Head of Computer Science
Hours: Full time
Contract: Permanent
Salary: Competitive salary plus benefits
Start date: September 2025 or January 2026
The role
South Hampstead High School is looking for a dynamic, energetic and well-qualified teacher to lead our thriving Computer Science department.
Uptake of Computer Science has been increasing at the school, facilitating the expansion of our dynamic KS3 curriculum and the introduction of bespoke courses that cover all aspects of modern computing including AI, Cyber Security, Computer Game Design and VR.
As Head of Computer Science, you will play a key role in the expansion and development of the subject, particularly at A Level. You will manage the day-to-day requirements of the department to ensure a high standard of teaching and learning, as well as contribute to whole school policy making and strategic planning.
Drawing on your strong management skills, you will provide inspirational leadership to members of the department, ensuring that high performance standards are achieved and maintained.
In addition to your departmental responsibilities, you will also lead the teaching of
the OCR GCSE course, ensuring girls are well prepared for their eventual examinations.
About you
You will be an enthusiastic and committed teacher, with previous experience of teaching Computer Science up to and including A Level. Additional experience within a management role (e.g. as Deputy Head of Department) is also essential.
You will demonstrate strong subject and curriculum knowledge, including excellent coding skills in relevant languages, particularly Python. Strong communication, decision making and team working skills, will also be essential for success in this role.
The Computer Science Department
This is an exciting time to join our Computer Science Department, with the recent expansion of our Computer Science provision to include more timetabled lessons and co-curricular sessions.
We have also built a new Computer Science Suite in the Senior School to better support project-based learning and collaboration. This fully flexible, interactive space, encourages girls to write on the walls as they design, code and create. Pupils also have access to a traditional ICT suite with Windows desktop PCs, and all students have their own Chromebook.
A wide range of software development tools have been introduced recently for app, web and game development, while Raspberry PI workstations and the latest micro:bits and sensor boards are also available.
We offer a vibrant co-curricular computing provision, including weekly coding clubs complemented by student participation in wider competitions (e.g. UK Bebras Coding Challenge and GCHQ cyber security challenge).
About the School
Working at South Hampstead is stimulating, challenging and fun. Located in leafy Hampstead, with the buzz of central London’s cultural life close at hand, the School is very well served by public transport and there are excellent local amenities nearby.
The School is part of the GDST, the UK's leading network of independent girls' schools. We offer a variety of benefits, such as:
- Competitive salaries and pay progression
- Access to extensive professional development opportunities
- Training grants for qualifications
- Generous pension schemes
- Free life assurance benefit
- Interest free loans for training, computer purchase loans and travel season ticket loans
- A Cycle to Work scheme
- Competitive terms and conditions of employment
- A discount of up to 50% on fees for children at GDST schools
For further details and to apply please click the apply button.
Closing date is Wednesday 23rd April 2025 at 9am.
The school may also conduct online searches (including publicly available social media searches) as part of our recruitment processes.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and suitable candidates may be invited to interview before the published interview date.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the position or if an offer is made and accepted.
We recommend that applications are submitted early to avoid disappointment.
The GDST is committed to diversity, inclusion and real change: a family where every individual is valued, respected and included.
We are committed to the safeguarding of children and child protection screening will apply to this post.
South Hampstead High School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.We particularly welcome applications from under represented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.