Head of Geography

Thurston Community College

Thurston, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP31 3PB

Email: recruitment@thurstoncollege.org - Website: www.thurstoncollege.org

Principal: Maéve Taylor BA (Hons)

Current Roll: 1501; Years 7-11: 1330; Sixth Form: 171

Head of Geography

Required to start September 2024

The Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an ambitious, motivated and passionate leader to develop and drive forward the provision for Geography in our thriving Humanities Department as Head of Geography.

The successful candidate will have experience of teaching and/or leading Geography with an excellent record of pupil results and an appetite for progression. The department works closely to encourage students to be motivated and keen to learn, you will play a key role in ensuring that Geography remains a popular and successful subject throughout the school, bringing enthusiasm and strong organisational skills to the team to continue shaping and raising the department profile within the Thurston community.

The successful applicant will be required to teach across KS3, and KS4, with the opportunity to teach KS5 for the right candidate.

We promote a warm, welcoming and friendly environment to encourage self growth and mutual respect throughout the community.

This post would suit an experienced teacher or current Head of Department and is offered full time.

Future Thurston:

It was recently announced that the school will be part of the School Rebuild Programme and we have entered the feasibility phase. This will mean we will be a part of shaping a new school over the next few years. An exciting prospect and an exciting time to join Thurston Community College. In addition, and due to our growing numbers, a smaller new building project has recently been completed at the Thurston Campus which is now open to students and houses three new science classrooms.

Who are we:

A new Principal started in January 2024 and together with the Governing Body has set an exciting and aspirational vision for the College over the next three years. The person appointed for this role will be a fundamental part in building on our already Good Ofsted Status (March 2018) and realising our vision to create:

1. A stimulating, accessible and safe learning environment in which our villages and towns come together as a community which is much more than the sum of its parts.  
2. A high performing learning organisation.
3. A culture of high standards, which reinforces excellent behaviour, mutual respect, tolerance and understanding of what it is to be a citizen, not only of the school, but of local, national and international societies.
4. At the heart of a wide network of partnerships that provide opportunities for mutual improvement and benefit.

Hunamities is a thriving department with a proven track record of outstanding student achievement at both GCSE and Advanced level. 

We require a Head of Geography who has:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• A desire to develop their own skills, whilst being a strong team leader.
• Ability to challenge team members, students and encourage excellent progress.

In return we will provide:

• An opportunity to play your part in shaping the future of the Humanities Faculty.
• Opportunities to develop both professionally and personally.
• An experience that will develop your skills and pathway to the next step in your career.

If you are excited by this post, its challenges and opportunities; if you relish the prospect of joining our team of committed and excellent staff we very much look forward to hearing from you.  Please visit our website for further information or if you would like to discuss this post further please do not hesitate to contact recruitment@thurstoncollege.org. 

Applications will be reviewed upon receipt, interview date TBC

Thurston Community College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointment to this post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check as well as other pre-appointment checks outlined in Keeping Children Safe in Education (September 2021).