HEAD OF SCIENCE

Salary: MPS/UPS plus a TLR1B (£14,864 per annum)

Contract: Permanent. Full time or Part Time

Start date: September 2026

Place of work:   Comberton Village College, Comberton            

Are you a charismatic, values‑driven leader with the passion and expertise to secure exceptional outcomes for every pupil? We are seeking an inspiring and ambitious Head of Department who believes deeply in inclusion, is committed to championing the most disadvantaged learners, and has the strategic drive to lead our large and experienced team to excellence.

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a large, well‑established Science department with several experienced postholders, offering a strong foundation from which to lead, develop and innovate. The role would suit either an experienced and ambitious Second in Department ready for the next step, or a current Head of Science in a smaller school seeking a new challenge in a bigger, vibrant setting.

The successful candidate will be well‑supported by the Trust Lead for Science, as well as the school’s Senior Leadership Team, but will have the autonomy to design and implement a curriculum and pedagogical approaches that suit the school and department context.

We are looking for a leader who:

- Holds uncompromisingly high expectations for all pupils, with a proven commitment to securing exceptional outcomes—especially for those who face the greatest barriers.

- Is passionate about curriculum development, ensuring that what we teach remains diverse, engaging, ambitious and rooted in the disciplinary rigour of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

- Brings people with them through positivity, clarity and charisma, motivating and supporting colleagues to give their very best.

- Champions inclusion at every level, ensuring all pupils feel valued, challenged and able to thrive within Science.

- Is determined to make the department the best it can be, with a relentless focus on high‑quality teaching, strong professional learning, and a culture of continuous improvement.

What We Offer

- A committed, reflective and enthusiastic team eager to work with a forward‑thinking leader.

- A school culture that values collaboration, professional development and staff wellbeing.

- Pupils who are motivated, curious and ready to engage in a rich and ambitious scientific curriculum.

- Excellent facilities and the support of a senior team and wider trust committed to subject excellence and leadership growth.

‘Pupils here are not taught just to pass exams. They acquire the skills and knowledge they need to be first-rate mathematicians, scientists, historians, and artists, among others.’ (Ofsted, November 2024).

About Science at Comberton

All pupils study Biology, Chemistry and Physics from Years 7–11, following a curriculum designed to build deep conceptual understanding and strong working scientifically skills. At Key Stage 4, students study either AQA Trilogy Combined Science (two GCSEs) or opt for three separate GCSE sciences. Uptake in our Separate Sciences is high across the ability range.  Comberton Sixth Form offers a broad suite of A Level Sciences, including Biology, Chemistry and Physics, as well as Environmental Science, which are some of the most popular subjects across the sixth form. Students benefit from highly specialist teaching and excellent facilities, contributing to consistently strong results.

Science students experience many exceptional enrichment opportunities, including:

- Lectures and seminars with local scientific organisations.

- Fieldwork and investigative lab experience that develops scientific thinking.

- A wide range of wider enrichment and subject‑related trips, both UK‑based and international.

- Access to super‑curricular pathways designed to extend academic curiosity beyond the classroom.

About Our School

We are a highly successful, community mixed comprehensive school with Teaching School status in a pleasant rural setting only 5 miles from the centre of Cambridge. We currently have around 2000 11–18 pupils on roll including in our sixth form centre that opened in September 2011.

Our pupils are well‑motivated, staff morale is excellent and examination results at KS4 and KS5 are very strong across our comprehensive intake. The school has consistently been rated by Ofsted as outstanding over very many years – our most recent Ofsted (November 2024) achieved ‘outstanding’ in all categories.

If you are a dynamic, thoughtful and inspiring leader who is ready to shape a high‑performing department and make a profound difference to young people’s lives, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Prospective candidates are strongly encouraged to visit the school for a tour and to meet with the Principal and other senior colleagues during the week beginning 13^th April. This can be arranged by contacting recruitment@catrust.co.uk

For further details on our school please visit our website www.combertonvc.org.