Head of Art

Reports to:         Assistant Principal

Start date:          As soon as possible / January 2025

Location:            Isaac Newton Academy, 1 Cricklefield Pl, Ilford IG1 1FY

Salary:                Ark MPS/UPS (£35,368-£53,230) plus TLR or Leadership Scale.

Closing Date:     5pm, Monday 14th October 2024

Interviews:         Candidates will be contacted once shortlisted

Isaac Newton Academy is a non-denominational, non-selective school, welcoming students of all backgrounds from the local community. We opened in 2012 with our inaugural cohort of 180 year 7 students. Isaac Newton Academy is an all through school with students from Reception to Year 13. Our mission is - striving together to be pioneers whose legacy makes a positive difference for our world.

The school was founded on the belief that all pupils can make dramatic progress within the right environment. Students, teachers, staff and parents are committed to making Isaac Newton a vibrant and inclusive learning community in which everyone can succeed.

We offer a rich curriculum emphasising core academic subjects, whilst providing the facilities, time and specialist staff to ensure students develop across a range of subjects. Music is at the heart of our school, with every student learning an instrument and all secondary students having the chance to be part of our Big Band ensembles.

Our school won Secondary School of the Year in the 2018 Shine a Light Awards for its commitment to developing pupils’ communication skills and was shortlisted for Secondary School of the Year in the 2018 TES Awards. Our Music Department were recently shortlisted for Excellence in Creative Arts at the TES School Awards 2023.

The opportunity

We are now seeking a skilled and committed leader to join the team as Head of Art. The Head of Art is a key position and the successful candidate will play a key role in the Extended Leadership Team at INA, as well as having many opportunities to collaborate with other Ark Art HoDs. Art is a popular subject and one that has performed exceptionally well regarding attainment and progress in 2022 and 2023. The department is in an excellent place and we are looking for an exceptional curriculum leader to continue the work.

At INA, we are highly ambitious for our students and our staff are pivotal to our success. As part of the staff team, you will have the opportunity to work with great colleagues and develop your career through an outstanding professional development programme. You will be encouraged to be a reflective and open practitioner and be supported by the expertise of the Principal and experienced network colleagues, to develop yourself as an outstanding leader.

As a Head of Art within Ark, you will be part of the Art Network which provides many opportunities to work with colleagues across Ark to develop excellent practice. This subject network operates within a true spirit of collegiality that supports all Art teams to continuously work to better the provision on offer to our students and strive to be the best.

In addition, we offer attractive remuneration, above the national pay scales as well as a range of benefits.

The successful candidate will:

• be an outstanding teacher with a proven track record of securing excellent outcomes
• have up-to-date knowledge of subject curricula and assessment requirements for Art
• be passionate about Art education and the development of our students’
• have some experience of leadership within a secondary school
• have the potential to move into senior leadership in the future

To apply

For further information on this brilliant opportunity as well as the fantastic benefits available, please see the job description and person specification below.

Job Description & Person Specification

If you would like to have an informal discussion with the Principal about the role, or if you have any technical questions about the application process, please contact his Executive Assistant & HR Lead, Sam Jones at HR@isaacnewtonacademy.org. We look forward to receiving your application.

Applications will be reviewed periodically, and the school may close the vacancy early if high numbers of applications are received so early applications are advisable.

Please note that if you are shortlisted for the role that we will complete online searches as part of due diligence checks in line with KCSIE guidance

To read more about Ark, please visit https://arkonline.org/about-us/what-we-do

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in our academies. In order to meet this responsibility, we follow a rigorous selection process which will include questions about safeguarding.

This process is outlined here, but can be provided in more detail if requested. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service.