Deputy Faculty Leader – Creative Arts

Salary: Leadership Scale L4 – L8 (£55,747 – £61,534 )
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Start Date: September 2026

Are you ready to take the next step into leadership?

We are seeking an inspirational leader to join Whickham School to help shape teaching and learning within the creative arts faculty. You will be joining a highly successful faculty and supporting the current Faculty Leader to continue the drive for excellence.

About the role:

• Lead and inspire within the Creative Arts Faculty, driving continuous improvement in teaching and learning
• Work alongside the Faculty Leader and programme leaders to deliver an outstanding curriculum
• Champion our school values whilst supporting whole-school improvement priorities
• Ensure every student achieves their potential in Creative Arts
• Prepare for your next step into senior leadership

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

Your impact

As Deputy Faculty Leader for Creative Arts, you will:

• Model excellence – demonstrate what outstanding Art teaching looks like across KS3-KS5
• Develop others – coach and mentor colleagues using evidence-based approaches, building leadership capacity across your team
• Drive innovation – ensure our Creative Arts curriculum is dynamic, relevant and accessible, developing creativity in every pupil
• Shape practice – plan and deliver regular subject-specific CPD that supports excellent teaching
• Lead strategically – use the Whickham Learning Model & evidence based teaching strategies to ensure consistency and quality across the faculty
• Make it real – work with engaged pupils in a school where behaviour is strong and aspiration is high

Who you are

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

Are you ready to lead our team?

Want to see it for yourself? We actively encourage visits. Contact Chelsea Challans at recruitment@whickhamschool.org  to arrange a time that works for you.

Application deadline: 9am Monday 9th March 2026
Submit to: recruitment@whickhamschool.org
Application forms: Download from the Whickham School website where you’ll also find the full job description, person specification and further details about the school and role.

Whickham School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE). We expect all staff to share our commitment to safeguarding.

What happens next?

1. 1. Download the full job description and person specification from our website
   2. Visit us (optional but highly recommended) – see our facilities, meet the team and experience Whickham
   3. Complete your application – tell us why you’re the person to help lead our Creative Arts department to even greater success
   4. Submit by 9am Monday 9th March 2026 

• Interviews will be held week beginning 16th March 2026

Questions – 

Contact Chelsea Challans at recruitment@whickhamschool.org