Teacher of Art

We are looking to recruit an exceptional Teacher of Art for a permanent role. You will join our outstanding Sixth Form team where innovation, ambition, and student success power everything we do. This is an incredible opportunity to make a profound, long-term difference working with a team of like-minded professionals in a department that values both technical mastery and creative curiosity. At Durham Sixth Form Centre, we don’t just deliver Art courses—we nurture tomorrow's artists, designers, curators, and creative leaders.

As an oversubscribed, "Outstanding" (Ofsted 2017) post-16 institution with results significantly above national averages, we provide a "mini-university" atmosphere where the arts are celebrated. With our purpose-built Visual Arts Centre and on-site Dead Dog Gallery, this is your opportunity to lead students through the complexities of the A Level specification and shape the future of visual inquiry in an elite creative setting.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a dynamic creative curriculum: Lead the exploration of visual language across A Level Fine Art, A Level Art & Design, and our prestigious Level 4 Foundation Diploma in Art, Design and Media (FADM).
• Teach in a professional environment: Work within state-of-the-art facilities, including a dedicated theatre, digital media centre, and a visual arts centre with an ever-changing professional exhibition programme.
• Inspire the next generation of creatives: Challenge highly motivated learners from across the region who are passionate about exploring diverse media and achieving academic excellence.
• Bridge practice and theory: Lead outstanding teaching that moves beyond technical skill to engage with complex contemporary theory, art history, and the interrogation of visual culture.
• Mentor independent portfolios: Take a lead role in guiding students through their Personal Investigations (NEA) and portfolio builds, preparing them for transition to competitive art courses and Russell Group universities.

Qualifications

• Champion artistic engagement: Be part of a Faculty that celebrates active inquiry and enrichment, from local arts outreach programmes to high-profile collaborations with partners like Durham University.
• Is an outstanding A Level practitioner with a proven track record of securing excellent student outcomes (we also welcome applications from ambitious ECTs ready for their first specialist post).
• Possesses exceptional planning and time management skills, with the ability to inspire and challenge both students and colleagues.
• Brings deep subject expertise, with a passion for teaching and learning that motivates learners to develop their own evidence-based, sophisticated artistic voices.
• Is committed to collaborative, evidence-informed teaching, working within the Arts & Humanities Faculty to trial new strategies for technical demonstration and literacy in the arts.
• Understands how to build student confidence, preparing them for high-level progression into diverse creative and professional pathways.

We are looking for a colleague who is passionate about art education and committed to helping our curious, highly ambitious students reach their full potential. In return, we offer a friendly, supportive environment with a strong focus on professional growth, including personalised CPD and leadership coaching. Many of our staff are examiners, moderators, or engaged in advanced research (Masters and Doctorates), and we welcome individuals who share this commitment to continuous excellence.

Why choose us?

• Be a part of an Investors in People: Platinum organisation.
• We are a flourishing high-performing sixth form where students achieve and exceed their potential.
• Be part of a team that’s ambitious, supportive, and driven by purpose.
• Benefit from personalised CPD, leadership coaching, and genuine career progression.

Further details about the role

Thank you for your interest in joining the Arts and Humanities Faculty at Durham Sixth Form Centre. We are a hardworking, dedicated team of specialists who pride ourselves on being at the forefront of innovative teaching and learning strategies. Our Faculty is one of the most popular in the school, offering an expansive and diverse range of subjects, from History and English to Media and Performing Arts.

A Hub for Creative Excellence

The Art Department is a cornerstone of our Faculty and a regional leader in creative education. As a team of dedicated creative practitioners, we maintain an established track record of outstanding practice and academic excellence. Our broad and ambitious curriculum celebrates the diversity of the subject, offering A-Levels in: Art, Craft & Design, Fine Art, Graphics, Photography, Fashion & Textiles and Level 4 Foundation Diploma in Art, Design, and Media Practice.

Exceptional Facilities and Advocacy

We operate within a purpose-built visual arts centre on a campus that blends historical 1913 architecture with state-of-the-art innovation, creating a "mini-university" atmosphere. Our commitment to the arts is recognised by our Artsmark Platinum status from Arts Council England, which commended our advocacy for the arts as a vehicle for social mobility.

Unique features of our department

• The Dead Dog Gallery: Our on-site contemporary visual arts space which hosts a rotating calendar of professional exhibitions.
• Artist-in-Residence Programme: Now in its eighth year, this programme bridges the gap between our students and the wider creative industry.
• Outward-Facing Collaboration: We thrive on high-profile partnerships with organisations such as Lumière, Durham University, and The Big Draw.