Minerva's Virtual Academy
England
£36,320 - £39,700 per year
Expiring soon
Job type:
Full Time, Permanent
Start date:
05 January 2026
Apply by:
6 October 2025
Job overview
Head of Science Department (Remote / Online / Full Time) full-time, January 2026 start date.
MVA is an award-winning online DFE-accredited independent school for students aged Founded in December 2020, we have become the fastest-growing independent school in the UK and have won multiple awards including the National Business Award for Best Business in the UK with under 50 Staff in 2022.
Following our recent Ofsted accreditation visit we received feedback highlighting our schools effectiveness and recognising that at Minerva's Virtual Academy, well-being is at the heart of everything. Parents, pupils and staff feel valued, cared for and supported. The headteacher leads by example and ensures that caring relationships underpin pupils' academic and pastoral development. You can read the full report here
Job Description:
As the Subject Leader, you will play a pivotal role in driving the excellence and continuous improvement of your subject area across Minerva's Virtual Academy. You will lead the strategic development, implementation, and oversight of the subject, ensuring alignment with MVA's educational standards and objectives. Your responsibilities encompass curriculum planning, instructional leadership, student progress monitoring, staff support, and fostering a vibrant learning environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Curriculum Development and Implementation:
* Develop and implement innovative policies and strategies for your subject/s in accordance with MVA's commitment to high-quality teaching and learning.
* Oversee the planning and sequencing of the curriculum content to optimize student progress and attainment.
* Ensure that the subject's programs of study reflect the needs of a diverse, forward-looking educational community.
* Work with the SENDCo to ensure the curriculum and the way it is taught matches the needs of students with different or additional needs.
* Promote careers education through the subject and ensure that teaching and learning illustrates how the subject might lead to career opportunities.
* Promote students' spiritual, moral, social, cultural, physical and mental development alongside British values in the teaching of the subject.
* Ensure the subject contributes to the development of students' key skills, to inculcate a love for the subject and learning, and preparing them for life beyond school.
Instructional Leadership:
* Provide leadership and support to subject teachers in delivering engaging and effective lessons.
* Monitor teaching and learning to maintain high standards of instruction.
* Encourage the use of technology resources to enhance teaching and provide varied learning opportunities for students.
* Maintain effective communication with the teaching team in the subject area.
* Provide support to staff regarding teaching and learning, resources, and planning.
* Monitor teaching and learning by visiting lessons, scrutinising work, and talking with students to assess how impactfully the subject is being taught across the school.
* Ensure that staff are making full use of tech resources to provide multiple ways for students to engage, consolidate and apply their learning in lessons.
* Provide feedback to staff based on the above observations to identify training needs and provide continuing professional development in the subject.
* Monitor VLP course content regularly and provide feedback to CCCC staff to identify training needs and provide continuing professional development in the subject.
* Guide subject teachers through the processes for staff appraisal, development and training in line with the school's schedule.
Student Progress and Assessment:
* Implement effective assessment and tracking systems to monitor student progress and inform instructional practices.
* Oversee the creation, setting and assessment of internal examinations and other creative ways of assessing students throughout the school, ensuring consistent standards in the application of marking criteria.
* Have an overarching responsibility for students' achievement and standards in the subject area.
Staff Support and Development:
* Foster a collaborative and supportive environment within the subject team, promoting the sharing of best practices and professional growth.
* Provide guidance and support to staff regarding teaching methodologies, resources, and curriculum planning.
* Identify training needs and facilitate continuing professional development opportunities for subject teachers.
Stakeholder Engagement and Promotion:
* Act as an ambassador for the subject, promoting its importance and value within the school community.
* Consult with students, parents, and staff to gather feedback on the effectiveness of the subject and align it with the school's vision and values.
* Liaise with external organizations, exam boards, and industry partners to enhance students' educational experiences and career opportunities.
* Identify important themed days relating to the subject, lead on proposing enriching activities and promote them to students.
* Identify appropriate external competitions and opportunities that may be of interest to students.
Administrative Duties:
* Maintain up-to-date documentation, including schemes of work, assessment records, and related policies.
* Ensure compliance with MVA guidelines for course content on the Virtual Learning Platform (VLP) and other educational platforms.
Qualifications and Requirements:
* Bachelor's degree in the subject or related field; Master's degree preferred.
* Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and significant teaching experience in the subject.
* Proven leadership skills with experience in curriculum development and instructional leadership.
* Strong understanding of assessment principles and strategies for improving student outcomes.
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
* Commitment to continuous improvement and staying abreast of educational trends and best practices.
As this is a remote role, you will be required to have a suitable home-working set-up, which should include a laptop.
MVA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). As part of our Safer Recruitment Policy online searches will also be carried out as part of due diligence checks ahead of any interviews.
MVA values the diversity of our workforce and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.
If you have any questions relating to this opportunity please refer to the attached 'Recruitment FAQs' document. If your question is not answered in the document, then please direct them to Please do not email CVs directly to this address as they will not be considered an application for the role. You must submit your interest via the online application only.
Please ensure you do not delay your application; we reserve the right to close the advert early and may shortlist early.
About Minerva's Virtual Academy
Minerva's Virtual Academy
3space International House, Canterbury Crescent
London
SW9 7QD
United Kingdom
Experience the award-winningonline school for year olds
World-class virtual schooling built on personal mentoring and community, run by teachers from the UK's top schools, and proudly accredited by the Department for Education
(read the full report here)
We are the perfect school for modern times - combining smart technology and engaging online resources with one-to-one support, active group learning and exciting multi-disciplinary projects.
We offer pupils the flexibility to learn from the comfort of their home, anywhere in the world, while ensuring they develop the social skills required to live fulfilling lives and succeed in the workplaces of the future.
The skills we champion are self-sufficiency, collaboration, problem-solving, creative and critical thinking, leadership, and mindfulness.
We operate term dates broadly in line with those in the independent school sector.
Our curriculum for Years 7 and 8 takes advantage of Key Stage 3's flexibility. Alongside the foundational curriculum, students encounter a diverse array of topics. The key stage 3 curriculum combines the Inner core subjects of English, Maths, and Science (Cambridge Lower Secondary) and the outer core is made up of History, French, German, Spanish, Global Perspectives, Digital Literacy, PSHE, Classical Civilisation, Computing, Music and Art & Design.
Pupils commonly study between 5 and 9 subjects in Years 9-11 and 3 - 4 subjects in Years These include a combination of the core subjects: Maths, English Language, English Literature, Biology, Chemistry and Physics - and electives: Geography, History, Business Studies, Psychology, Global Citizenship, Computer Science, French, Spanish, Art and Music. All of our courses (with the exception of Psychology, Art and Music) are IGCSEs awarded by either Cambridge or Pearson Edexcel.
How Pupils Learn
Minerva Virtual Academy is underpinned by 'four pillars'. These are: a virtual learning platform, live lessons, mentoring and community. As part of this offer, all pupils receive weekly one-to-one mentoring sessions and, through the virtual learning platform, can communicate with their mentors at any time. Community plays a key role at Minerva Virtual Academy. Pupils attend weekly assemblies and can participate in a wide range of after-school clubs.
The curriculum at Minerva Virtual Academy is delivered through a 'flipped learning' model. This involves pupils undertaking interactive self-study on the virtual learning platform before attending live lessons.
Alongside the taught curriculum, pupils participate in an extensive well-being programme. Designed to support pupils' personal and academic growth, wellbeing sessions help pupils manage their own health, relationships, emotional intelligence and communication skills.
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