What skills and experience we're looking for
• Kind, Hard-Working and Ambitious
• A passion for teaching Geography and other Humanities subjects;
• The ability to lead change, develop, motivate, challenge, support and inspire colleagues and students alike;
• Experience of teaching KS3 and KS4 Geography and other humanities subjects;
• An outstanding practitioner of Geography and humanities with a proven track record of examination outcomes at KS4;
• The ability to develop a highly ambitious, inspiring curriculum
• The highest aspirations and expectations for all students, yourself and our school;
• A resilient, solutions-focused, ‘no excuses’ mindset.
• Aspiring to progress their career.
What the school offers its staff
• A wide variety of opportunities for professional development, including the potential to develop your career at more than one TKAT academy;
• Opportunities to work flexibly, where possible;
• Our support for your wellbeing at work;
• The rewards of working to improve the life chances of our pupils and
• Teacher Pension.
Further details about the role
Director of Humanities(Geography Specialism)
Start date: September 2025
Leadership Scale: L5-9
King Harold Academy is a school with a clear and ambitious vision: to become one of the kindest, hardest-working, highest-achieving schools in the UK. We are a proud community school with incredible students, supportive parents and talented, committed staff members.
KHA is a genuinely lovely working environment. We have the privilege of teaching polite, friendly and ambitious children who enjoy coming to school and love seeing their teachers and peers each day. Visitors often comment on the positive, happy energy our staff and pupils exude. All of our staff are deeply committed to one another’s professional development and success, and the betterment of our pupils’ life changes. You can feel it straight away when you visit us.
Members of our teaching team are challenged and inspired to be the best teacher they can possibly be, and participate in the wider life of our school community. The successful candidate will love the opportunity to work alongside our staff members, and feel welcomed and valued in their role. Here are just some examples of what current teachers say (verbatim) about being part of the KHA team:
• “KHA is an amazing place to work at. The staff and students are both wonderful; they are supportive and care for each other. It truly is a place where all members of the school community demonstrate the values of kindness, hard work and ambition.”
• “Since starting at KHA I have been made to feel welcome. I’ve found everyone to be supportive of each other. Leaders look after the best interests of both staff and students encouraging everyone to develop themselves to be their best. Even when the weather is awful I look forward to my day at KHA.”
• “The supportive staff at KHA create an environment where both students and colleagues uplift and encourage one another, making every day rewarding and fulfilling.”
• “KHA has an amazing staff body of dedicated, supportive and passionate teachers, leaders and support staff. Working here feels like being part of one big family.”
• “Working at KHA is extremely rewarding; our students really want to do well. When you’re teaching, students are polite, respectful and hardworking, and they thrive on having teachers who believe in their ability to excel! The staff body has been so welcoming, everyone has made an effort to build a relationship with me and it’s definitely changed how I feel about coming to work.”
Our expectations of pupils and staff at King Harold are extremely high - because we care about getting the very best for children. We live by a clear set of values that drive everything we do:
o Kindness
o Hard Work
o Ambition
These values shape all aspects of the work we do: the curriculum we teach, our behaviour policy, our teaching framework, our enrichment programme, our approach to teacher wellbeing, our interactions with parents and students – everything we do.
We are a rapidly-developing, growing secondary school. It is an exciting time to come and work with us, to be part of a team who are building a school that transforms the life chances of young people in the community, with ambitions to become a beacon of excellence in the educational sector.
As Director of Humanities, you will be part of our Extended Leadership Team, shaping your vision for an outstanding department and curriculum. You will lead a talented team of Humanities teachers who are determined, hard-working and incredibly invested in the success of our students. It is a great opportunity to make a profound impact on the quality of education our pupils receive in Geography, History, Sociology and Religious Studies.
We are looking for someone who loves Humanities (and particularly Geography!), believes passionately in its academic importance, and can build a team to deliver an inspiring, transformative curriculum. We would like our pupils to be empowered and inspired to go on to further study in the subject at some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the country.
The post is an opportunity to make your mark as a senior member of staff in a rapidly-improving school, and take your career to the next level. You will join an exceptionally talented middle and senior leadership team, and learn a huge amount about educational leadership and school improvement.
If you’re interested in playing a leading role in building a school community that provides a transformative education for its students, then King Harold Academy is an exciting opportunity for you.
The successful candidate will have/be:
• Kind, Hard-Working and Ambitious
• A passion for teaching Geography and other Humanities subjects;
• The ability to lead change, develop, motivate, challenge, support and inspire colleagues and students alike;
• Experience of teaching KS3 and KS4 Geography and other humanities subjects;
• An outstanding practitioner of Geography and humanities with a proven track record of examination outcomes at KS4;
• The ability to develop a highly ambitious, inspiring curriculum
• The highest aspirations and expectations for all students, yourself and our school;
• A resilient, solutions-focused, ‘no excuses’ mindset.
• Aspiring to progress their career.
King Harold Academy also benefits from being part of the Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT).
As an employee of TKAT you will benefit from:
• A wide variety of opportunities for professional development, including the potential to
develop your career at more than one TKAT academy;
• Opportunities to work flexibly, where possible;
• Our support for your wellbeing at work; and
• The rewards of working to improve the life chances of our pupils.
Application packs can be downloaded from our website Completed application forms should be sent or emailed to Mrs Campbell at michaela.campbell@kha-tkat.org.
If you would like to arrange an informal conversation with the Headteacher prior to application, please contact Mrs Campbell.
Please note that CVs will not be accepted unless accompanied by a fully completed application form.
Health and Safety
King Harold follows the TKAT, Essex and Government COVID 19 guidelines in order to protect students, staff and visitors to the school.
Safeguarding
TKAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Offers of employment will be subject to the full Safer Recruitment process, including an enhanced disclosure and barring service check.
Equal Opportunities
TKAT is committed to equality of opportunity. We welcome applications from all suitable candidates, regardless of any protected characteristic for example race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. All applications are treated on merit. This includes applications from individuals wishing to work full time, part time or on a flexible basis.
Closing date: Tuesday 22nd April 2025
Interviews: w/c Monday 28th April 2025
King Harold Academy is committed to the protection and safety of its students and the successful candidate will be subject to DBS, Bared List and two reference checks as part of the School’s Safeguarding Procedures. The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post in accordance with the Immigration Act 2016.
Commitment to safeguarding
TKAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Offers of employment will be subject to the full Safer Recruitment process, including an enhanced disclosure and barring service check.