Job Description

Outwood Grange Academy

Head of Art

Salary: L1 to L5

Start Date September 2026.

Hours: 1 FTE

Are you a visionary educator ready to lead a subject department, providing clear, cohesive direction and inspiring high achievement? Join us as a Head of Department, where you will communicate a clear purpose and vision, motivate colleagues, and implement whole-Academy initiatives to ensure your department meets ambitious academic targets. This role is designed for someone who models the Academy's values, promotes innovative teaching strategies, and is dedicated to securing continuous improvement and quality outcomes for all students.

Welcome from the Principal:

Thank you for your interest in Outwood Grange Academy.

I am so pleased you are looking at this fantastic opportunity to work at Outwood Grange Academy. Our larger-than-average 11-19 academy is in the heart of Outwood, Wakefield, with easy access to major towns and cities via the motorway network.

As the Founding Academy of the Outwood Grange Academies Trust, we embody the organisation's core ethos: making students our fundamental priority, raising standards, and transforming life chances.

I am truly proud of the work we do to ensure all aspects of education are of the highest possible quality. This is driven by our staff's unwavering dedication, their commitment to enabling every student to achieve their potential. We are passionate about the importance of CPD for our teachers as they are our greatest resource and are best placed to inspire students.

If this is a vision that resonates with you, I look forward to meeting you to discuss what you have to offer.

About the Department:

The Art department at Outwood Grange Academy is housed on the top floor of a purpose built Arts block. It comprises 4 large teaching rooms and a beautiful gallery space which overlooks the stunning surrounding countryside. The department has a long track record of delivering outstanding outcomes for students in both fine art and photography, and very many students go on to further their Art education at specialist art colleges across the country. The department takes regular trips to London and students opt in numbers for Art fully expecting to do well.

Outwood Grange Academy is the founding Academy of OGAT which is a trust that places a very high value in the Arts. The trust routinely holds events in the Arts including an annual Art exhibition at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park

To view the Teaching Staff recruitment booklet for Performing Arts: Click Here

If you have any further queries regarding the role, please contact the HR team at hr@grange.outwood.com

The Head of Department is responsible for communicating a clear purpose and vision while providing cohesive leadership and direction to the Department/Faculty. This leader models the Academy's values, promotes high standards through effective teaching, and is accountable for implementing the Department Development Plan/Self-Evaluation Form (SEF) to secure continuous improvement.

They develop and sustain DEEP LEADERSHIP through line management of staff, overseeing department resources and budget, reviewing syllabuses, and conducting Performance Management Reviews.

• (L1-L5) To view the job description Click Here

Essential qualifications required are a Degree in the relevant subject and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Candidates must demonstrate a good understanding of their subject's secondary curriculum (Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 5), knowledge of current departmental issues, and understanding of school improvement and Ofsted inspection programmes. Essential experience includes leading or supporting the leadership of a department, successful teaching across all key stages, and evidence of managing/leading a new initiative.

Required skills encompass being an outstanding classroom practitioner with a clear vision, possessing outstanding relationships with students and staff, and the ability to analyze data to develop rapid improvement intervention strategies.

• 
  To view the person specification Click Here

Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT) places staff development at the heart of its strategy to deliver excellence, aiming to recruit, develop, and retain the best staff through the Outwood Institute of Education (OIE).

What will we do for you?

We offer a comprehensive package focused on career development, fair pay, and well-being:

• Competitive Pay & Pension: Competitive salary, automatic pay progression, and enrolment in the Teachers' Pension Scheme.

• Professional Growth: Access extensive CPD, progression to Masters level, and development via the Outwood Institute of Education and National Institute of Teaching.

• Workload & Support: Committed to a manageable workload via our Workload Charter and guarantee a minimum of two hours of CPD each week.

• Wellbeing & Flexibility: Enhanced occupational leave, flexible family policies, and access to a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.

Take the next step in your professional journey and apply now to access these exceptional development and system-wide impact opportunities.

• Further Information on employee benefits can be found Click Here

• To find our more about working for Outwood and to read a message from our CEO please Click Here

Note: If applying from an external job board, please click 'Apply' to access the working links on the Outwood Careers page

Please note, we reserve the right to close advertisements early, either on the advertised closing date, or sooner if required.

Outwood Grange Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are made in accordance with safer recruitment practices and the statutory guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education. Online checks will be carried out on all shortlisted candidates, and all appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and checks regarding suitability to work with children.