Head of Psychology
The Ecclesbourne School, Belper, Derbyshire, DE56 4GS11 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
16 March 2026 at 8am
Date listed
5 March 2026
Job details
Job role
- Teacher
- Head of department or curriculum
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 5
Subject
- Psychology
Working pattern
- Full time: The school's timetabled teaching weeks equals 27.25 hours. The school's timetable day is from 9am until 3.40pm.
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- Teachers' Pay Scale Main 1 to Upper 3
Additional allowances
TLR 2c £3526 per annum
What skills and experience we're looking for
Are you ready to lead a popular and successful department to the next level?
We are seeking to appoint an ambitious, collaborative, and visionary Head of Psychology to join The Ecclesbourne School. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced teacher to shape the strategic direction of Psychology across Key Stage 5.
You will take ownership of curriculum design, assessment, and outcomes, ensuring that our students not only excel academically but also develop a deep, analytical understanding of the human mind. We are looking for a leader who can inspire both students and staff, driving innovation in teaching and learning.
As Head of Department, you will:
- Lead, manage, and continuously develop the psychology curriculum at Key Stage 5, ensuring it is ambitious, inclusive, and meets the needs of all learners.
- Analyse performance data to implement effective intervention strategies and secure outstanding results.
- Line manage and mentor department colleagues, including ECTs, fostering a culture of collaboration and professional growth.
- Manage the department budget and resources effectively.
- Stay abreast of developments in psychological research and examination specifications.
The ideal candidate will have:
- A proven track record of excellent A-level psychology results.
- Experience leading a team or managing a curriculum area (or demonstrable readiness for a step up to leadership).
- A clear vision for how to make psychology engaging and rigorous.
- High expectations of behaviour, achievement, and effort.
- The ability to build strong relationships with students, parents, and staff.
What the school offers its staff
- Eager and motivated students who are ready to learn.
- Supportive and collaborative colleagues with a shared vision for success.
- Excellent facilities and resources to support outstanding teaching and learning.
- A positive and forward-thinking school community with a strong reputation.
- Professional Development opportunities for training and career development.
- Teachers’ Pension Scheme with immediate membership.
- Wellbeing. We value our staff and recognise the on-going contributions they make to the continued success of the whole school.
- School admissions. Children of members of staff, with a minimum of two years’ service at the school at the time of application, are including in our admissions criteria.
The successful candidate will be joining a supportive faculty which consists of subject specialists who are enthusiastic, dynamic and inspirational teachers of maths. You will be able to use your talents to help make a difference to the lives and aspirations of our students.
This is a real opportunity to contribute to the continuing success of the school.
Further information about the job
School visits:
Should you wish to visit our school we are able to offer tours each Wednesday, Thursday and Friday during term-time at 9.45, 10.45 or 11.45am and 1.45 or 2.45pm.
Please contact:
tspencer-keyse@ecclesbourne.derbyshire.sch.uk
to arrange a visit.
You will be most warmly welcomed.
Commitment to safeguarding
Our school is committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our students, and we expect all our staff to share this commitment. We adopt a fair, robust and consistent recruitment process which is in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates. All offers of employment will be conditional on a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, references, health check and, where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.
Applying for the job
This job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About The Ecclesbourne School
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1576 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- The Ecclesbourne School website
- Email address
- tspencer-keyse@ecclesbourne.derbyshire.sch.uk
- Phone number
- 01332 843257
The Ecclesbourne School aims to provide a first class education in a happy, well-ordered and purposeful atmosphere. We are a non-selective school and committed to an inclusive community ethos. We challenge all our learners to achieve their best.
The school is set in the village of Duffield, in the Amber Valley district of Derbyshire. It is centred on the western bank of the River Derwent at the mouth of the River Ecclesbourne. Duffield is within the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Area and its elevated surroundings are the southern foothills of the Pennines.
The school’s sporting facilities include an all weather surface, grass football, rugby and hockey pitches, netball courts, tennis courts, a large sports hall, a sprung floor dance studio and a fully equipped fitness suite.
Our English block contains twelve state of the art classrooms along with a theatre with tiered seating for up to 240.
Our Sixth Form Centre is a place of relaxation and study, with classrooms, a communal area, a deli bar and access to pastoral support.
High quality modern IT facilities exist throughout the school. All main teaching rooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards.
Wherever you are on our site you will find well maintained buildings full of happy students.
We believe that our students are all equally important. We encourage them to welcome and celebrate their inherent differences and we operate a fully inclusive system designed to ensure all our students achieve their full potential. We encourage students to value each other and the relationships they make. We have very high expectations and we challenge every member of our school community to raise their aspirations and develop the confidence to reach for the stars.
We are dedicated to improve continually the quality of education we provide. If you join us we expect you to take a full part in the life and work of the school, to meet the challenges that we offer and to endeavor to become an active member of our school community. The School’s motto, “Integrity, Tenacity, Service”, is as significant now as it was when the School opened its doors in 1957.
We employ a wide range of talented, well-qualified people capable of delivering a high standard of education and support for our students. You must be passionate about the power of education to improve the quality of life and the life chances of young people, driven to achieve better results through determination and commitment and motivated to work in partnership with everyone in the School. All staff are given the opportunity to access the training and support they need.
Our commitment to safeguarding: Our school is committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our students, and we expect all our staff to share this commitment. We adopt a fair, robust and consistent recruitment process which is in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates. All offers of employment will be conditional on a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, references, health check and, where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.
The amendments to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020) provides that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain convictions are considered “protected”. This means that they do not need to be disclosed to employers and, if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice Website and on the websites of charities NACRO and UNLOCK.
Our commitment to equality and diversity: As a school we are passionate about diversity and recognize that as individuals we all bring something unique to the role regardless of any protected characteristics which is why we treat all of our people equally, without compromise. We are committed to providing equality and fairness throughout our recruitment and employment practices and not discriminating on any grounds.
Arranging a visit to The Ecclesbourne School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email tspencer-keyse@ecclesbourne.derbyshire.sch.uk.
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