Head of Design & Technology with a Product Design Specialism
| Posting date: | 03 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 16 March 2026 |
| Location: | London, SW19 2JY |
| Company: | Teaching Vacancies |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | f5d48877-d257-4830-ace6-deaff467dba0 |
Summary
What skills and experience we're looking for
We are seeking an exceptional Head of Design & Technology (Product Design Specialism) to lead and inspire our Design & Technology department.
This is an exciting opportunity for a visionary educator with a strong background in Product Design to shape a forward-thinking curriculum, champion creativity and innovation, and drive outstanding student outcomes.
You will combine strategic leadership with hands-on expertise, fostering a culture of high standards, technical excellence, and imaginative problem-solving. You will oversee curriculum development, staff mentoring and resource management, ensuring that teaching reflects industry best practice and equips students with the skills, confidence and ambition to excel in the world of design and technology.
The successful candidate will:
• Hold QTS (or equivalent) and a relevant undergraduate degree, and, ideally, be able to show evidence of ongoing professional development
• Demonstrate outstanding teaching practice and excellent behaviour management
• Have experience of lesson observations and giving robust feedback
• Have experience of improvement planning and of implementing a range of strategies to raise student achievement, with evidence of success
• Be able to contribute to improving on the quality of learning and teaching and curriculum
• Have a proven track record of excellent results at KS3 and 4, and, ideally, experience of teaching to KS5
• Have experience of high quality pupil tracking and feedback practices
• Ideally, have experience of working with governors and of working in more than one school
What the school offers its staff
Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.
In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance for teachers on MPS/UPS, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.
Further details about the role
You will play a leading and highly visible role in the improvement of teaching and learning of the Faculty and academic success of all students, ensuring the highest standards of teaching, learning and achievement and leading in the monitoring, evaluation and review of standards and provision in the subject area.
The general expectations of this role are:
• To support teachers across the Academy in their teaching and learning
• To deliver CPD including whole staff training and small-group sessions for teachers at a range of levels/abilities
• To lead an area of Teaching and Learning across the academy (area agreed through discussion at interview) including the development of clear intent, plan for successful implementation, and monitoring of impact through MER
• To remain up to date with literature on the theory of learning and models of instructional coaching
• To chair or co-chair a staff ‘working group' and implement strategies across the academy
• To lead a ‘subject society' for sixth form students
• To work with the Academy's philosophers (more able learners) by leading and/or supporting a philosophers academy programme for a specified year group
• To teach consistently outstanding lessons, and to be able to articulate the techniques that make outstanding teaching so that they can be replicated across the academy
• To conduct lesson observations, learning walks and workbook scrutiny (as part of MER) and provide meaningful feedback
• To line manage teaching staff within the academy
• To lead on areas within the subject area (area agreed though discussion at interview)
•
Commitment to safeguarding
The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.
We are seeking an exceptional Head of Design & Technology (Product Design Specialism) to lead and inspire our Design & Technology department.
This is an exciting opportunity for a visionary educator with a strong background in Product Design to shape a forward-thinking curriculum, champion creativity and innovation, and drive outstanding student outcomes.
You will combine strategic leadership with hands-on expertise, fostering a culture of high standards, technical excellence, and imaginative problem-solving. You will oversee curriculum development, staff mentoring and resource management, ensuring that teaching reflects industry best practice and equips students with the skills, confidence and ambition to excel in the world of design and technology.
The successful candidate will:
• Hold QTS (or equivalent) and a relevant undergraduate degree, and, ideally, be able to show evidence of ongoing professional development
• Demonstrate outstanding teaching practice and excellent behaviour management
• Have experience of lesson observations and giving robust feedback
• Have experience of improvement planning and of implementing a range of strategies to raise student achievement, with evidence of success
• Be able to contribute to improving on the quality of learning and teaching and curriculum
• Have a proven track record of excellent results at KS3 and 4, and, ideally, experience of teaching to KS5
• Have experience of high quality pupil tracking and feedback practices
• Ideally, have experience of working with governors and of working in more than one school
What the school offers its staff
Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.
In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance for teachers on MPS/UPS, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.
Further details about the role
You will play a leading and highly visible role in the improvement of teaching and learning of the Faculty and academic success of all students, ensuring the highest standards of teaching, learning and achievement and leading in the monitoring, evaluation and review of standards and provision in the subject area.
The general expectations of this role are:
• To support teachers across the Academy in their teaching and learning
• To deliver CPD including whole staff training and small-group sessions for teachers at a range of levels/abilities
• To lead an area of Teaching and Learning across the academy (area agreed through discussion at interview) including the development of clear intent, plan for successful implementation, and monitoring of impact through MER
• To remain up to date with literature on the theory of learning and models of instructional coaching
• To chair or co-chair a staff ‘working group' and implement strategies across the academy
• To lead a ‘subject society' for sixth form students
• To work with the Academy's philosophers (more able learners) by leading and/or supporting a philosophers academy programme for a specified year group
• To teach consistently outstanding lessons, and to be able to articulate the techniques that make outstanding teaching so that they can be replicated across the academy
• To conduct lesson observations, learning walks and workbook scrutiny (as part of MER) and provide meaningful feedback
• To line manage teaching staff within the academy
• To lead on areas within the subject area (area agreed though discussion at interview)
•
Commitment to safeguarding
The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.