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Head of Physics
Highcliffe School, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 4QD14 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
20 March 2026 at 9am
Date listed
6 March 2026
Job details
Job role
- Head of department or curriculum
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
Subject
- Physics
Working pattern
- Full time: Full time Permanent
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- M1- UPS3
Additional allowances
TLR 2B £5,876
What skills and experience we're looking for
We are seeking an outstanding Head of Subject in Physics, to lead and deliver our Physics curriculum and support the science leadership team. Experience of delivering creative, inspiring lessons and engaging students of all levels of ability.
The post would suit a more experienced colleague. Experience of teaching at KS5 is desirable
Highcliffe is a very successful Academy with excellent outcomes at GCSE and A Level from one of the area’s most successful science departments.
Highcliffe seeks committed and motivated teachers to support this important curriculum area in the school.
The school offers outstanding an induction, training and career development opportunities through HISP Learning Partnership.
What the school offers its staff
SCIENCE CURRICULUM AREA
We deliver a 2 ½ year KS3 course following a combination of in-house schemes and Exploring Science Texts. At KS3 all students study Science.
KS4 is delivered over 2.5 years from Year 9-11. Students who are high achievers at KS3 can opt to study separate sciences.
At KS5, the Science Team offer several courses including A Level Biology, A Level Chemistry and A Level Physics. Student retention at KS5 is very good.
Facilities and Resources
- 12 experienced, enthusiastic specialist science teachers and 3 technicians based in 3
technical areas.
- 11 fully equipped and laboratories.
- Science, STEM and Environmental clubs are available for enthusiastic students.
- Reference books issued to all students, plus in-house reprographics.
- ICT and remote sensing available, all classrooms have a visualiser for teacher use.
- An ICT Laboratory (Sc2) with extra ICT for data logging and processing, digital microscopy,
web browsing and interactive learning programs via school server.
- Enrichment activities include use of school grounds, with our environmental area including
school pond and garden, and local recreation areas – Steamer Point, Hengistbury Head
Learning Facility, trips to London museums and Intech at Winchester and various A level
outings and experiences including Biology Field work on the Dorset Heritage coastline, links.
and visits with Southampton University Hospital and Southampton University Chemistry and
Physics Departments
In addition to the facilities detailed above, these subjects all benefit from specialist accommodation with dedicated resources. Enrichment activities are an integral part of the delivery of each programme. These range from one-to-one tutorial support to trips and activities as well as extended vocational placements and visiting speakers.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
HISP MAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share in the commitment. This appointment is subject to an enhanced DBS check, social media check and positive references.
Applying for the job
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Highcliffe School
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 19
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1565 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Highcliffe School website
- Email address
- aparsons@highcliffeschool.com
- Phone number
- 01425 282323
Highcliffe is a remarkable school with a special atmosphere. We are very highly respected in our community, with whole generations of families coming here for over 50 years from Christchurch and the New Forest. Former students, current students and their parents frequently speak of their powerful emotional bonds to our school lasting a lifetime. Always popular, and usually over-subscribed, in the last two years our identity and success has attracted a rapidly growing number of admissions requests for Year 7. Although we have raised our PAN twice in three years, demand for places still exceeds availability. This is a result of our caring and aspirational ethos combined with our engaging curriculum and excellent extra-curricular opportunities, although our track record of exam success is surely another factor. Our students are lovely young people to work with who respond enthusiastically to good teaching and are keen to learn.
Former students go on to work in international finance, law, education, politics, engineering, medicine, science, and in the Paris fashion houses, or as great chefs, carers, artists, musicians, mechanics, gardeners and much more – but not before they have thrived at Highcliffe academically, creatively and socially. We have an excellent record of success placing students into the top universities in their chosen field. Every year for the last 10 years at least one of our Sixth Form students have, for example, gone on to study at either Oxford or Cambridge universities. We have successful programmes for students accessing careers in medicine, the law and engineering. We are an outwardly focused community with extensive school links in Germany, France, Spain and Japan including a unique exchange programme with a school in Hiroshima.
Our teaching staff are highly experienced, knowledgeable professionals who work together superbly. Our SEND, pastoral, clerical, financial, technical and site staff, who form a good team, are also extremely good at their jobs and committed to the school’s success. We are a friendly, welcoming and supportive environment in which to work or learn, located in a great part of the country. As part of the HISP Multi Academy Trust we offer our team extensive opportunities for professional development; direct collaborative working with Thornden School in Chandler’s Ford and more widely across the Trust region; and career progression routes associated with our development as a regional Hub for school improvement and professional development delivering NPQs, the local ECT programme, the Science Learning Partnership. We are a happy and upbeat school, characterised by warm and trusting relationships between staff and students; one big family. We recently completed a £1.8 million capital project improving heating and hot water, and in December 2022 successfully entered the School Rebuilding Programme to replace 18 classrooms with brand new buildings.
Arranging a visit to Highcliffe School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email aparsons@highcliffeschool.com.
School location
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