Lead Practitioner

The Astley Cooper School, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 7HL

42 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  January 2027

• Closing date

  19 October 2026 at 9am

• Date listed

  7 September 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teacher or lecturer
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £61,884.00 - £66,443.00 Annually (Actual)

Lead Practitioner job summary

An exciting opportunity to join The Astley Cooper School and make a real difference to teaching and learning

Are you an inspirational Maths teacher who is passionate about teaching, learning and developing others? Are you ready to take the next step in your career and have a wider impact across the school?

The Astley Cooper School is seeking an enthusiastic, committed and highly skilled Lead Practitioner - Maths to join our ambitious and developing school.

This is an exciting opportunity for an outstanding classroom practitioner who is passionate about Maths and is keen to share their expertise, support colleagues and contribute to improving outcomes for students across the school.

We are looking for someone who has high expectations, a strong understanding of effective teaching and learning, and the ability to inspire both students and colleagues. You will be an excellent classroom practitioner who leads by example and is committed to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

About The Astley Cooper School

The Astley Cooper School is an increasingly popular and oversubscribed secondary school in Hemel Hempstead. We are proud of our diverse school community and are committed to providing the very best opportunities for all our students and staff.

Situated on the edge of Hemel Hempstead, the school benefits from excellent transport links, with easy access to the M1 and M25 as well as the local train station.

We are continuing to build a strong culture of success, with high expectations for all our students. Our ambition is that every young person leaves us as a successful, well-rounded and confident individual, prepared to succeed in the modern world.

Our challenges are significant, but this is what makes working at The Astley Cooper School so rewarding. We are a school with ambition, energy and a clear determination to improve outcomes and opportunities for our students.

The role

As Lead Practitioner - Maths, you will play a key role in promoting excellent teaching and learning within the Maths department and across the wider school.

You will have a significant teaching commitment and will be expected to demonstrate consistently high standards of classroom practice. You will act as a role model for colleagues, sharing your knowledge and expertise to support the development of teaching and learning.

The role will include opportunities to:

• Lead and support the development of high-quality teaching and learning in Maths.
• Support colleagues through coaching, modelling and sharing effective practice.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the Maths curriculum.
• Use assessment and student progress information to identify areas for improvement.
• Support strategies to raise achievement and close gaps in attainment.
• Contribute to professional development and staff training.
• Support the development of early career teachers and colleagues at different stages of their careers.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the school to share effective practice.
• Contribute to whole-school teaching and learning priorities.
• Support quality assurance and the evaluation of teaching and learning.
• Help develop a culture of high expectations, collaboration and continuous improvement.

There may also be opportunities to take on additional whole-school responsibilities, which will be discussed as part of the role.

We are looking for someone who

• Is an outstanding and enthusiastic Maths teacher with a passion for their subject.
• Has high expectations of all students and is committed to helping them achieve their potential.
• Has a strong understanding of effective teaching and learning.
• Can inspire and motivate students through engaging and purposeful lessons.
• Is able to coach, support and develop colleagues.
• Is reflective and committed to continuous professional development.
• Has excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Can build positive and professional relationships with students and staff.
• Is enthusiastic, resilient and solution-focused.
• Is keen to contribute to the wider development and success of the school.
• Has the ambition and drive to make a significant difference to teaching and learning.

Previous experience of leading Maths or teaching and learning would be advantageous, but we would also welcome applications from exceptional classroom practitioners who are ready to take the next step in their career.

What we can offer you

At The Astley Cooper School, we recognise that our staff are central to our success. We are committed to supporting colleagues to develop professionally and personally, and offer:

• A competitive salary
• Membership of the Teachers' Pension Scheme
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme
• Vivup - a Hertfordshire County Council cashback scheme
• A comprehensive CPD programme for all colleagues
• A supportive and ambitious leadership team
• Opportunities to develop your leadership and coaching skills
• The opportunity to influence teaching and learning across the school
• A school community committed to achieving the very best for its students
• Opportunities for continued professional development and career progression

Be part of our journey

This is an exciting time to join The Astley Cooper School. We are ambitious for our students, ambitious for our staff and committed to creating a culture where everyone can succeed.

If you are an outstanding Maths teacher who is passionate about developing teaching, supporting colleagues and improving outcomes for young people, we would love to hear from you.

Come and join us as we continue to build a culture of success and help our students achieve more than they thought possible.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; we encourage you to apply at your earliest opportunity as we may appoint and close the advert early. If you have not heard from the school by the closing date of this advert, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

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.

About The Astley Cooper School

• Organisation type: Local authority maintained school, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary school
• Size: 914 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: The Astley Cooper School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/the-astley-cooper-school

The Astley Cooper School is an 11-18, co-educational, secondary school on the outskirts of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

For many years, Astley Cooper School was a smaller than average secondary school but its numbers are rising because of its considerably improved academic standards and good reputation. The school is proud to be part of the Government’s Priority School Building Programme. This huge investment in our school has seen our cohort numbers increase as well our profile in the community. The school has state of the art facilities including a leisure centre, swimming pool and new science laboratory/classrooms benefiting staff, students and our wider community for many years to come.

Extra curricular activities on offer to all students at the school include sport, art, music, drama, dance, residential and cultural trips and visits.

School location

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