Head of Science

📍 Location: Thornhill Academy
💰 Salary: MPS/UPS plus TLR 1a (£10,173.24 per annuum)
⏳ Contract: Permanent
📅 Start Date: January 2025

Inspiring Excellence. Empowering Futures.

Thornhill Academy, part of Consilium Academies, is seeking an outstanding and passionate Head of Science to lead our committed team and drive the continued improvement of science teaching and learning across the school. This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious, forward-thinking leader to make a significant impact in a school that has recently been judged ‘Good’ by Ofsted (May 2024) and is on a rapid journey of improvement.

About Us

Thornhill Academy is a vibrant and inclusive 11–16 secondary school with over 600 students, located near Sunderland City Centre. Our school community is proudly diverse — students come from 14 ethnicities and speak over 35 languages. We celebrate this diversity every day, creating a culture of respect, belonging, and aspiration for all.

We believe in developing the whole child — academically, socially, and emotionally — and fostering a lifelong passion for learning. Our recent successes have been recognised by Ofsted, and with our new school build commencing in April 2026, this is an incredibly exciting time to join us and help shape the next chapter in Thornhill’s story.

About Consilium Academies

At Consilium Academies, we are committed to Excellence, Equity, and Integrity. Our mission is simple: to be an excellent trust with excellent schools.
We work collaboratively across our eight schools in the North of England, sharing expertise, supporting professional growth, and ensuring every pupil has the opportunity to succeed.

As a Consilium colleague, you will have access to our Centre for Professional Learning, which provides bespoke training, leadership development, and coaching tailored to your professional goals.

The Role

As Head of Science, you will:

• Provide strategic and academic leadership for the Science Department.
• Drive curriculum innovation, ensuring a rich and challenging experience for all learners.
• Model and promote excellent classroom practice across all science disciplines.
• Lead and develop a team of dedicated science teachers, fostering professional growth and collaboration.
• Use data intelligently to track progress, raise achievement, and close gaps.
• Champion a culture of high expectations, engagement, and curiosity within science learning.

This is an opportunity for a leader who is ready to inspire staff and students alike — someone who believes that every child, regardless of background, deserves an excellent education in science and beyond.

About You

You will be:

• A qualified teacher with a degree in a relevant subject.
• An excellent classroom practitioner with a proven track record of improving outcomes in science.
• Experienced in leading curriculum development and raising standards across a department.
• Able to teach all sciences up to GCSE.
• A strong communicator who builds positive relationships with staff, students, and parents.
• Committed to the values of effort, fairness, and kindness, which underpin life at Thornhill Academy.

A sense of humour and a genuine love of your subject are essential!

Why Join Us?

• A school on a strong upward trajectory, recently graded Good by Ofsted.
• Brand-new facilities as part of the School Rebuilding Programme.
• Tailored professional development through Consilium’s Centre for Professional Learning.
• A supportive, collaborative, and diverse community.
• A Trust that values and invests in its people.

Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities

Consilium Academies and Thornhill Academy are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All posts are subject to enhanced DBS checks and appropriate safeguarding vetting.
We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer.

Applications and Information

For further information about the role please see attached recruitment pack including, job description and person specification.

If you have any questions about the role or would like to arrange a visit to Thornhill Academy, please contact kate.jackson@consilium-at.com

Closing date for applications is 09.00am Monday 9^th March 2026

Interviews will take place on a date to be arranged.

Please ensure that within your application you provide the names, addresses, and contact details for two referees, one of whom should be your current or most recent employer.

We look forward to welcoming a new team member who shares our commitment to excellence in education!

Consilium Academies is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointments are made subject to an Enhanced DBS Check, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants.

The Trust is an equal opportunity employer.  We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Under Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, the Public Sector fluency duty requires state funded schools to ensure candidates for their customer facing roles have the necessary standard of spoken English.