About UsWe are an ‘Outstanding’ (Ofsted 2023) secondary academy, established in 2018 to provide an excellent education for children in Wimbledon.Two years after opening, we moved into our brand-new building which is modern, bright and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities in every area of the curriculum. We are oversubscribed and fortunate to have an amazing level of support from the community with waiting lists for entry into every year group of our academy.Our academy is an exceptional place to learn, providing an ambitious but happy and inclusive environment. We have high expectations of our students of all starting points and abilities. We know that our students will leave us academically successful, but we also want them to be well-rounded individuals with a highly developed social conscience, ready to lead in their communities and beyond. Our motto is ‘make a difference’ and our students and staff give nothing except their very best in pursuit of making a difference to their lives and the lives of others around them.Three words are crucial to how we guide students to be able to ‘make a difference’: independence, integrity and resilience.Independence means we support students to develop their skills and attributes, so they have everything they need to succeed. We set challenging targets and raise aspirations so every single one of our students reaches their potential.Integrity means staff and students must be fair and truthful and have the courage to take the right action in every situation, even when no-one is looking.Resilience means we give students the tools to recover from difficulties. We show students how taking risks and making mistakes is all part of the learning journey. We also show students how hard work brings success, and support them to persevere with all challenges. SummaryWe are seeking an exceptional Head of Design & Technology (Product Design Specialism) to lead and inspire our Design & Technology department.This is an exciting opportunity for a visionary educator with a strong background in Product Design to shape a forward-thinking curriculum, champion creativity and innovation, and drive outstanding student outcomes.You will combine strategic leadership with hands-on expertise, fostering a culture of high standards, technical excellence, and imaginative problem-solving. You will oversee curriculum development, staff mentoring and resource management, ensuring that teaching reflects industry best practice and equips students with the skills, confidence and ambition to excel in the world of design and technology. Main Areas of ResponsibilityYou will play a leading and highly visible role in the improvement of teaching and learning of the Faculty and academic success of all students, ensuring the highest standards of teaching, learning and achievement and leading in the monitoring, evaluation and review of standards and provision in the subject area.The general expectations of this role are:To support teachers across the Academy in their teaching and learningTo deliver CPD including whole staff training and small-group sessions for teachers at a range of levels/abilitiesTo lead an area of Teaching and Learning across the academy (area agreed through discussion at interview) including the development of clear intent, plan for successful implementation, and monitoring of impact through MERTo remain up to date with literature on the theory of learning and models of instructional coachingTo chair or co-chair a staff ‘working group’ and implement strategies across the academyTo lead a ‘subject society’ for sixth form studentsTo work with the Academy’s philosophers (more able learners) by leading and/or supporting a philosophers academy programme for a specified year groupTo teach consistently outstanding lessons, and to be able to articulate the techniques that make outstanding teaching so that they can be replicated across the academyTo conduct lesson observations, learning walks and workbook scrutiny (as part of MER) and provide meaningful feedbackTo line manage teaching staff within the academyTo lead on areas within the subject area (area agreed though discussion at interview)Qualifications & ExperienceThe successful candidate will:Hold QTS (or equivalent) and a relevant undergraduate degree, and, ideally, be able to show evidence of ongoing professional developmentDemonstrate outstanding teaching practice and excellent behaviour managementHave experience of lesson observations and giving robust feedbackHave experience of improvement planning and of implementing a range of strategies to raise student achievement, with evidence of successBe able to contribute to improving on the quality of learning and teaching and curriculumHave a proven track record of excellent results at KS3 and 4, and, ideally, experience of teaching to KS5Have experience of high quality pupil tracking and feedback practicesIdeally, have experience of working with governors and of working in more than one school Rewards & BenefitsOur people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance for teachers on MPS/UPS, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan, electric car scheme, and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.Safeguarding NoticeThe Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.Equal OpportunitiesThe Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment. Next StepsIf you have any questions about this opportunity, please send us an email, or call to arrange a conversation.Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. This will be helpful for you when completing your application, and throughout the recruitment process.We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may interview and offer to a candidate before the closing date. Please note that we only accept applications submitted before the closing date via our careers website.Safeguarding NoticeThe Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.Equal OpportunitiesThe Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.