UNQUALIFIED TEACHER OF ART

Salary: UQT Pay scale up to UQT3

Contract: Permanent. Full time

Start date: September 2026

Place of work:  Cambourne Village College, Cambourne, Cambridgeshire            

We are currently seeking an unqualified teacher with strong Art subject knowledge who are ready to pursue QTS through the Assessment‑Only Route. As part of our Multi‑Academy Trust, you will receive structured support, high‑quality mentoring, and the opportunity to gain QTS within a 12‑week assessment window, subject to eligibility.

The successful candidate will have significant teaching experience, typically across at least 2 school settings, can demonstrate secure subject knowledge in Art and design, already teaching to a standard broadly equivalent to a qualified teacher and able to provide evidence of impact on pupil progress.

The Art department is a passionate and hard-working team and our work is more than matched by our fantastic pupils. The profile of the department in the school is excellent, and we are very well supported and celebrated by the school’s leadership. Our success in engaging our KS3 classes has been reflected in a high take-up of GCSE Art and GCSE Photography.

Our KS3 schemes are all underpinned with drawing skills as a key objective but explore many techniques from painting to collagraph, relief printing and photography. 3D opportunities include wire and card modelling, ceramics and animation. Our homework tasks are based on a loosely chronological study in art history that encourages understanding of context and an appreciation of visual language. Themes in homework often overlap with classwork schemes to further contextualise learning.  

At GCSE, we run Art and Photography as separate options and work to the Eduqas (WJEC) GCSE specification. This board encourages and values personalised learning for all pupils, a feature we really believe in as pupils move forward in their artistic journeys.  

Enrichment is very important to us. We run curriculum extension day workshops, have open-door art clubs every week and run an intensive skills-based activities week programme toward the end of the academic year. We run an annual Art / Photography trip to Berlin, which provides opportunities for 40 Year 10 pupils. We run this trip independent of tour operators to keep costs down and ensure inclusivity. We also have strong links to our local Arts centre and often work collaboratively across departments in the school. We also work very closely with our Trust schools, especially Comberton Village College.   

We are a very well-equipped department, offering use of etching presses, a large kiln, studio photography equipment and PCs with Photoshop in all rooms. We also have access to bookable iPads that have art and photography specific apps installed.  

Pupils have a 100 minute and a 50 minute period of Art per fortnight at KS3, and twice that at KS4.  

What the Candidate Brings

• A high level of drawing skill is critical, as is experience in planning and working with a variety of materials.  
• Strong Art subject expertise (e.g., fine art, digital media, textiles, photography)
• Experience planning and delivering lessons
• A reflective approach and readiness for assessment
• Commitment to safeguarding and professional conduct
• high-level communication skills 
• the ability to work effectively within a team 
• the ability to embrace innovative approaches to teaching and assessment
• flexibility in their approach to the methodology of teaching
• a commitment to contributing to the success of the whole college 
• a commitment to pastoral care  

What the School Provides

• A supportive environment with a trained mentor
• Opportunities to teach across KS3–KS4 (and KS5 if applicable)
• Time for evidence collection and professional reflection
• Access to Trust‑wide CPD and subject networks

Planning and resources are in place but, of course, we embrace a flexible approach to schemes and would welcome fresh ideas, perspectives and the individual strengths and passions of creative teachers.  

All applicants chosen for interview will be expected to bring with them a portfolio containing examples of their own artwork as well as pupils’ work from previous or current projects. 

Cambourne Village College is an Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ rated, over-subscribed secondary school, eight miles from Cambridge. We opened as an academy of the Cam Academy Trust in September 2013. Our ethos is aspirational and inclusive, our staff is highly motivated, our pupils courteous and hard-working, and we have excellent facilities. A 350 place sixth form opened in September 2024, with 175 students in each of Years 12 and 13. Joining Cambourne Village College represents a unique opportunity to work in a newly-established school within a wider, high-quality Academy Trust that gives excellent possibilities for professional and career development.  

It is an exciting time to join our teaching staff at Cambourne Village College. Already a well-established and successful school, the addition of our Sixth Form marks the final phase of our expansion. The school benefits from a wealth of exciting facilities and a strong culture of mutual support; staff morale is high and our students are courteous and eager to participate in the highly engaging curriculum offered to them. We are ambitious for our Sixth Form to reflect the successes of our main school, where results are consistently strong, with excellent Progress 8 scores. Cambourne Village College is a 1:1 iPad school, with all students having a personal device.

Joining Cambourne Village College represents a unique opportunity to work in a well-established school within a wider, high-quality Academy Trust that gives excellent possibilities for professional and career development.  

For further details please visit our website www.cambournevc.org.