Deputy Head of of Art, Assistant Team Leader in Oakham

Main Pay Scale plus Federation Benefits. Plus, an allowance of RP8 £5,501 per annum FTE. To start September 2026.

This is the ideal role for an ambitious artist who is ready to lead, innovate and grow. Teaching is demanding – but at Catmose College you’ll find what makes that challenge rewarding: students who want to learn, colleagues who support and inspire, and first‑class facilities in a College recently graded Outstanding in all areas (March 2024).

JOIN A THRIVING VISUAL ARTS COMMUNITY

Beyond lessons, students tap into a rich Electives programme with creative options such as ceramics, fashion illustration, printmaking, interior design, jewellery making, manga illustration, portraiture and more—the perfect launch pad for experimentation and portfolio building. Our enrichment is purposeful and exciting: recent examples include a GCSE London Art Residential (V&A, street art at The Vaults, Wildlife Photographer of the Year) and a Cambridge Art trip, both designed to spark ideas for assessment and coursework.

YOUR ROLE AS ASSISTANT TEAM LEADER

Working alongside the Team Leader of Art, Design and Technology, you will help ensure staff and students are expertly supported to do their best. We will shape the final portfolio to your strengths and ambitions, but indicative areas include:

• Enhancing pedagogy across the team through coaching and sharing best practice.
• Developing and evaluating assessment so it supports progress and creativity.
• Reviewing and refreshing curriculum so it stays relevant, rigorous and inspiring.

This position is ideal for a strong classroom practitioner who is ready to broaden their influence and develop leadership experience in a successful, well‑resourced department—within a College where behaviour is exemplary and students achieve very well.

WHY CATMOSE? WHY NOW?

• Outstanding school: Ofsted Outstanding in every category (March 2024).
• Motivated learners: Students are mature, polite and keen to learn; behaviour is a strength noted by Ofsted.
• Superb facilities: Purpose‑built, award‑winning campus with specialist spaces and excellent digital resources to support high‑quality teaching.
• Rich trips & visits: From London art residencies to gallery visits and local fieldwork that feed directly into assessment and portfolios.
• Extensive CPD: High‑quality professional development including a part funded Master’s scheme and leadership pathways across the Federation.
• Wellbeing & flexibility: A leadership culture that actively supports positive work–life balance and flexible working.
• Post‑16 opportunity: Potential to teach A level Art, Craft & Design at Harington School, our Outstanding post‑16 partner on the campus.
• Staff benefits: Staff laptop, free parking, Cycleshare salary‑sacrifice, priority admission for children of staff, and holidays outside the usual term‑time pattern (including a two‑week autumn break and an early summer).

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

A colleague who is:

• Passionate about Art with excellent subject knowledge across traditional and contemporary media.
• A consistently strong classroom teacher with high expectations and a track record of enabling students to produce ambitious work.
• Reflective and collaborative, with the ability to coach others and lead initiatives.
• Skilled at building positive relationships with students and colleagues; a clear, confident communicator.
• Committed to the College’s high personal and professional standards and to the wider life of the team (clubs, trips, exhibitions).

ABOUT CATMOSE COLLEGE AND THE FEDERATION

Catmose College is part of the Rutland and District Schools’ Federation alongside Catmose Primary and Harington School—a locally‑based Trust that creates real opportunities for cross‑phase collaboration, development and promotion.

JOB PURPOSE

As an Assistant Team Leader (ATL) you will assist the Team Leader in providing leadership and direction for the teams of staff they are responsible for in line with the strategic objectives and targets as outlined in the annual Transformation Plan.

DUTIES

• Secure expected or exceptional teaching and learning throughout their team to ensure outstanding progress for all students in line with the College ethos.
• Secure expected or exceptional examination results across the areas that they are responsible for.
• To liaise with a Team Leader.
• To identify and implement appropriate strategies for staff and students to achieve success and realise their full potential.
• To manage student behaviour so that disruption is unusual.
• To manage relevant staff so that they perform at a high standard.
• Use data and analysis to ensure that intervention is deployed quickly and efficiently to guarantee outstanding student outcomes.
• To work with a range of both internal and external stakeholders to secure the commitment of the wider community to the ethos and vision of the College.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

• Aim to consistently deliver expected or exceptional lessons and support others to achieve the same.
• Lead the development of schemes of work.
• To continue to develop own practice and that of others through training and collaboration using new technologies when appropriate to improve learning and leading by example.

Assistant Team Leaders will be committed to both their individual professional development and the development of the staff for which they have responsibility.

FEDERATION

• To familiarise yourself and comply with the Federation rules, policies and procedures in force including those contained in the Staff Handbook.
• Support the vision and ethos of the Federation.
• Uphold Routines for Learning and uniform.
• Contribute to monitoring and evaluating the success of the Federation.
• To proactively respond to issues identified in the Transformation Plan to bring about sustained improvement.
• Contribute to the range of extracurricular opportunities on offer to students.
• Any other reasonable duties as requested by the Executive Principal.

This role is undertaken in conjunction with the role of teacher therefore please also refer to this job description.

OTHER DUTIES

This job description sets out the main duties associated with the stated purpose of the post. It is assumed that other duties of a similar nature undertaken within the role are not excluded because they are not itemised.

Submit a letter of application (maximum 2 pages). Complete all sections on the application form with details of two professional referees. It is our usual practice to ask for references before shortlisting and always to ask for references before interviews. It is a condition of employment that you can provide proof of identity and qualifications gained. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

The closing date is Monday 23 February 2026, 12:00pm. You should send your application to: Stuart Williams, Principal, Catmose College, Huntsmans Drive, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6RP. Applications can also be emailed to office@rutlandfederation.com.

The Federation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all students in our care and expects all staff to share this commitment. We provide safeguarding training to all staff on an annual basis, and all staff are responsible for ensuring safeguarding, health and safety policies are implemented in line with Federation policy and current legislation. Please familiarise yourself with our Safeguarding Policy, available online at www.rutlandfederation.com/policies.

This position advertised is a ‘regulated position’ which means it will involve regular contact with children and young people; under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 it is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. This position is also ‘exempt’ from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.