Lead Practitioner for Art

Astrea Academy Dearne
Salary: LP4–LP9 (£57,139 – £64,644)
Contract: Permanent
Start Date: September 2026

Do you strive for excellence in your teaching and hold high expectations for every scholar you teach?
Are you able to motivate, inspire, and support colleagues to drive forward exceptional standards across the Art curriculum?

Astrea Academy Dearne is seeking an outstanding Lead Practitioner for Art to join our ambitious and dedicated team. This is an exciting opportunity for an expert practitioner with a passion for pedagogy, curriculum, and professional development to play a pivotal role in raising standards and ensuring exceptional outcomes for scholars across the academy.

At Dearne, we are a warm, aspirational, and forward‑thinking academy with a strong and inclusive scholarly culture. We believe every child deserves access to the very best that has been thought and said, and our staff are committed to delivering a knowledge‑rich curriculum underpinned by high standards, impeccable behaviour, and joyful, purposeful learning. Our academy is a proud member of the Astrea Academy Trust family of schools, located in Barnsley and within easy reach of Sheffield, Doncaster, Wakefield, and Leeds.

About the Role

As Lead Practitioner for Art, you will take a central role in accelerating scholar progress, driving excellence in teaching and learning, and supporting the professional development of staff within the department and wider academy. You will model exceptional practice, contribute to curriculum development, and ensure the highest standards of attainment and engagement across Art.

Your leadership will help embed our knowledge‑rich, traditional approach to teaching — influenced by Rosenshine, Teach Like A Champion, and developments in cognitive science — and will support the creation of a scholarly environment where all students can thrive.

Key Responsibilities

Raise Standards:
Lead improvements in teaching, learning, and scholar outcomes within Art and across the wider curriculum.

Deliver Exceptional Teaching:
Plan and deliver consistently high‑quality lessons that inspire, challenge, and engage scholars of all abilities.

Support Colleagues:
Provide coaching, modelling, and training to strengthen practice across the academy.

Curriculum Excellence:
Work collaboratively to develop and refine centralised, knowledge‑rich curriculum resources.

Assess & Enhance Progress:
Use data, feedback, and instructional coaching principles to identify next steps for scholars and staff.

Champion Inclusion & Ambition:
Ensure all scholars — regardless of background, prior attainment, or need — receive expert teaching and access to ambitious content.

What We’re Looking For

We are seeking a candidate who is:

• A highly effective practitioner, capable of modelling exceptional classroom practice.
• Motivational and collaborative, supporting colleagues to achieve shared goals.
• Aligned with our values and mission, and excited to contribute to our warm/strict culture.
• Unapologetically ambitious for every scholar, believing deeply that all children can achieve.
• Passionate about Art education, curriculum, and high‑quality teaching.

This role offers a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious teacher or middle leader ready to take the next step in their career.

What We Offer

• Extensive CPD and progression opportunities across Astrea South Yorkshire
• A knowledge‑rich curriculum built on powerful knowledge
• Centralised curriculum planning and high‑quality shared resources
• A highly supportive and visible senior leadership team
• A warm/strict behaviour culture and disruption‑free learning
• No formal graded observations — instead, ongoing, supportive instructional coaching
• Centralised detentions, including homework detentions
• Opportunities to complete NPQs
• An unrivalled professional growth model

Interested in Applying?

If you are passionate about education, excited by the prospect of a new challenge, or eager to help shape the Art provision at Dearne, we would love to hear from you.
Please take a look at the Applicant Brief to learn more about the role and how to apply.

We warmly welcome academy visits and would be delighted to show you our exceptional learning environment. To arrange a visit, please contact Hannah Peace at:
Hannah.peace@astreadearne.org

Commitment to Safeguarding and EDI

Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to satisfactory background checks, including references and an enhanced DBS check.

We value diversity and welcome applications from underrepresented groups. As a Disability Confident employer, we provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

In line with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, candidates for public‑facing roles must demonstrate fluent English.

Flexible Interview Dates

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early. Interview dates may be flexible, and the academy may interview shortlisted candidates during the application window.

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you're ready to take the next step in your career and contribute to our ambitious and supportive team at Astrea Academy Dearne, we look forward to receiving your application.