Overview
37 hours per week, Monday to Friday, all year round. Whickham School is a high performing and oversubscribed 11‑18 school in Gateshead where staff and students thrive together. We’re not just talking about results – our student progress significantly exceeds regional and national averages – we’re talking about a place where people love coming to work.
Role Responsibilities
- Partner with leaders to turn our ambitious vision into reality, providing HR guidance that makes a tangible impact
- Be the expert on employment legislation and best‑practice, giving senior leaders the confidence to make informed decisions
- Lead our people strategy across recruitment, retention, performance management and staff development
- Coach and mentor other leaders, building their capability in people management
- Transform recruitment to attract exceptional talent who share our values and ambition
- Champion best‑practice in performance management and staff development, helping every colleague reach their potential
Essential Qualifications
- HR‑related qualification (CIPD Level 5 or equivalent)
- Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best‑practice
- Experience of providing strategic HR advice to senior leaders
- Excellent coaching and influencing skills
- Proactive, solutions‑focused approach
Desirable Qualifications
- Experience in an educational setting, though we warmly welcome applications from talented HR professionals in other sectors who are looking for a new challenge
Benefits
- Family‑friendly benefits: high priority admission for your children to our high‑performing school
- Health and well‑being: free access to our gym and sports facilities and a supportive environment with genuine work/life balance
- Financial benefits: competitive local government pension scheme and electric‑vehicle & cycle‑to‑work salary‑sacrifice schemes
- Professional development: comprehensive training programmes tailored to your career goals and opportunities to develop strategic leadership skills
Culture
We’ve created something special at Whickham School – a culture where ambition meets support, where excellence is the norm, and where every voice matters. If you’re looking for a role where you can make a genuine impact while being part of a warm, inclusive community, this could be perfect for you.
Application Process
If you wish to have an informal discussion to explore the role, please contact Lloyd Wood (Deputy Headteacher) via email: lwood@whickhamschool.org to arrange a suitable time. For an application form, please visit our website. Applications must be submitted by 09:00 on Wednesday 3rd December.
Safeguarding Notice
Whickham School is committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants. Before applying, please review our Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex‑Offenders.
Equal Opportunities
Whickham School is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.
