Humanities Head of Department

Head of History Department

Location: Stockton-on-Tees
Contract: Full Time, Permanent
Start Date: September 2026
Salary: Leadership scale (commensurate with experience)

About the Role

We are seeking an ambitious and inspirational Head of History to lead a thriving Humanities department in a forward-thinking secondary school in Stockton. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced practitioner to shape curriculum direction, drive high standards of teaching and learning, and secure outstanding outcomes for students at Key Stage 3 and 4, with potential Key Stage 5 provision.

The successful candidate will provide clear strategic leadership for History, ensuring a coherent, knowledge-rich curriculum and consistently high-quality teaching across the department.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the History department, ensuring high standards of teaching, learning, and achievement
• Develop and implement a rigorous, ambitious History curriculum across KS3–KS4 (KS5 desirable)
• Use assessment data effectively to track progress and raise attainment
• Monitor and evaluate teaching quality, providing coaching and support to colleagues
• Promote effective teaching strategies, including assessment for learning and adaptive teaching
• Ensure curriculum intent, implementation, and impact are clearly evidenced and reviewed
• Contribute to whole-school improvement and Humanities faculty leadership
• Support exam preparation strategies to maximise student outcomes

Essential Criteria

• Good degree in History or a closely related discipline
• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
• Strong subject knowledge in History up to GCSE and/or A Level
• Proven record of strong examination results
• Recent and relevant teaching experience in secondary education
• Experience of assessment at Key Stage 3 and 4
• Experience of leading or managing a team within a school setting
• Strong classroom practitioner able to model outstanding teaching practice
• Secure understanding of curriculum design and developments in History
• Knowledge of strategies to improve student progress and attainment
• Understanding of assessment for learning principles
• Strong passion and enthusiasm for History and its place in the curriculum

Desirable Attributes

• Experience teaching Key Stage 5 History
• Evidence of leading curriculum innovation or departmental improvement
• Experience of mentoring or developing early career teachers
• Engagement with educational research to improve practice

Location Context

The school is based in Stockton-on-Tees, easily accessible from Middlesbrough, Yarm, Hartlepool, and surrounding Teesside areas.

Application

Applicants should submit a detailed CV and supporting statement outlining leadership experience, curriculum vision for History, and impact on student outcomes. Early applications are encouraged, as interviews may be held prior to the closing date.

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQs on the Protocol Education website for further details.

All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.

Protocol Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with the DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.
We offer FREE online safeguarding and Prevent Duty training to all our workers. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and subscribe to the DBS Update Service.

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