Head of Department  - Physics

The Head of Department provides high-quality leadership for an allocated subject area, ensuring that teaching, learning and assessment are consistently strong and that students make exceptional progress. The role models the Trust’s values and expectations, setting a professional standard for colleagues and students and supporting a culture that is calm, aspirational and academically rigorous.

The postholder will lead departmental improvement, manage resources effectively, ensure compliance with Trust and school policies, and work collaboratively with colleagues across the school and Trust. The role also supports a “no excuses” culture through effective behaviour expectations, consistent routines and a focus on literacy, numeracy and PSMSC within the curriculum.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Management

• Lead the subject area in line with Trust values and behaviour expectations.
• Implement school and Trust policies relating to behaviour, homework, assessment and presentation.
• Work collaboratively with middle and senior leaders to support whole-school priorities.
• Manage departmental meetings, ensuring a focus on classroom practice, curriculum development and staff development.
• Lead and contribute to recruitment, induction and appraisal processes.
• Produce Subject Development Plans aligned with the School Improvement Plan.
• Monitor staff performance, academic standards and student wellbeing.
• Manage departmental resources efficiently and within budget.
• Coordinate and evaluate departmental events and enrichment activities.
• Communicate proactively with staff, students and parents.

Student Outcomes

• Ensure all students make strong progress from their starting points.
• Identify performance differences and implement timely interventions.
• Review attainment regularly and develop strategies to secure improvement.
• Work with senior leaders to ensure students are supported, challenged and monitored effectively.
• Promote high levels of pride, engagement and presentation in the subject.

Quality of Teaching, Learning and Assessment

• Ensure teaching across the department is consistently highly effective.
• Identify best practice and share it across the team.
• Address underperformance and support staff development.
• Lead the creation and development of schemes of work, assessments and lesson plans.
• Ensure homework is meaningful, stimulating and aligned with Trust expectations.
• Oversee adjustments to teaching in response to curriculum or specification changes.
• Ensure assessments are standardised and attainment data is accurate.
• Ensure students receive appropriate, actionable feedback.
• Supervise internal examinations and support examination administration.
• Provide enrichment and extra-curricular learning opportunities.

Behaviour, Attendance and Safety

• Ensure the department reflects the Trust’s calm, purposeful and aspirational ethos.
• Support colleagues to uphold strong behaviour and attendance expectations.
• Recognise student effort and progress through established reward systems.
• Ensure consistent use of Behaviour, Anti-Bullying and Equalities policies.
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding, Health and Safety, Data Protection and Equality requirements.
• Provide appropriate supervision during unsupervised times.

The Ideal Candidate

Professional Expertise

• Experienced and accomplished classroom practitioner able to lead a subject area.
• Strong understanding of curriculum design, assessment and subject leadership.
• Ability to implement Trust and school policies with consistency and integrity.
• Experience supporting staff development and monitoring teaching quality.
• Ability to interpret performance data and lead improvement strategies.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong communication skills and the ability to build positive professional relationships.
• Effective organisational and planning skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to motivate staff and students in line with the school’s values.
• Confident decision-making and a solution-focused approach.

Approach and Mindset

• Committed to the Trust ethos of high expectations and inclusivity.
• Positive, collaborative and reflective leadership style.
• Professional, resilient and able to model the highest standards.
• Dedicated to securing excellent outcomes and reducing performance differences for students.

About Maiden Erlegh Trust

Maiden Erlegh Trust is a growing community of schools across Berkshire and Oxfordshire, working together to deliver the best possible education for every child and young person. With around 750 staff and 4,500 students across nine schools, including primary, secondary, special, and alternative provision, we are proud of the diversity that shapes our expertise.

We Aim High, Be Inclusive, and Work Together. These values drive our focus on high-quality education for all, through collaboration, inclusion and continuous improvement.

Through the Maiden Erlegh Institute, colleagues access high-quality professional learning at every stage of their career, supported by mentoring, leadership opportunities, and our annual MET Staff Conference—a day that unites our whole team in sharing best practice and learning.

Joining our Trust means being part of a community that invests in people and values expertise; it is about playing a direct role in shaping the lives and outcomes of young people.

You can learn more about working with us and hear from colleagues across our Trust by clicking here to visit our website.

Maiden Erlegh School

Maiden Erlegh School is a highly successful comprehensive school for students from 11-18 years old, situated in Lower Earley, near Reading. Our students are a delight to work with and relationships between students and staff are extremely positive and constructive.  Students are keen to learn, curious, respectful, polite and fun. They rise to challenges positively and enthusiastically and have high expectations of themselves. This is why they achieve such impressive academic and personal successes, and our results continue to improve year on year - this year placing us in the top 50 schools nationally for Progress 8. We also have a thriving 6^th form and many of our students stay on to study here.

Our staff are dedicated, talented professionals who go the extra mile for the students because they are committed to helping them realise their dreams, achieve the greatest possible success, overcome any personal challenges. Teachers are passionate about their subjects and focused on delivering varied and stimulating lessons. Support staff work tirelessly to ensure the school can provide the best education possible. We have an excellent professional development offering for all of our staff which helps ensure they are satisfied in their work. We seek to develop and motivate our colleagues at every opportunity, and we offer a very warm welcome to all our new team members when they join us.

Benefits

Further information about working at Maiden Erlegh Trust can be found on our website here. Staff wellbeing and professional development are central to how we work, and colleagues across our Trust benefit from a range of opportunities and schemes designed to recognise their contribution and support their growth.

·      • Pension Scheme

Generous employer contributions with auto-enrolment into either the Teachers’ Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme, both Career Average Revalued Earnings schemes.

• Annual Leave
A generous holiday entitlement that increases with length of service.

• ME Day
One day of additional leave each year to attend a significant personal event (e.g. child’s sports day, graduation, family celebration).

• Professional Development
A comprehensive programme of professional learning through the Maiden Erlegh Institute, including opportunities to attend and deliver CPD.
Annual all-staff Conference featuring workshops, networking and learning.
Access to development opportunities via the Apprenticeship Levy and participation in professional networks.

• Hybrid Working
For eligible roles, a balanced blend of remote and on-site working arrangements.

• Perkbox
Access to a wide range of discounts and wellbeing resources, plus 25 Perk Points each month to exchange for goods and services.

• Wellbeing and Health
Free flu vaccinations for all staff and free eye tests for eligible colleagues.

• Employee Assistance Programme
Access to 24/7 support, discount vouchers and additional wellbeing services.

• Mental Health First Aid Support
Access to trained Mental Health First Aiders across the Trust.

• Recognition and Community
Regular celebration of achievements, milestones and contributions across our schools, reinforcing a strong sense of belonging within the #TeamMET community.

• Employee Referral Scheme
Financial incentives for referring successful candidates to the Trust.

Working for our Trust means contributing to something larger by supporting the education and life chances of children and young people every day.

Additional Information

If you believe this is an environment where you can thrive, develop and make a meaningful contribution to the future of our Trust and its schools, please contact recruitment@maidenerleghtrust.org for an informal discussion.

 Applicants are encouraged to apply early as we reserve the right to close the advert and interview at any time.

 Maiden Erlegh Trust is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.