Head of History

Lift New Rickstones

Conrad Road

Witham, Essex, CM8 2SD

United Kingdom

MPR/UPR + TLR 2A (£3,527) + well-being cash plan + pension scheme (TPS) + additional Lift Schools benefits

Permanent, Full Time

September 2026 Start

Lift New Rickstones is graded ‘Good’ (November 2023) and has a state of the art building offering fantastic facilities for both students and staff. Over the last 8 years the school has seen a huge increase in student numbers, with the number of students on roll more than doubling. The school is a popular choice in the local area, is oversubscribed, and has added another new building to meet this demand.

Lift New Rickstones is a great place to work with a friendly and supportive team. Staff numbers have also increased and the school is proud to boast high retention rates. Development is a priority with an extensive and successful CPD (Continuing Professional Development) programme to further develop our excellent staff.

Every member of the team is a vital part of our committed and ambitious team and we have been very successful at developing teachers and leaders with progression both within, and beyond the school.

Our “Curriculum Drivers” guide everything we do, encouraging students to be safe, happy, proud and reach their full potential.

• Ambition : sits at the heart of our curriculum. We are committed to high expectations for all and to providing the right scaffolding and support so that every student, whatever their starting point, can achieve their very best.

Character : underpins our pastoral care, our TPP approach and our behaviour systems. It is about more than rules and routines; it is about developing resilience, responsibility and integrity, helping students to learn from mistakes and grow into confident, respectful young people.

Opportunity : ensures that all students benefit from rich personal development and enrichment, both within and beyond the classroom. We want every young person to recognise the possibilities open to them and to leave us equipped with the knowledge, experiences and confidence to take their next steps.

About The Role

We are seeking an inspiring Head of History to lead our established team and shape the strategic direction of the subject across the school. This is an exciting opportunity for a committed practitioner with strong subject knowledge and a clear vision.

The History department delivers a rich, engaging and forward thinking curriculum that promotes historical curiosity, critical thinking, and a deep understanding of the past. Our aim is to build confident learners who have a love for learning. To do so, they need to be equipped to analyse, interpret and question the world around them.

Using a knowledge based, skills-rich curriculum, we also delve into the hidden stories of minority groups, bringing their valuable stories to life through the use of a range of sources, evidence and opinions in increasingly challenging and sophisticated ways.

About You

We welcome applications from experienced teachers with a proven impact in History, including those who have held subject leadership responsibilities or additional responsibilities within a History department.

This role would suit an experienced teacher ready for their first Head of Department role, or an existing subject leader looking to further develop their leadership experience while leading a successful team. At Lift New Rickstones, we are committed to developing future senior leaders and provide opportunities for progression into wider leadership positions within the school.

If this advert, our website, and the job description sound of interest to you, Amy Knott, our Vice Principal, welcomes you to contact her for an informal discussion about the position at aknott@liftnewrickstones.org

Closing date: 12th April 2026

Who is Lift Schools?

We’re a diverse and inclusive network of schools with one clear mission; to provide an excellent education to every child - in every classroom, every day. And we do this across each of our 58 schools. As with our students, we want our team to be empowered to do their best work, supported by the best leadership they’ve ever had.

We acknowledge and appreciate the exceptional efforts of everyone here in making this an incredible organisation.

We Offer You

• Career development and training: Access a wide range of statutory and developmental training to boost your career.
• Our partnership with One World powers our innovative Instructional Excellence Program. We also offer a comprehensive range of CPD programs, including Ambition Institute's Early Career and NPQ offerings, tailored to both individual and network needs.
• Generous benefits: From your pension plan to healthcare and financial support, we've got you covered.
• Lifestyle perks: Enjoy discounted gym memberships, travel deals, and even electric vehicle incentives.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response. All candidates are advised to refer to the job description and person specification before making an application.

Lift Schools are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our people and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair and consistent recruitment process which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.

Lift Schools embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and there is a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

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Lift Schools is recruiting for Teacher Training placements. Please click here to view the website for further details.

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