Head of Social and Political Sciences

Salary grade: MPS/UPS; inner London allowance; TLR 2.1 (with the possibility of increased remuneration and responsibility for an exceptional candidate)

Closing date for applications: Wednesday 26th March 2025

Start date: September 2025

Contract type: Permanent

Who are we?           

‘The school focuses on the holistic child’ (OFSTED, September 2022)

 ‘Pupils respond extremely well to the challenge of becoming independent learners’ (OFSTED, September 2022)

Highbury Fields School is a community in which everyone enjoys academic and social success. The school actively celebrates and promotes equality, diversity and inclusion and aims to make everyone in our community feel welcome and wanted in school.

An 11 to 18 girls’ school, we are proud to serve a culturally rich, but often underprivileged, community and are fiercely determined that every child in our care will develop into a confident young adult, who is academically and socially accomplished.

The school’s consecutive ‘outstanding’ OFSTED reports of 2016 and 2022 and our consistently high progress 8 scores (0.6 in 2022, 0.82 in 2023 and 0.43 in 2024) have established our students’ reputation for academic excellence and we are highly regarded in the local community for our calm, focused learning environment.

However, we are neither complacent nor satisfied. The school strives for excellence in all aspects of its work and over the last two years we have completed revised our studied, pastoral and enrichment curricular to ensure we are meeting the needs of all our students, with the ambition of further improving the already exceptional progress that our students make. Our intention is to take each student on an educational journey of memorable and stimulating learning experiences, that enables them to be academically and socially successful, both in school and beyond.

What is the role?                                                                                      

‘Leaders and staff have extremely high expectations for all aspects of school life’ (OFSTED, September 2022)

It is in this context that the school is seeking a highly skilled Head of Social and Political Sciences to lead and grow these subject areas at the school.

The school is currently implementing a strategic plan to expand our sixth form.

Sociology is an established part of our A-level offer, but politics has only recently been introduced. Both subjects are very popular and the appointed candidate will enjoy teaching young people who are fully engaged in the local and global context.

A newly created role, the Head of Social and Political Sciences will have the opportunity to develop the curriculum of these areas so they inspire students to interpret and contribute to world around them. This genuinely exciting opportunity is integral to the future growth of our sixth form and the appointed person will be expected to promote the value of social and political sciences both within and outside of the school.

For the interested candidate there is also the potential to assume the leadership of our revised health and social care curriculum, which would bring with it additional remuneration. Whilst the school will welcome applications from politics and sociology specialists, the role would also suit history teachers who have experience of and/or significant interest in these subjects.

If you are looking to develop your career in a highly supportive and innovative environment and if you truly believe, as we do, that every child can achieve excellence, then we look forward to receiving your application.

What can we offer the appointed candidate?

‘Low-level disruption in class is very rare. Pupils come to lessons ready and eager to learn’ (OFSTED, September 2022)

Working at Highbury Fields School offers colleagues the following benefits:

·        An exceptional learning environment

·        A highly regarded research based internal learning and teaching development programme

·        Keeping well time every half term

·        20% PPA time

·        A generous pension scheme

·        Reduced London wide gym membership

·        Cycle to work scheme

·        Interest free travel season ticket loans

·        Employee assistance programme

·        Computer purchase scheme

What are the safeguarding requirements of the role?

‘Pupils are proud of their school. They enjoy school and feel safe’ (OFSTED, September 2022)

Highbury Fields School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects that all staff will share and demonstrate this commitment.

The position is subject to a DBS enhanced disclosure check.

Applicants must complete the school application form and in line with ‘keeping children safe in education’ and safer recruitment practices, the school will conduct an online search for all shortlisted candidates. The online search is part of the school’s safeguarding procedures to determine from publicly available information whether they are suitable to work with children and young people. Shortlisted candidates will also be asked at interview about their online presence.

Where should I look for further information?

‘Staff are proud to work at the school. Leaders engage with staff’ (OFSTED, September 2022).

For further information about the school, please refer to the school’s curriculum booklet and latest OFSTED report.

To arrange a conversation about the role, or a tour of the school, please email the Headteacher’s PA, Leigh O’Hara, HR@highburyfields.islington.sch.uk