Head of Faculty - Art, Design and Vocational in Sheffield

Do you believe that every child deserves an excellent education, in every classroom, every day? Lift Firth Park is looking for an ambitious and skilled Head of Faculty for Art, Design Technology, and Vocational to drive our strategic vision and inspire our next generation of learners. In this key role, you will guide and line-manage Heads of Department, cultivating a culture of high expectations, modern pedagogy, and practical excellence. This is an exciting opportunity for a forward-thinking leader ready to champion innovative vocational pathways and transform student achievement.

This position is Main Pay Range - Upper Pay Range with TLR 2C £8913. We're a trust where diversity of thought and background strengthens our work. Our culture is built on our Project H mindsets; sharing ideas openly, embracing constructive challenge, valuing contributions over ego, staying curious, and focusing on facts and reason.

Key responsibilities

• The Head of Faculty provides inspirational strategic leadership to line manage subject leads, drive high-quality teaching, and deliver on key institutional priorities like closing the achievement gap.
• Oversee curriculum design, rigorous assessment, and data analysis to ensure an ambitious, knowledge-rich education across all faculty departments.
• Teach engaging lessons, maintain high standards of behaviour, and build strong relationships with parents and staff to foster an inclusive learning environment.
• Line manage and develop subject leads and teachers through appraisals, training, and clear performance standards, holding staff accountable to school policies.
• Ensure departments deliver an ambitious, broad, and carefully sequenced curriculum that aligns with the National Curriculum, exam specifications, and Trust priorities.
• Analyse student progress metrics, assessment results, and exam predictions to identify learning gaps and execute targeted faculty-wide interventions.
• Lead initiative efforts to close the achievement gap for disadvantaged students and increase the proportion of secure readers across the school.
• Plan and deliver high-challenge lessons, utilising effective questioning, regular verbal and written feedback, and responsive re-teaching to drive conceptual mastery.
• Establish consistent classroom routines, maintain high standards for behaviour and respect, and build a safe, inclusive learning environment for all students.
• Collaborate with the SENDCo, support staff, and parents to implement targeted guidance and keep families informed of student achievement and well-being.
• Manage faculty spending and resource allocation effectively while ensuring staff maintain accurate records of attendance, homework, and attainment in the MIS.

We are looking for someone who

• Has Qualified Teacher Status and a strong track record as an exceptional teacher with experience in leadership, ideally as a Head of Department.
• Has deep knowledge of your subject area and understands how to help students of all backgrounds and abilities achieve impressive results.
• Can inspire a team while staying focused on the details that make great teaching happen.
• Brings excellent communication skills, emotional intelligence, and the ability to plan and prioritise in a busy school environment.
• Wants to be a leader who listens, reflects, and grows alongside your team.

Qualifications:

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a degree (or vocational equivalent) in a relevant subject area.
• Proven track record as a successful Head of Department, effectively leading staff to achieve outstanding student outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating rigorous, high-impact schemes of work.
• Expertise in evaluating student performance data to plan and execute targeted, faculty-wide interventions.
• Thorough understanding of using formative and summative assessment to inform planning, alongside a strong grasp of statutory assessment requirements.
• Recent UK school teaching and leadership experience within the last 2 years.
• A well-written, tailored application that clearly demonstrates your motivation, capacity for self-reflection, and deep understanding of the role's strategic responsibilities.

About the school:

Lift Firth Park is a vibrant, mixed secondary school for students aged 11–16. Located in Shiregreen, Sheffield, we serve around 1,200 pupils and reflect a richly diverse community, with more than a third of students speaking English as an additional language. Our school is currently undergoing an exciting period of transformational change, and we are already seeing its positive impact—in the classroom, across the curriculum and throughout our culture. This is an excellent time to join our team. We are looking for individuals who share our dedication to inclusive, aspirational education and who are excited to contribute to our renewed vision and ambitious future.

Who is Lift Schools?

Lift Schools is made up of 62 primary, secondary and special schools, educating more than 35,000 pupils across the country. We believe education can transform lives – and we want every child in our schools to achieve their full potential.

How we support you

We want you to feel supported, valued and able to grow throughout your career with Lift Schools. From high-quality professional development and career progression to wellbeing support and opportunities to connect and collaborate across our network, we invest in you so you can do your best work.