We are looking to recruit a Head of Humanities. This is an exciting time to join us and a great opportunity to be involved in the next stage of development of this strong team.
In this role, you will:
Set high expectations which motivate and challenge students in a productive learning environment
Promote good outcomes by students, planning well‑structured lessons
Demonstrate good subject and curriculum knowledge
Adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all students
Make accurate and productive use of assessment
Fulfil wider professional responsibilities with high standards of personal and professional conduct
About us
Our recent Ofsted inspection shows we have improved in all areas. Leadership, attendance and behaviour, inclusion, personal development and wellbeing were all graded ‘expected standard’, and we are committed to building on this success. The Ofsted visit in January 2026 found that Smith's Wood Academy is the most improved school in England – after a dramatic and fast‑paced turnaround.
Key points from the report included that:
Staff know that their wellbeing and professional development matters deeply to leaders: They value the training that they receive and the opportunities that they have to pursue leadership qualifications. Leaders have ensured that staff and pupils benefit from a happy and collaborative place to learn and work.
Pupils' increasingly positive behaviour reflects the high expectations that leaders have of them.
Pupils are calm and happy around the school. The school is a friendly, respectful community where pupils can be themselves. Pupils and staff share warm relationships. Increasingly, more pupils enjoy coming to this inclusive school. They speak positively about the support and care that they receive from staff. Pupils feel safe and well looked after.
Please click here for a link to the academy website to see the full Ofsted report.
Fairfax Multi‑Academy Trust
At Fairfax Multi‑Academy Trust, we enrich lives and transform futures. Our four academies in and around Birmingham offer an outstanding quality of education, recognising that all our children are individuals and delivering exceptional pastoral care to ensure their happiness. Whilst we place strong emphasis on academic achievement, we take a holistic view of education and maintain exciting extracurricular programmes to create the well‑rounded young adults of tomorrow. We’re also creating outstanding careers that could take you anywhere within our network – and take your future anywhere you want to go.
Benefits
When you join Fairfax Multi‑Academy Trust, you join a nurturing family where your professional satisfaction and personal happiness really count. You can expect heavy investment in your career development alongside an outstanding package of benefits, including:
Educational support
Flexi perks
Salary sacrifice scheme
Perkbox subscription
Professional learning and regular training
Counselling, Mental Health First Aiders and access to a Wellness Hub
Wellbeing updates and stress management guidance
Menopause awareness training
Free flu jabs
Access to fitness programmes, including yoga, HIIT and more
Access to physical activities during our Trust‑wide Wellbeing Week
Diet and nutrition webinars
Closing date
9.00am on 23 March 2026.
Interview date
w/c 23 March 2026.
Fairfax Multi‑Academy Trust is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will therefore be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) as well as providing evidence of qualifications.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020). This means that certain convictions and cautions are considered ‘protected’ and do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-guidance-on-the-rehabilitation-of-offenders-act-1974
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