Computer Science (Head of Subject)

Salary: Inner London M1-UPS3 (£40,317 to £62,496) PLUS TLR2C £8,611. Starting salary dependent upon experience.

Required for: September 2026

Application Closing Date: Thursday 14th May 2026 at 12noon

Interview Date: TBC

Please note that Cardinal Pole reserves the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date.

Benefits:

• Two-week October half term break.
• Joining an AWARD WINNING National School of the Year 2024 & TWICE TES Secondary School of the Year nominated school.
• Free staff access to a modern and high quality gym which was fully refurbished in September 2023.
• An incredible team of staff who are highly skilled, dynamic and passionate about securing the very best outcomes for the community we serve.
• Excellent CPD opportunities at all levels including part-funded MA study (T&Cs apply).
• Opportunities for progression.
• Sophisticated modern school building set in the heart of vibrant Hackney.
• A proactive and thriving staff well-being group with regular staff socials, coffee mornings and opportunities for cross departmental interaction.
• Free Breakfast Club every day for staff and students.
• Free Bike servicing for staff.
• Travel Loans. Interest free loans to assist staff in meeting travel costs (T&Cs apply).
• Teachers Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme which includes 3 x salary life assurance cover whilst you remain in service.
• Employee Assistance Programme.

Purpose of the post:

To provide professional leadership, strategic direction and management of Department throughout the school to secure high quality teaching and learning, to raise standards of attainment and to ensure the progress, achievement and enjoyment of all pupils.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning & School Self Evaluation:

• Lead on planning, reviewing, monitoring and evaluating subject delivery and development in the school having regard to current and future developments in order to raise standards.
• Have a strategic impact on the school through realising leadership status by participating in corporate leadership duties, leading on whole school initiatives and working within the time demands of the role.

Operational:

• Produce a departmental handbook in line with school requirements and update it annually.
• Keep public exam syllabuses under review.
• Responsible for public examination entries in consultation with the deputy head and examinations officer.
• Provide a summary of the programme of study for each year group for inclusion in the parent handbook and for revision booklets.
• Responsible for all internal assessments ensuring that relevant data is collected and passed on for processing and that interventions are planned according to the information gleaned.
• Ensure cover work is set when members of the department are absent.
• Responsible for all departmental rooms, having regard to aspects of Health & Safety.
• Delivery of attractive displays across all classrooms to provide an encouraging learning environment.
• Manage the departmental budget effectively.
• Ensure the organisation of resources within the department, having regard to security, stock taking and keeping accurate accounts.
• Chair departmental meetings providing agendas and minutes to all relevant staff.
• Provide information and administrative returns as and when required by senior staff making sure deadlines are met.
• Keep records and files of evidence of all monitoring, activities, meetings and outcomes including exemplar work as evidence.

Pupils:

• Create a climate which supports and encourages all pupils in the subject.
• Track and monitor the academic progress of all pupils in the subject including the more able and those with SEN or linguistic needs and liaise with the relevant line manager and the SENCO/EMAS/G&T coordinator.
• Ensure that all pupils make good progress by using prior attainment data and tracking to identify underachieving individual pupils or groups of pupils and where necessary create and implement effective interventions to support those pupils in liaison with the relevant Head of Learning.
• Recognise and acknowledge all aspects of achievement and implement the schools rewards and merits systems consistently.
• Follow up discipline matters within the department in accordance with the school Behaviour policy and implement appropriate sanctions.

Staff Accountability, Support & Development:

• Create a climate which supports and encourages all departmental staff.
• Take advantage of relevant opportunities for professional development to ensure professional growth and encourage professional development amongst members of the department.
• Provide departmental training and set up peer observation as a means for sharing good practice.
• Implement the school’s performance management policy and be responsible for the leadership, guidance, direction and support of members of the department.
• Play an active role in the recruitment of staff.
• Provide effective support for ECTs, GTPs, Teach First and Beginning Teachers in conjunction with the DH responsible for these.
• Be responsible for and insist that calm, orderly, purposeful lessons take place throughout the department with due reference to planning, pace and differentiation.
• Insist on punctual arrival for lessons and continual classroom supervision by departmental staff.
• Support those staff with whom there are concerns to ensure that opportunities for improvement are available through peer observation, coaching and mentoring, target setting and Inset.
• Ensure teachers in the Department complete all aspects of the target setting, assessment and audit cycle on time and to a good standard.

Teaching & Learning:

• Develop and up-date schemes of work.
• Plan, promote and support intervention strategies for all year groups and in particular public exam cohorts.
• Promote the use of ICT both to enhance teaching & learning and for administration purposes.
• Monitor and evaluate the teaching & learning in the subject through results’ analysis, formal and informal observations, drop-ins, work sampling and checking planning in order to ensure pupil progress and achievement.
• Ensure that the school assessment policy and departmental marking policy is strictly adhered to by checking and monitoring marking within the department including records and work sampling on a regular basis, ensuring marking is formative and pupils are aware of the level they are working at and how to make progress.
• Ensure that displays in classrooms are attractive and include pupil level/grade information and exemplars of levelled/graded work and that all pupils have copies of such information in their exercise books including the departmental marking policy.
• Monitor the setting of appropriate homework and assessments for all pupils in the subject.
• Plan and teach high quality lessons at all times and lead by example.
• Teach across the whole age and ability range.
• Work with external vocational providers on assessment/moderation and work placements if applicable to department.
• Promote Literacy and Numeracy within the subject consistently.
• Ensure the best available provision for Special Needs within the department through close liaison with the coordinators for Special Needs and ensure that the department is represented at SEN working party meetings.
• Ensure that all members of the department have copies of IEPs and that they are responded to.
• Lead a departmental review in liaison with the line manager on a two yearly cycle identifying strengths and areas of concern for development in a report to be presented to Governors.
• Take part rigorously and effectively in the school’s monitoring and evaluation cycle ensuring deadlines are met, results are shared and appropriate action is taken.
• Ensure that there is an ethos of sharing good practice and resources among the department’s teachers and provide opportunities for this to take place.
• Promote and support the organisation and planning of subject related activities and events to enhance teaching & learning.
• Liaise with LA advisers and meet with them regularly to take advantage of collaborative local working plans.
• Undertake additional or other duties as may be appropriate to achieve the objectives of the post and as directed and deemed appropriate by the Line Manager.

General Requirements:

• Promote the Catholic ethos of the school.
• Promote the school vision.
• Support and implement relevant aspects of the School Development Plan.
• Develop, implement and monitor school policies with a commitment to high standards, high expectations and high achievement.
• Be aware of current educational developments and the conclusions of educational research as they may be relevant to practices and policies within the school.
• Be aware of all Health & Safety issues relevant to the department.
• Attend and contribute to middle management meetings.
• Attend relevant external meetings.
• Attend SLT and Governors’ meetings when requested.
• Ensure consultation with other departments on cross curricular themes and needs.
• Have a high profile around the school by regularly patrolling stairs and corridors and visiting classrooms.
• Promote and support school events.
• Be prepared to attend meetings and organise out of school hours interventions beyond directed time.
• Carry out responsibilities at all times with due regard to the trusts policy, organisation and arrangements for Health & Safety at Work.
• It is the post-holder’s responsibility to carry out duties in line with Trusts policy on Equality and Diversity and be sensitive and caring to the needs of others, promoting a positive approach to a harmonious working environment.
• Must promote and safeguard the welfare of children, young and vulnerable people that you are responsible for or come into contact with.
• Cardinal Pole School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

No CV's accepted.