What skills and experience we're looking for You are an experienced and passionate Art teacher with a proven track record of strong pupil outcomes. You have: Essential: • Qualified Teacher Status and a degree in Art or related subject • Successful secondary teaching experience with evidence of excellent student progress and outcomes • The ability to teach confidently across KS3-KS5 • Strong understanding of curriculum development, assessment and data analysis • A passion for developing others and seeing them succeed • Evidence-based practice grounded in research and reflection Desirable: • Leadership experience (formal or informal) with a commitment to continued growth • Experience of examination marking • Understanding of collaborative planning approaches • Track record of improving departmental performance Your personal qualities: • You understand that great teaching is built on relationships, high expectations, and relentless focus on progress • You're reflective, solution-focused and committed to continuous improvement • You can inspire and motivate both students and staff • You're committed to upholding our school values and creating an inclusive learning environment What the school offers its staff What makes Whickham School special? Whilst we are a high-performing school (Progress 8 of 0.26 in 2024, 96% 4 in Art & 94% 4 in Drama 2025), we are about much more than our academic performance. We are a community that values all of our stakeholders, recognising that our staff make the difference for our pupils. We therefore invest in our staff in a number of ways. We support work-life balance in the following ways • Reduced teaching hours to support planning and professional development • Dedicated collaborative planning time – at least one hour every fortnight for each teacher to meet with their subject team to talk through upcoming learning episodes • Flexible approach to work-life balance considerations • Access to fitness facilities outside school hours We invest in your growth • Meaningful leadership development opportunities, including an annual opportunity to be seconded to the Leadership Team as an Associate Assistant Headteacher • Evidence-based CPD that makes a real difference to your practice • Coaching and mentoring support to help you thrive • Access to a range of internal leadership programmes and external qualifications The practical benefits: • Salary sacrifice schemes including bicycle and electric vehicle leasing • Higher priority for your children's admission to our heavily oversubscribed school • Modern facilities with the latest display technology in every classroom • Supportive, collaborative staff community Commitment to safeguarding Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.