Teacher of Art and Design

Two dynamic, skilful and well-qualified teachers of Art and Design are required for this thriving department to teach pupils from Year 7 to Year 13. One post is full-time, and the other is part-time (0.5).

The Art Department

The Art Department aims to bridge the gap between “school Art” and Art in the real world by encouraging pupils to see the subject as an intellectual, creative and communicative subject. We teach across the full breadth of the subject offering a broad, challenging and exciting curriculum. Our approach to Art education focuses on Art and Design as visual communication whereby students develop their knowledge, technical and thinking skills to create cultural products. The Department fully endorses the practice of teaching traditional skills but we also promote pupils’ talents in a wide range of new media and regularly use contemporary Art and conceptual Art in our teaching. Ideas and skills are promoted as partners in the creative process and independent learning is key to our approach at Key Stage 4 and 5.

Staffing and facilities

The successful applicants will join a team of five teachers (two full-time and three part-time) and two technicians. An Art and Design, Technology and Engineering Centre, known as the Mills Centre, was created within the grandest of the former boarding houses on Bishopswood Road.  It has an exceptional location, at the heart of the three schools, a little distance from the Senior School hilltop site. The Art Department occupies the two top floors of the building and comprises a Sixth Form studio and four GCSE and Lower School studios, as well as an IT suite for graphics and computer aided design, and a photographic darkroom. All studios are furnished with large LED screens connected to PCs. Additionally, all studios have a printing press and are equipped for all two-dimensional and three-dimensional media. The Department also has a Digital Art studio equipped with Apple Macs, a darkroom, a kiln room, an Art library and a departmental office.

Curriculum

All pupils in Years 7 to 9 study Art. At Key Stage 3, students undertake two thematic projects per year as well as an Art History or cross-curricular project. Each project is organised around a theme e.g. Portraiture, Natural Forms, Landscape and a learning framework ensures that a variety of materials, techniques and processes are learned across the Key Stage. 

Pupils in years 10 and 11 are prepared for the GCSE Art and Design (Fine Art) offered by AQA.  Approximately 40 pupils per year take Art to GCSE with the expectation that over half of them achieve A* grades. Projects are teacher-led initially, becoming student-directed later. Students may use whatever media is most appropriate to produce a personal final piece in response to the theme. 

Year 12 and 13 are prepared for the A Level Art and Design offered by Edexcel. Year 12 starts with a series of Fine Art Foundation-style workshops, involving two-dimensional and three-dimensional work and a course of Life Drawing. Thereafter students develop their work independently, developing a portfolio of personal work. At the end of Year 12, students begin a Critical and Contextual study on an area of Art or Design of their choosing. During Year 13, students design their own course of study making personal, individual, exciting work ending with an exhibition in the Summer term. In September 2017, we introduced A Level Interdisciplinary Design, which follows the structure of the Fine Art A Level course but aims to support students who wish to apply for Architecture and other Design disciplines.

A number of students apply to very competitive degree and foundation courses from Fine Art to Architecture or Fashion. We put great emphasis on supporting these students in the development of their portfolios alongside their A Level work.

Outside lessons

The studios are open every evening after school and at lunchtimes, with a member of staff on duty to assist pupils. We also teach weekly Life Drawing classes during the Michaelmas term and are involved in a rolling programme of the display of pupils’ work around the School site. 

Post Outline

We are seeking applicants who have experience of teaching able, motivated pupils to a high standard, evidenced by a strong portfolio of pupils’ work. All-round skills in drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, digital Art and photography are essential, as is a broad knowledge of Art History, including a strong knowledge of Contemporary Art. Applicants with a Design-related degree and the ability to teach Interdisciplinary Design alongside Art are welcome. You will need to be able to convey an infectious enthusiasm for the subject and work with the team to enrich the artistic life of the School. We also expect familiarity with IT and its use as a tool for learning, teaching and administration. The willingness to contribute fully to the pastoral and extra-curricular life of the School will be an additional recommendation. 

Working at Highgate

Teachers at Highgate enjoy a welcoming, comfortable and exceptionally well-resourced environment and are provided with significant assistance from a range of support staff.  Salaries are competitive. The School pays the employer’s contribution to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. Terms are shorter than in the maintained sector. Staff have free access to the School’s sports facilities.

Highgate is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Data and Barring Service