Head of Science
Thornhill Academy, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR2 7NA11 days remaining to apply
Start date details
January 2025
Closing date
29 October 2025 at 11:59pm
Date listed
17 October 2025
Job details
Job role
- Teacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Subject
- Science
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- MPS/UPS plus TLR 2 c (£8,609.73 per annum), R&R is available for a suitably qualified and experienced candidate
Additional allowances
MPS/UPS plus TLR 2 c (£8,609.73 per annum), R&R is available for a suitably qualified and experienced candidate
Head of Science job summary
Teacher of Science
📍 Location: Thornhill Academy
💰 Salary: MPS/UPS plus TLR 2 c (£8,609.73 per annum), R&R is available for a suitably qualified and experienced candidate.
⏳ Contract: Permanent
📅 Start Date: January 2025
Inspiring Excellence. Empowering Futures.
Thornhill Academy, part of Consilium Academies, is seeking an outstanding and passionate Head of Science to lead our committed team and drive the continued improvement of science teaching and learning across the school. This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious, forward-thinking leader to make a significant impact in a school that has recently been judged ‘Good’ by Ofsted (May 2024) and is on a rapid journey of improvement.
About Us
Thornhill Academy is a vibrant and inclusive 11-16 secondary school with over 600 students, located near Sunderland City Centre. Our school community is proudly diverse — students come from 14 ethnicities and speak over 35 languages. We celebrate this diversity every day, creating a culture of respect, belonging, and aspiration for all.
We believe in developing the whole child — academically, socially, and emotionally — and fostering a lifelong passion for learning. Our recent successes have been recognised by Ofsted, and with our new school build commencing in April 2026, this is an incredibly exciting time to join us and help shape the next chapter in Thornhill’s story.
About Consilium Academies
At Consilium Academies, we are committed to Excellence, Equity, and Integrity. Our mission is simple: to be an excellent trust with excellent schools.
We work collaboratively across our eight schools in the North of England, sharing expertise, supporting professional growth, and ensuring every pupil has the opportunity to succeed.
As a Consilium colleague, you will have access to our Centre for Professional Learning, which provides bespoke training, leadership development, and coaching tailored to your professional goals.
The Role
As Head of Science, you will:
- Provide strategic and academic leadership for the Science Department.
- Drive curriculum innovation, ensuring a rich and challenging experience for all learners.
- Model and promote excellent classroom practice across all science disciplines.
- Lead and develop a team of dedicated science teachers, fostering professional growth and collaboration.
- Use data intelligently to track progress, raise achievement, and close gaps.
- Champion a culture of high expectations, engagement, and curiosity within science learning.
This is an opportunity for a leader who is ready to inspire staff and students alike — someone who believes that every child, regardless of background, deserves an excellent education in science and beyond.
About You
You will be:
- A qualified teacher with a degree in a relevant subject.
- An excellent classroom practitioner with a proven track record of improving outcomes in science.
- Experienced in leading curriculum development and raising standards across a department.
- Able to teach all sciences up to GCSE.
- A strong communicator who builds positive relationships with staff, students, and parents.
- Committed to the values of effort, fairness, and kindness, which underpin life at Thornhill Academy.
A sense of humour and a genuine love of your subject are essential!
Why Join Us?
- A school on a strong upward trajectory, recently graded Good by Ofsted.
- Brand-new facilities as part of the School Rebuilding Programme.
- Tailored professional development through Consilium’s Centre for Professional Learning.
- A supportive, collaborative, and diverse community.
- A Trust that values and invests in its people.
Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities
Consilium Academies and Thornhill Academy are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All posts are subject to enhanced DBS checks and appropriate safeguarding vetting.
We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer.
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 00.00 Wednesday 29th October 2025
Interviews will take place on 31st October 2025.
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
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