Kent College, Pembury
Kent
Salary:
Own Competitive Scale
Job type:
Full Time, Permanent
Start date:
01 December 2025
Apply by:
22 September 2025
Job overview
Teacher in Charge of Physics & Astronomy
Full Time
January 2026
Kent College is a school that ensures every student succeeds above and beyond their potential, as shown by our outstanding value-added results which place us as one of the top schools in the country. Academically, creatively, in Music, Drama and Sport, we nurture, support and encourage our students to thrive. Our flexible and personalised offer allows every student to follow their own path in life and excel. Nurturing and care is at the heart of what we do. We are a community of unique individuals, each with our own characters, personalities and strengths, and brought together by our Methodist ethos of doing all the good you can.
Our ethos of kindness, community and inclusive nurturing, alongside excellent teaching and learning, a flexible curriculum and fantastic facilities are the key to success for our students.
Individual excellence is at the heart of the Kent College community.
We value:
Achievement,
Support for all,
Purposeful citizenship,
Individuality,
Reliability, resilience, respect, and
Enquiring and creative minds.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an outstanding specialist to become Teacher in charge of Physics and Astronomy at Kent College. We are seeking someone with the enthusiasm, vision and skills to lead this successful department. The person appointed will be a Physics specialist with the ability to inspire, motivate and challenge their classes. Applicants should have high expectations of pupil achievement and behaviour, excellent organisational and time-management skills, and enjoy working as part of a team.
The Science Department
Science is a thriving department with a good academic record with well-qualified and dedicated staff who work closely together. Three excellent technicians ably support them.
Students are taught in purpose-built science accommodation, with specialist laboratories for physics, chemistry and biology. The latest apparatus is used and maintained to a high standard. All staff are issued with a Microsoft Surface tablet to use in their teaching and administration.
Academic standards are very high; GCSE, and 'A' level results are good and a larger percentage of pupils stay on to study Physics and Chemistry 'A' levels than do nationally. Normally we have one Physics, two Biology and two Chemistry sets at both AS and A2 level. Most years see one or two science students being offered Oxbridge or medicine places and a number of others follow science related courses.
We are delighted to welcome applications from candidates who share our core values and who are able to contribute to our continued future success. We recruit staff of the highest calibre who will inspire, support and challenge the pupils, and fellow colleagues, to achieve their full potential.
Closing date: Monday 22 September 2025 by Midday
Candidates are encouraged to apply well before the deadline. We reserve the right to interview candidates before the closing date.
References will be taken up prior to interview. One of the referees should normally be the applicant's current or most recent employer. The post requires the highest level of clearance through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Kent College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Appointees must be prepared to undergo child protection screening Child Protection and welfare are taken very seriously at Kent College, with guidelines on confidentiality and staff-pupil relationship procedures well-publicised to staff.
All gaps of employment are to be accounted for and rigorously investigated. Referees are contacted to ensure the validity of the reference. Testimonials are not acceptable in place of confidential references.
Recruiter contact:
Email us
Call us
About Kent College, Pembury
Kent College, Pembury
Pembury, Tunbridge Wells
Kent
TN2 4AX
United Kingdom
About Kent College, Pembury
Background
Founded in 1886, Kent College is an ISI 'Excellent' independent day and boarding school from 2-18 years. Forest Explorers Nursery is for girls and boys from 2 years old and the Prep School is currently co-educational. The Senior School is girls only from ages 11-18 years.
Kent College has been situated on a picturesque 75-acre estate in Pembury, near Tunbridge Wells, since 1939. The campus boasts a range of outstanding facilities, including two indoor sports halls, an indoor swimming pool, a floodlit Astro turf, a modern 200-seat theatre, a contemporary science block, art studios, and a dedicated Sixth Form centre.
Our Vision
To unlock the potential of all.
Our Aims
Individual excellence is at the heart of our community. We value:
Achievement
Support for all
Purposeful citizenship
Individuality
Reliability, respect, resilience
Enquiring and creative minds
Kent College's Aims
* By nurturing, valuing and celebrating each individual.
* By creating an aspirational environment in which intellectual curiosity can flourish in order to maximise the academic achievement of all.
* By promoting the Methodist value of 'doing all the good you can' and inspiring all to make purposeful contributions as global citizens.
Heads
Katrina Handford (Head)
Salli Hall (Head of Prep School)
Nursery and Prep School
The Prep School is a friendly, caring and happy school with a current roll of over 100 pupils aged 2 to 11 (Nursery – Year 6). In addition to the core subjects of English, Maths and Science, all of the pupils in Key Stage 2 study Geography, History, Art, DT and RE. ICT is taught from Year 1 upwards. There are specialist teachers in Music, French, Drama and PE. Class sizes in KS1 and KS2 are normally no more than 21. Each year, a number of pupils apply for and are awarded scholarships to the Senior School, and around two thirds of Year 6 pupils move up to the Senior School.
Senior School and Sixth Form
The Senior School has over 300 day and boarding pupils. Boarders make up around 10% of the total school and come from all over the world. Entry at 11 and 13 is by an entrance test, interview and classroom observations, and the school accepts students with a range of academic abilities. Kent College offers a choice of 24 GCSE subjects, with group sizes usually between 3 and 18. Most pupils complete 10 GCSEs or IGCSEs, but there is the opportunity to take more or less depending on interest or need. Students are also accepted for entry at 16+ and there are over 70 pupils in the Sixth Form. We offer over 20 subjects at A Level and 9 BTECs, we have recently introduced Medical Science, Criminology, Media and Marketing. Class sizes in the Sixth Form normally range between 3 and 12.
Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA)
Kent College places a strong emphasis on extra-curricular activities and has a flexible and innovative lunchtime and after-school programme of prep and activity sessions. All students are encouraged to plan the use of their time so that they follow a balanced programme of academic work and extra-curricular activities. The pastoral care in the school is very strong and all staff are highly involved in wellbeing and general pastoral matters. All teaching staff are required to be involved in at least one ECA and most do more than this, as both subject and general ECA's are available.
ISI (2023)
Kent College was judged to be 'Excellent' in both Academic Achievement and Personal Development, as well as being fully compliant with the Independent Schools Standards, including the National Minimum Standards for Boarding and the Early Years Foundation Stage.
"Pupils have exceptionally positive attitudes to all aspects of their learning. They have a 'can do' attitude and persevere at all ages, greatly enjoying working together.
Pupils are highly confident and are well prepared for the next stage of their lives.
Pupils achieve high levels of knowledge, skills and understanding across all areas of the curriculum. This is as a result of the high expectation, strong subject knowledge and expertise that characterise the teaching.
Pupils put in to practice the Wesleyan philosophy of the school and are proud to do all the good that they can.
The pupils' contribution to others, the school and the community is excellent."
View Kent College Pembury's latest ISI report
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