Job Description
Subject Lead for Design and Technology
Permanent, Full time
Start: September 2025
Salary: DGS Pay Scale
Suitable for ECTs
Closing date: Sunday 23rd February 2025
Interviews to be held week commencing: 3rd March 2025
We are seeking an excellent classroom practitioner to join Derby Grammar School as Subject Lead for Design and Technology. This is an exciting opportunity to work with highly motivated students and to develop the curriculum in the direction you believe to be the most appropriate for our students and the school.
Derby Grammar School is a leading independent school for children ages 4 to 18. Situated in the picturesque Derbyshire suburb of Littleover, our tranquil grounds offer the ideal setting for a first-class educational experience.
At Derby Grammar School, we strive to ‘bring education to life’ and ignite a passion for learning that stays with our pupils. Our smaller class size allows us to know each child as an individual, celebrating their unique strengths.
The Design and Technology department at Derby Grammar School is a vibrant learning environment. Our curriculum encourages pupils to suggest creative solutions and develop, test and trial working models and prototypes for a variety of products using innovative concepts, materials and resources. This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to join our team, as we embrace being a coeducational school and join the Inspired Learning Group.
The successful candidate will be an excellent classroom teacher, with the ability to inspire and challenge all pupils to achieve their full potential through evidence-informed practice. They will develop creative opportunities for pupils both within the classroom and outside it. Our specialism in Design and Technology is Product Design. We are keen to hear from teachers
who have a passion for co-curricular activities, and the opportunity to lead our inclusive and popular Greenpower F24 team is available to a suitable candidate.
Design and Technology is studied by all pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 and is a popular option at GCSE, where we offer the AQA specification. At A Level many of our pupils have aspirations in technical and creative careers and we offer the AQA Product Design specification. The subject’s timetable allocation reflects its significance in our curriculum, ranging from 1 hour 50 minutes per week in Year 7 to five and a half hours per week in Year 13. Design and Technology is housed in two dedicated workshops with a cutting room and benefits from specialist technician support.
Key Responsibilities
• Ensure that the Design and Technology curriculum fully meets the needs of all students and that it is effectively delivered in all respects.
• Develop appropriate specifications, resources, schemes of work, marking policies and teaching strategies in line with the overall School’s development plan.
• Plan, prepare and deliver lessons in line with the departmental scheme of work and external examination specifications.
• Set and instill high expectations across the subject at all levels.
• Assess, record and report on pupil attainment, learning and progress, working to Departmental deadlines. Keeping a record of marks and assessments and using this information to inform teaching and learning, adapting methods as required to respond to the strengths and needs of all pupils.
• Set and mark classwork and homework regularly in accordance with Departmental and School policies.
Qualifications and Experience The successful candidate will demonstrate the following:
• A passion for Design and Technology and a high level of subject knowledge
• A good honours degree in a suitable subject
• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
• Strong knowledge of the Design and Technology curriculum and capacity to teach Product Design to A Level
• Sound awareness of the requirements of assessment at GCSE and A Level
• Knowledge of how pupils learn and are motivated in order to provide for the individual needs of all pupils
• Secure understanding of child protection and safeguarding
What We Offer
As part of the Inspired Learning Group, you will benefit from:
• Generous allocation of PPA time
• Small class sizes
• Work with highly motivated and able students who have aspirations to pursue a future in the technical and design sector
• Excellent facilities with three adjoining spaces providing access to digital design and manufacture, a large well resourced workshop and cutting room
• Dedicated technician support
• Competitive salary
• Annual salary reviews
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Fee discounts for staff children
• Pension scheme
• Access to a health care plan, covering a wide range of healthcare benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
Why Join Us?
This is your chance to play a key role in the academic development of Derby Grammar School. Design and Technology is a highly regarded subject, and you’ll work in a polite and orderly environment where teachers are respected and valued by the school community, with the opportunity to deliver diverse and engaging co-curricular activities.
Interested individuals should apply at the earliest opportunity, applications should be submitted by following this link - 0000000623
The closing date for applications is Sunday 23rd February 2025
We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the date advertised. Interviews may take place on a rolling basis, as applications are received.
Derby Grammar School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children & young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, as all new staff will be subject to enhanced DBS clearance, identity checks, qualification checks and employment checks to include an exploration of any gaps within employment, two satisfactory references and registration with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)