A respected 11–18 secondary school in York is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Head of Humanities to lead its successful department. The school serves a wide catchment across the city and surrounding villages and has built a strong reputation for academic standards, calm classrooms and a well-balanced approach to curriculum design. Humanities is a cornerstone of the school’s academic offer. History and Geography both enjoy strong GCSE uptake, while A-Level provision across History, Geography and Politics continues to grow. Results have remained consistently strong, with clear evidence of sustained progress across the department. The school is now looking for a leader who can consolidate this success while driving further academic ambition. The Role As Head of Humanities, you will lead a team of History, Geography and RE teachers across Key Stages 3–5. You will oversee curriculum development, assessment strategy and departmental performance while maintaining a visible and supportive presence within the team. Your responsibilities will include: • Strategic leadership of the Humanities faculty • Line management and professional development of department staff • Oversight of curriculum sequencing from Year 7 through Sixth Form • Monitoring progress data and implementing targeted interventions • Coordinating GCSE and A-Level examination preparation • Contributing to whole-school leadership discussions The school values leaders who combine clarity and organisation with enthusiasm and strong subject expertise. The Department The Humanities faculty occupies a central corridor within the main teaching block, with dedicated classrooms for each subject area. The department works collaboratively, sharing assessment materials and planning frameworks while encouraging individual teaching style and creativity. Strengths of the faculty include: • Well-established schemes of work aligned to exam board requirements • Strong fieldwork and local heritage links across York • Structured revision and intervention programmes • Healthy GCSE and A-Level uptake across subjects Students regularly engage with local historical and geographical resources, making use of York’s rich heritage and urban landscape. The School This York secondary school is known for its respectful student body, structured behaviour systems and supportive senior leadership. Staff benefit from a professional working culture where expectations are high but workload is carefully managed. Facilities include refurbished classrooms, a modernised Sixth Form centre and improved IT infrastructure. Professional development is purposeful, with clear pathways for leadership progression. The school places strong emphasis on: • Academic rigour • Community engagement • Staff development • Balanced curriculum design Who We’re Looking For The successful candidate will: • Hold QTS (or equivalent) with a strong academic background in a Humanities subject • Have proven experience teaching GCSE and ideally A-Level • Demonstrate successful middle leadership experience • Be confident analysing data and implementing improvement strategies • Inspire both colleagues and students through strong subject leadership This role would suit an ambitious and organised leader ready to take responsibility for a large and influential faculty. What’s On Offer • Competitive leadership salary • Supportive and experienced senior leadership team • Strong GCSE and A-Level Humanities uptake • Clear behaviour systems and structured pastoral support • A well-regarded York secondary school community This is an outstanding opportunity for a Humanities specialist ready to shape the strategic direction of a successful department within a respected and high-performing secondary school.