Head of Subject - Chemistry

ROLE SUMMARY:

Title: Head of Chemistry

Role details: Full-time, maternity cover

Location: Remote, must be based in and willing to work from the UK

Salary: £42,500 to £47,500 (total package)

Start date: 1 June 2026

The Head of Chemistry will work in co-operation with, and under the direction of, the Executive Head to provide leadership that further strengthens and develops the school. The post-holder will undertake sustained responsibility within the school’s staffing structure, ensuring the continued delivery of high-quality teaching and learning. This role contributes to a clear vision for the school, supporting the effective implementation of its identity and values, and initiating and managing change to drive improvement for students, staff, and the wider school community. On a day-to-day basis, the Head of Chemistry will manage and lead direct reports, assume additional reasonable responsibilities as required, and be accountable for raising standards of student attainment and achievement across the subject area. The role includes monitoring and supporting student progress, enhancing the teaching practice of colleagues, ensuring the provision of a broad, balanced, relevant, and differentiated curriculum, and promoting a growth mindset to enable all students to achieve their potential.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lead, manage and develop:
Provide strategic leadership for one or more subject areas.
Develop, manage and monitor schemes of work and course materials.
Evaluate teaching and learning, identifying areas for improvement.
Monitor and track student progress, implementing interventions as needed.
Manage assessments within the subject.
Plan and deliver continuous professional development and training.
Provide subject and course overviews for stakeholders.
Liaise with education support teams to manage and support student outcomes.

Impact on the educational progress of students:
Ensure a broad, balanced, relevant, and differentiated curriculum.
Set clear attainment and achievement targets.
Monitor and evaluate pupil progress against targets.
Lead evaluation strategies and contribute to whole-school self-evaluation.
Ensure quality and consistency of teaching and learning.
Promote positive relationships with families to support student wellbeing.
Implement school quality procedures and ensure adherence.
Leading, developing, and enhancing the teaching practice of other staff:
Ensure staff understand aims and objectives of the subject area.
Develop effective teaching approaches and consistent standards.
Act as a role model, demonstrating effective teaching strategies.
Facilitate collaboration across subject areas.

Line management:
Conduct learning walks and formal observations.
Establish expectations for feedback, reporting, and gradebooks.
Manage staff absence procedures, including leave approval and return-to-work meetings.
Ensure effective staff deployment.
Identify staff development needs and implement programmes.
Liaise with HR regarding recruitment, performance, and wellbeing.

Specific duties relating to this post:
Provide data and exam analysis for subjects and qualifications.
Align subject delivery with Key Stage plans and the academic strategy.
Promote excellence through extra-curricular clubs and events.
Manage and update the subject handbook and associated documentation.

Strategic direction:
Contribute to shaping the school’s vision and strategic direction.
Collaborate on whole-school initiatives and cross-curricular links.
Work with Heads of Key Stage, Academic, and Innovation to support school aims.
Promote the school’s vision, ethos, policies, and high achievement.
Support implementation of the school’s self-evaluation and development plan.
Contribute to accountability processes across the school.

Pastoral and Wellbeing:
Implement school expectations for engagement and behaviour.
Promote student welfare and pastoral care, ensuring safeguarding procedures are followed.
Ensure staff follow procedures for reporting concerns.

Staff development/performance management:
Undertake ongoing professional development, keeping up to date with research and pedagogy.
Manage performance processes for designated staff, including induction, probation, and appraisal.
Follow HR procedures for performance improvement, conduct, and disciplinary matters.
Undertake self-review and performance management with line manager.

Community:
Promote the subject and student achievements across the school community.
Represent the subject at school events and activities.

Finance and Budget:
Monitor and manage budgets, ensuring responsible and sustainable spending.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE:

Inspired Leaders demonstrate the following personal and professional qualities

An Inspired leader is:-
- an excellent classroom practitioner and committed to continuous improvement 
- inspiring and empowers a team towards a vision of excellence
- active in promoting individual teachers and nurturing a team 
- effective in building relationships with staff, students, and parents 
- adaptable and confident managing change 
- an effective listener and reflects on feedback from others 
- a creative thinker and can anticipate and solve problems 
- an effective collaborator and networks with other professionals within and beyond the 
school 
- ambitious and active in setting and meeting targets 
- an efficient and effective manager at an operational level
- an effective communicator, orally and in writing

SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

Inspired Education Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practices and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

SCHOOL APPLICATION FORM

Please download and complete our Inspired Application Form and submit alongside your CV.

Inspired Academic Teaching Application Form