Design Engineer Lead

Turner Schools is offering an unique and exceptional opportunity for an ambitious, forward-thinking leader to create a brand new Design Engineering department at the Turner Free School, in addition to leading on STEM across the Trust. This role will enable an ambitious and visionary leader to establish and shape an exciting curriculum, one which will inspire our pupils to engage in STEM learning, and prepare them for a range of careers in this field. 

TFS is an over-subscribed, academic, non-selective school, with the highest expectations for what our pupils can achieve. We are about to move into our brand new building, which will provide a state-of-the-art environment in which to deliver a dynamic Design Engineering curriculum. It will be a central element of our educational offer, and one which will enable exceptional career opportunities for our pupils, through engagement with local employers. 

Our aims are to engage pupils in a rigorous practically focused subject that:

• provides a unique bridge between academic and vocational study

• engenders pupils’ creativity, critical thinking and problem solving skills

• inspires and equips pupils for life and to follow pathways into engineering and related work sectors. 

We are ideally looking for a candidate who has a degree in Engineering Design, Industrial Design or a related area of study, and experience of working successfully in this field using creative thinking and problem-solving skills underpinned by expert knowledge. 

Turner Schools considers its faculty colleagues as the most valuable asset and greatest resource; we provide exceptional continuous professional development in terms of both teaching and leadership development. 

Join us to be a part of our journey.

The ideal candidate will....

• be dedicated to improving student progress and raising attainment across the Trust, sharing best practice with colleagues

• have a proven track record of success in raising standards and developing others

• have a proven ability to enable pupils to work through creative, iterative ‘real world’ design processes, through modelling, prototyping and testing, recording and communicating ideas and developments to a range of audiences.

• have insight into design ethics and values, including social, environmental and economic considerations

• have an understanding of emerging technology 

• have a keen awareness of future careers in design engineering and related professions and the pathways open to pupils. 

• keep up to date through researching best practice and implementing this within teaching and learning strategies

• possess the drive and determination to assist students in breaking down barriers inside and outside of education

• value our respectful environment, ensuring that students and colleagues alike respect and support each other to ensure a calm and purposeful site

• believe that a knowledge and research-led curriculum is the necessary catalyst, with the ability and determination to be part of the Trust's community to support ambitious, confident and successful students

• develop classroom practice across the Trust

• provide coaching and training as and when required

In return Turner Schools can offer...

• fantastic students who work hard and who want to learn in a calm and purposeful learning environment, underpinned by the highest expectations of behaviour

• a warm and welcoming team of teachers and associate staff

• manageable workload through sensible and efficient policies

• personalised coaching and CPD programmes alongside an investment in your career and development through financing Masters qualifications, training courses and conferences as requested

• Quality Assurance cycles which are genuinely developmental for all colleagues

• a Trust which takes student and faculty welfare seriously

• Private healthcare from Benenden Health medical. This includes a 24/7 GP service which can prescribe, counselling sessions, and access to the BUPA hospital network as well as physiotherapist.  

• a genuine opportunity to make a difference by being part of the exciting vision for our Trust

• Relocation package may be available for the right candidate. 

 We reserve the right to appoint before the close of the advert.

Information about the school

The Turner Free School is an academically ambitious and inclusive school for 11-18 year old pupils in the Cheriton area of Folkestone. In other words, it is a grammar-style school for everyone. As a smaller than average secondary school, all pupils are known and educated as individuals. The school has a knowledge-led curriculum, organised along the principles established by Professors Michael Young of the IOE and E.D. Hirsch of the University of Virginia, to ensure all pupils receive the knowledge they need to thrive in the modern world. In addition, to give pupils a leading edge for further education and employment, modern foreign languages are emphasised, with the aspiration that all pupils will achieve a working standard by the time that they graduate from the school.

As a free school the Turner Free School is a new Academy school; directly funded by central government and independent of Local Authority control. Like other free schools, the Turner Free School has a responsibility to expand the educational offer locally, to promote higher standards inclusively, to address local social issues and to ensure excellent value for the public purse.

The Turner Free School is part of innovative new trust Turner Schools - striving to ensure that its schools are places where children thrive and knowledge matters.

Turner Schools is committed to safeguarding children and promoting their welfare. It expects all staff and volunteers to share this same commitment. Any appointment is subject to satisfactory recruitment checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Two references are required prior to commencement of employment. We are an equal opportunities employer.