About this role
Main Purpose
- To provide strategic and operational leadership for History, securing an ambitious curriculum, consistently strong teaching and improved outcomes for all students.
- To be accountable for the quality of education, standards, culture and day-to-day effectiveness of the History department.
- To carry out the professional duties of a teacher and curriculum leader in accordance with the current STPCD and Teachers’ Standards.
Strategic Leadership and Management
- Establish a clear vision for History aligned with the school’s values, improvement priorities and expectations.
- Lead departmental self-evaluation and improvement planning, using evidence to identify priorities, actions and success measures.
- Set high expectations for professional conduct, teamwork, classroom practice and student achievement.
- Organise the department effectively, allocating responsibilities and ensuring procedures, deadlines and communications are consistently managed.
- Lead, support and hold colleagues to account through coaching, line management, quality assurance and performance management processes.
- Contribute to whole-school evaluation, improvement and leadership activities as required.
Curriculum Leadership
- Design, implement and evaluate a coherent, ambitious and inclusive History curriculum at Key Stages 3 and 4.
- Ensure curriculum planning identifies the substantive and disciplinary knowledge students need and sequences learning effectively over time.
- Oversee schemes of learning, knowledge resources, assessment materials and examination preparation.
- Ensure the curriculum reflects appropriate breadth, depth and diversity and enables students to think and communicate as historians.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of curriculum developments, examination specifications and effective History pedagogy.
Teaching, Learning and Quality Assurance
- Model excellent teaching and ensure consistently high expectations across the department.
- Lead a proportionate programme of quality assurance, including review of curriculum implementation, student work, assessment, student voice and classroom practice.
- Use findings from quality assurance to provide constructive feedback, professional development and targeted support.
- Ensure teaching is adapted effectively for disadvantaged students, students with SEND and those requiring additional challenge.
Assessment, Standards and Accountability
- Ensure assessment is purposeful, reliable and aligned with the taught curriculum.
- Analyse attainment and progress information, including outcomes for key groups, to identify priorities and direct support.
- Plan, implement and evaluate intervention for students at risk of underachievement.
- Report accurately on curriculum quality, progress, risks and improvement actions to senior leaders and other stakeholders when requested.