5ED2 days remaining to apply
Start date details
01 September 2025
Closing date
21 May 2025 at 8am
Date listed
12 May 2025
Job details
Job role
- Teacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Subjects
- Food Technology, Hospitality & Catering
Working pattern
- Part time, full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £31,650 - £49,084 p.a. FTE 1.0 (MPS/UPS) + TLR 2c (£3391p.a.) Recruitment and Retention allowance may also be available
Head of Food and Nutrition job summary
Role: Head of Food and Nutrition
Salary: £31,650 to £49,084 per annum FTE + TLR 2c (currently £3,391 p.a.) - Recruitment & Retention Allowance may also be available
Hours: 0.8 FTE or Full Time required from September 2025
The Food & Nutrition Department has well-established programmes of study across all year groups and the successful applicant will be very well supported throughout their time here. This is an excellent opportunity to work in an outstanding creative environment with innovative and experienced colleagues and keen, well-motivated students.
Creative subjects at Alcester Grammar School are considered to be vital within the broad and balanced curriculum offered. Our vision is to maintain and develop a highly successful department where students' attainment and the quality of learning and teaching are of the highest standard. We are working to continually develop the department where students’ engagement and resilience are enhanced by innovative, forward looking and well-paced teaching. We aim to;
develop our students’ food practical skills, their knowledge of food science and nutrition
make food learning an enjoyable experience and therefore encourage a positive attitude and approach to the subject
ensure students are prepared for making healthy, well informed nutrition choices throughout their life
Students at Alcester Grammar School are fortunate enough to study food all throughout key stage three for one hour per week. During this time, they are taught in groups of 26 in our state of the art facilities. Throughout years 7-9 they develop their practical skills, nutrition and food science knowledge. By the end of year 9 they should be very capable of cooking a range of predominantly savoury, nutritious dishes for themselves and their family, and have a clear understanding of how to make the best choices for a nutritionally balanced diet.
In year 10, students have the opportunity to choose GCSE AQA Food Preparation and Nutrition. Class sizes do not exceed 20 at KS4 and results have shown us to be consistently the highest performing subject at GCSE for many years at AGS, with over half of our students achieving a grade 9 and last year we were very proud that 100% of GCSE students achieved grades 7-9.
Food is a popular GCSE choice with academic students relishing the combination of
both theory and practical work. This is an opportunity to build on the departments’ current successes,and the successful applicant will show a desire to take on some of the wider responsibilities across the department for planning and developing our curriculum to ensure it continues to offer exciting, engaging and up to date lessons.
In the sixth form, we currently offer WJEC Level 3 Food Science & Nutrition, a largely practical based vocational Diploma course which combines 1 written examination with 3 coursework units. This again is a successful subject as it is the only Level 3 qualification on offer for students wishing to pursue a career in Food and Nutrition.
We have a well established department with excellent technician support. The department works well as a team, where staff are encouraged to innovate in an atmosphere of mutual respect and support.
We were very fortunate to move into a brand new teaching block in September 2014. This comprises two spacious, very well equipped, dedicated food rooms, each with state of the art equipment, including blast chillers in each room. We make full use of ICT resources both within our food classrooms and by using ICT rooms in school. We run pop up cooking activities at various times throughout the year, and an eagerness to develop and organise this would be an advantage. We also offer food activities and trips during enrichment week. Last year we ran a residential trip to Sorrento, this year the destination is Barcelona and we are finalising plans for a 2026 trip to New York.
Head of Department Responsibilities
- develop, lead and implement policies and practices throughout the school that reflect the school’s ethos and commitment to high achievement through effective teaching and learning.
- produce, maintain and regularly review the departmental Self-Evaluation Form and development plan, including analysis of examination results & achievement data.
- use performance data to evaluate students’ progress and, with appropriate colleagues, set targets or intervention/ improvement for groups of children.
- use performance data to identify areas of strength/weakness in teaching and take steps to spread good practice/address weaknesses identified with relevant colleagues.
- motivate and enthuse colleagues and encourage a shared understanding of the contribution the subject can make to all aspects of students’ lives and to the wider school vision.
- carry out the performance management of the team, oversee any delegated responsibility for this and support the professional development of members of the team.
- develop, lead and implement policies and practices throughout the school that reflect the school’s ethos and commitment to high achievement through effective teaching and learning.
- produce, maintain and regularly review the departmental Self-Evaluation Form and development plan, including analysis of examination results & achievement data.
- use performance data to evaluate students’ progress and, with appropriate colleagues, set targets or intervention/ improvement for groups of children.
- use performance data to identify areas of strength/weakness in teaching and take steps to spread good practice/address weaknesses identified with relevant colleagues.
- motivate and enthuse colleagues and encourage a shared understanding of the contribution the subject can make to all aspects of students’ lives and to the wider school vision.
- carry out the performance management of the team, oversee any delegated responsibility for this and support the professional development of members of the team.
It is expected that the successful applicant will be able to fulfil the following criteria:
Qualifications :
QTS and a good honours degree in a related subject (ECTs are welcome)
Experience:
Ability to teach Food across KS3 - KS4 and at least a willingness to learn to teach our KS5 programme
Relationships:
A commitment to students as individuals
A sensitive attitude to students of all abilities and ages and the ability to differentiate teaching to meet the needs of the most able and those with Special Educational needs
An ability to create a stimulating and challenging learning environment for students
A recognition of the importance of partnership with parents
A supportive and co-operative approach to colleagues
Personal Characteristics:
A commitment to the AGS ethos
A willingness to continue learning and developing as a teacher
A reflective approach to their own practice and to the overall performance of the department
Hard working and adaptable
Happy to work independently or in collaboration
Able to carry initiatives through to their conclusion
Friendly and approachable
Well organised and able to meet deadlines
Demonstrate a passion for the subject and an ability to enthuse students of all ages
A commitment to safeguarding children’s well being
A commitment to playing a part in the wider life of the school
You can find out more about us from the application pack attached or by visiting our website. We would be delighted to show you around our school. If you are interested in this role, we encourage you to visit us. Please contact r.thorpe@alcestergs.com
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 are not accepted.
About Alcester Grammar School
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- 1292 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Alcester Grammar School website
A unique and happy school, where you can indulge your creativity, refine your skills, and enjoy an atmosphere that respects your professional autonomy. With delightful students, grateful parents and supportive colleagues, teaching doesn't get much better than this.
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