Head of Chemistry

Do you wish to work in a school committed to the development of all staff in its care? 

Do you wish to join an aspirational and collaborative department which is improving the life chances of all students? 

Are you able to inspire a generation of young Scientists who use the opportunities at our school as a launchpad to exciting careers in STEAM?

Westminster City School is a successful 11-18 Christian non-denominational comprehensive academy for boys with a mixed sixth form. Ours is a vibrant learning community situated in the heart of central London with all the opportunities and advantages of an inner city school. In March 2022, the school’s OFSTED inspection confirmed that the school remains a ‘Good’ school but we are restless in our ambition to be ‘Outstanding’ in time for the school’s 150th anniversary in 2027. 

"Leaders have introduced a broad and ambitious curriculum for all…and have thought carefully about how to capture students’ wider interest in the subjects they learn." OFSTED 2022 

You are joining a successful and high achieving Science department, consistently ranked in the top 20% of all schools nationally for GCSE and top 10% for A Level. We have developed a fresh leadership structure within the department in order to accommodate a surge of applications to join our 6th Form and are embarking on a programme of updates to our laboratory spaces in the purpose-built Hinshelwood Block. The department has a very high profile in the school and was singled out for praise in our most recent inspection.

The post offers an exciting opportunity for someone looking to move into middle leadership. As such, this role will provide opportunities for leadership development that will allow for future professional growth.

You, like us, will share our belief in the highest standards of academic attainment in a comprehensive setting. 

The successful candidate will have:

• Strong personal values of integrity and compassion

• Excellent subject knowledge and a commitment to continually developing it

• Experience of developing and delivering an excellent Chemistry curriculum in at least one key stage

• The desire to offer opportunities for our students beyond the classroom that strengthen their passion for STEAM subjects 

• The ability to lead within our pathways programmes; sustaining established professional links and seeking further partnerships 

• The ability to build and maintain relationships with external organisations so that our students receive an enhanced extra-curricular offer within Chemistry

• The ability to motivate a large team to deliver excellent student outcomes.

• A keen interest in developing leadership and management skills within our middle leadership team

• Awareness of current best practice and the desire to support and lead upon aspects of our research-based approach to designing and implementing a highly impactful Science curriculum.

You will deliver lessons to a consistently high standard, and you will have a proven track record of excellent outcomes at GCSE and A level. 

You will be joining a team of highly motivated middle leaders who are ambitious in ensuring our vision of a powerful knowledge curriculum enables all pupils to take part in the great conversations in society.

We believe in developing our staff and have a dynamic and supportive management team and an effective CPD programme which includes a regular teaching and learning forum, peer-coaching and teacher journal club.  At Westminster City School, we will offer you:

• A supportive and collegiate staff culture;

• An evidence-informed approach to teaching and learning;

• A bespoke CPD programme; and

• Staff benefits including an interest-free season ticket loan, cycle-to-work scheme, salary sacrifice for childcare and our technology scheme.

“Pupils are well prepared to make choices…in Science, for instance, guest speakers and visits during science week introduced pupils to a wide range of science-based careers” OFSTED 2022        

“Leaders and Governors are proud of and ambitious for the school. They consider staff workload carefully, for example when introducing recent changes to the school’s feedback policy” OFSTED 2022 

Applicants from a global majority heritage background are strongly encouraged. The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful applicant will need to undertake a criminal record check via the DBS. 

If you would like to apply for this post, please click apply now (below) to obtain and submit our application form. If for any reason this is not possible, please print out the application and send your completed form by post to the school or e-mail recruitment@wcsch.com 

If you would like to discuss the role informally with the Deputy Headteacher via phone or video call or to talk informally with the Headteacher please e-mail l.ellens@wcsch.com (PA to Headteacher). You may also wish to visit our website (www.wcsch.com) to research more about the school. 

Closing date for completed applications: Monday 23 May at noon.

Interviews will be held on Wednesday 25 May