Head of Chemistry

Head of Chemistry

Salary: MPS/UPS incl. Fringe Allowance + TLR 2c 

Full Time Permanent 

Required for September 2023

Rickmansworth School is an 11-18 heavily oversubscribed co-educational partially (35%) selective academy with 1510 students on roll, increasing to around 1575 students over the next two years. Academic results are strong at KS4 and KS5 with the vast majority of students securing their first choice university destinations.

The School is in a very strong, stable financial position with over £6M recently spent on school expansion including a new Sixth-form centre, performing arts theatres and an Innovation & Design Centre. The School is also supported extremely well by a fantastic PTA and Foundation. Our outstanding staff well-being programme includes fortnightly well-being periods, access to our fitness suite and swimming pool, flu vaccinations and complimentary eye tests. The School’s admissions criteria gives preference to staff members’ children (as there is a demonstrable skill shortage for this post, the successful candidate could apply for a priority admission place for their own child). Our students enjoy learning and are an absolute pleasure to teach. We believe every child deserves the best and we aim to achieve excellence in all aspects of school life.

This is a middle leadership post to lead the chemistry department.

The person appointed will join a friendly, inclusive and well-organised department in a thriving school. This post would ideally be suited to a passionate and highly qualified teacher who is motivated, shows commitment to self-improvement and to the extra-curricular life of the department and School.

The successful candidate will:

• Inspire, motivate and influence staff and students, taking a leading role in maintaining the highest standards within the School
• Lead the chemistry team by providing a professional, positive, pro-active and creative approach
• Line Manage teachers and support/technician staff as delegated through the line management structure
• Attend and positively contribute to the middle leaders’ meetings
• Model effective teaching and learning
• Lead curriculum change
• Take responsibility for overall behaviour management within the biology team to ensure a safe, secure and structured learning environment
• Ensure that staff are given a full range of teaching experiences and allowed to develop different aspects of their teaching

We can offer you:

• Excellent CPD opportunities
• A school rated Good by Ofsted where students’ behaviour is exemplary
• A professional working environment where teamwork is highly valued
• A partially-selective school with a focus on academic achievement (Progress 8 in 2022 was +0.53)
• Admission criteria where preference is given to staffs’ children
• A school which invests heavily in the future with £6M recent school expansion and strong ongoing financial support from our Foundation and PTA
• A hugely talented and cohesive support staff
• An outstanding wellbeing programme offering: 
• Flu jabs 
• Free access to our first-class fitness suite and swimming pool 
• Complimentary eye tests

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and are an equal opportunities employer.  Applicants must declare any criminal convictions and submit to a check with the Disclosing and Barring Service as the post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.  Further details can be obtained from the website www.rickmansworth.herts.sch.uk, by calling the School on 01923 773296 or by email to applications@rickmansworth.herts.sch.uk.

We are required for only shortlisted candidates  to conduct online searches about an applicant as part of our shortlisting process in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance 2022  in order to identify any incidents or concerns which are publicly available online.  On signing the declaration on application  you will be agreeing to the acknowledgement that such searches will be conducted as part of the shortlisting process.

We reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date.