Work where it matters most, achieve what matters more

Be part of a team where passion meets purpose, as we work together where the challenge is greatest to change lives and build futures.

Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews is seeking to appoint a Head of Department for Art.

The Art Department at OSSMA is a vibrant and ambitious team, leading the delivery of Art, Textiles and Photography, all currently offered at GCSE (AQA). The department produces exceptional work and enjoys strong engagement from students, with creative subjects also being popular as part of our extra-curricular offer. With the introduction of the new Progress 8 measures, the department has high expectations for increasing student uptake and outcomes. We are seeking a leader with a clear vision and passion for inspiring young people to embrace their creativity, develop confidence in their artistic voice and see the value of the creative arts in their future pathways.

About our Academy

At Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews Academy (OSSMA), we believe that outstanding teaching makes the biggest difference: every lesson, every routine, every teacher. We are a large, mainstream secondary school with a strong and clearly defined Teaching and Learning identity.

OSSMA is a warm, inclusive environment that supports the continued high levels of academic achievement attained by our pupils. Our innovative curriculum offer provides staff with opportunities to be creative within their subject areas while ensuring students are developed both personally and academically.

At OSSMA, we go the extra mile for our young people. We are committed to providing outstanding teaching and learning to enable every child to be the best that they can be. Our vision is that we craft a safe environment where all children can learn, thrive and achieve no matter their background. 

Our Teaching & Learning DNA

We believe that every teacher can improve, regardless of experience. Improvement is not optional; it is a core professional responsibility rooted in our belief that our students deserve the very best.

To achieve this, every teacher at OSSMA benefits from a coaching culture: paired with an instructional coach for tailored support, trained as a coach themselves, and given opportunities to help colleagues refine practice using our agreed routines. Coaching is timetabled, built into directed time, and treated as central to our work—not an add-on. We use StepLab to support this culture of development, providing precise feedback, research-led targets and a space to rehearse highly effective teaching techniques. Our Early Career Teachers (ECTs) receive additional support through a dedicated ECT mentor and ECT coach, ensuring guidance inside and outside the classroom and a strong foundation for future growth.

We have agreed routines that run across our academy, grounded in academic research and how children learn best. These include:

• Turn and Talk
• Choral Chant
• High Frequency Questions
• Write – Pair – Share
• SLANT
• Cold Calling
• Mini Whiteboards
• Independent Practice

These routines form a common language of learning in every classroom and are built into our CPD so that staff can rehearse, refine and master them together.

Professional Development That Is Protected

Our staff development offer is structured, deliberate and protected. This protected time ensures that we grow as a team, not in isolation.

• Every Wednesday, the school day is shorter to allow a dedicated 90-minute weekly whole-staff CPD session, focused on building and rehearsing routines.
• Every Tuesday, departments meet for Knowledge & Pedagogy Development (KPD) sessions, providing time to review curriculum, reflect on pedagogical approaches and ensure high-quality lessons are delivered by all.

Why work for Ormiston? 

Our vision is to create a school system where every child thrives, regardless of background. Our people are at the heart of our approach – they are our greatest asset.  

We exist to provide the best learning opportunities every day, in every school for every child. It is the people and teams in our Trust who make this a reality and ensure we have the greatest impact. If you join us at Ormiston, whatever your role, your work will have purpose and meaning

Ormiston, where every member of staff enjoys… 

• The opportunity to build on the legacy of those who came before – being part of one of the longest standing Trusts, created with the sole purpose of enabling children and young people to thrive 
• Working for a Trust nationally recognised for its impact on disadvantaged children – a rewarding, stimulating career where staff are challenged to be the best they can be, for the pupils we are proud to serve 

• Being part of a team and community where you belong – being part of a well-resourced and ambitious network of experts and professionals that work at the heart of communities 

• A supportive environment to grow your career – an extensive professional development programme, alongside flexible working arrangements and generous benefits 

We Can Offer You: 

• Professional and personal development within a culture that values continuous improvement
• Excellent support from an experienced team
• Friendly staff and motivated students
• A comprehensive range of extra-curricular activities
• Innovative approaches to reducing workload, improving wellbeing and work-life balance whilst retaining high standards
• Wellbeing at the core of our people strategy, including private health insurance, retail discounts, access to emotional support services, salary sacrifice schemes such as cycle-to-work
• A wellbeing day, enabling staff to request one day off within term time
• An empowered workforce with a genuine voice in improving the academy further
• A unified, dedicated and supportive staff team
• Free lunch for all staff required to do lunch duty as part of their leadership scale.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a reflective English Teacher to make a difference to the future of education with an academy that is ever improving and striving to be outstanding. If you share the academy's vision and ambitions, possess a strong desire to work within an ethos of creative collaboration and partnership and want to have a positive impact on young people, families and our community, then we would be delighted to hear from you.

Please view the following video for a further insight into our Academy OSSMA Recruitment Video 

For an informal discussion or to arrange a tour of the academy please contact Dani Silk, HR Officer at HR@ossma.co.uk

Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. Ormiston Academies Trust embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity.  Flexible working opportunities will be considered. 

All successful appointments will be subject to suitability checks in accordance with KCSIE, including identity, Right to Work, qualifications, online searches, prohibition check, two references and enhanced DBS check including Children’s Barred List.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. Guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, which provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-guidance-on-the-rehabilitation-of-offenders-act-1974

All of our academy policies can be found here: policies