Package Description:
Head of Faculty of Science - Required August 2025
Point 3 of St George’s Principal Teacher Spine - £56,406 per annum
Closing Date - 12 Noon, 5th February 2025
Interviews - W/C 17th February 2025
Job Purpose
To be responsible for the leadership and management of the Faculty of Science within the school and to build
upon the outward facing work of the school in offering opportunities to girls in STEAM subjects.
• To lead the provision of science education by the Faculty of Science at St George’s School, developing and
delivering an up-to-date curriculum for the benefit of the whole school community, ensuring that the
provision of science is delivered effectively to the students in accordance with national guidelines and
school policy and optimal continuity of provision in learning and teaching, including health and safety
measures.
• To work with the Senior Leadership team and related departments to build external links and partnerships
that support the school’s aim to pioneer in the provision of opportunities to girls in STEAM subjects, where
there is under-representation of women.
• To liaise with the Junior School Science Co-ordinator to ensure all through progressive provision of science
education.
• To work with the Principal teachers of Biology, Chemistry and Physics to ensure maximum continuity of
learning and teaching in science.
• To support and promote the celebration of science in and beyond our community.
Accountable To
Deputy Head (Academic)
Key Responsibilities
Leaderships and Management
• To proactively lead and manage all aspects of the Faculty of Science and working with the Junior School
Science Co-ordinator and Principal teachers of Biology, Chemistry and Physics to ensure an all through and
progressive science curriculum.
• To keep up to date with new information about specific areas of practice relating to the provision of science
education.
• Effectively line manage the Principal teachers of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, teachers and technicians
within the Faculty of Science, including participation in St George’s School Professional Review and
Development for colleagues within the department.
• Maintain and develop guidelines for the provision of science education and monitor lessons through St
George’s School Quality Assurance procedures.
• To facilitate, attend and record regular meetings that support all aspects of the Faculty of Science in the
communication of information, decision-making and task delegation.
• Prepare and implement the annual faculty development plan which sets out clear objectives and links to the
school’s key priorities, working with the Principal teachers of Biology, Chemistry and Physics in developing
and implementing appropriate departmental plans.
• Organise the timetable for Remove (P7) integrated science and individual science provision from Lower 4
(S1) to Upper 6 (S6) in liaison with the Principal teachers of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
• Liaise with Primary 6 staff in relation to the provision of integrated science teaching and provision.
• Liaise with the Junior School Science Co-ordinator in relation to development and provision of an all through
and progressive science curriculum.
• Provide analysis of examination attainment for students who have taken public examinations, while
monitoring outcomes in internal examinations.
• Manage the programme of ‘drop in’ sessions offered by the faculty and monitor their effectiveness.
• Ensure there is a varied, well-run and inspiring programme of co-curricular opportunities and trips offered by
the Faculty throughout the school.
• Provide a safe, purposeful and well-ordered learning environment, which includes suitable displays to
engage students in their learning.
• To liaise with the Deputy Head (Academic) to ensure the faculty’s contribution to the whole curriculum, its
breadth, balance and progression.
• To ensure monitoring of Support for Learning Profiles and relevant provision for identified students.
• Provide reports for Council and related committees as required.
To the Students
• To work with the Head of Careers to bring inspiring role models working in Science-related professions into
school and demonstrate the range of opportunities available to students beyond school.
• Foster a lively and enthusiastic atmosphere within the school, which will stimulate students to a high
standard of interest across all areas of science; to ensure that students are positively encouraged to develop
their potential to the full.
• To keep abreast of developments within the curriculum and ensure the provision of science education is
appropriate.
• To ensure that students’ work and performance are monitored, assessed and progressed in line with national
and school requirements.
• To encourage students to have confidence in themselves and to take responsibility for their own learning.
• To ensure the safety of all students under supervision and to make students themselves aware of relevant
health and safety issues.
• To work closely with the Access Arrangement Co-ordinator to ensure appropriate monitoring and
recording for individual students for the purposes of access arrangement provision for internal and external
examinations.
• To participate in the faculty’s contribution to the co-curricular programme.
To the School
• To ensure that students’ work and performance are monitored, assessed and progressed in line with national
and school requirements.
• To encourage students to have confidence in themselves and to take responsibility for their own learning.
• To ensure the safety of all students under supervision and to make students themselves aware of relevant
health and safety issues.
• To work closely with the Access Arrangement Co-ordinator to ensure appropriate monitoring and
recording for individual students for the purposes of access arrangement provision for internal and external
examinations.
• To participate in the faculty’s contribution to the co-curricular programme.
• To complete student reports and to oversee the completion of student reports by members of the faculty,
according to the guidelines and deadlines for reporting.
• To be responsible for the security and safe use of valuable items held by the faculty.
• To participate in the rota of cover for absent colleagues.
• To report to the facilities management team any damage to departmental areas, equipment, furniture and
fittings and health and safety issues.
To the Parents
Value the importance of the home-school partnership, working closely with other members of staff to
establish and manage good relationships with parents.
Useful Links
https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/scotlands-pisa-education-rankings-gender-stereotypes-are-one-reason-why-scotland-fared-so-badly-carol-chandler-thompson-st-georges-school-4436294
https://www.scis.org.uk/blog/st-georges-school-hosted-women-in-computing-encouraging-girls-across-edinburgh-to-consider-a-career-in-tech
https://www.stge.org.uk/stories/marni
https://www.stge.org.uk/stories/mhairead
https://www.stge.org.uk/stories/bivy
https://www.stge.org.uk/latest/st-georges-students-engineer-success-at-formula-1-in-schools-regional-finals
https://www.stge.org.uk/latest/uksd-competition-runners-up-our-journey-at-the-uk-space-design-competition-national-finals
About the Faculty of Science
The Faculty of Science is responsible for delivery from P7 (Remove) to Upper Six (S6) and works closely with P6 and the Junior School Science Co-ordinator. Based in the Upper School building, seven laboratories provide specialised space for each of the science subjects, with staff bases and technician preparation rooms. With nine members of staff, the Faculty of Science creates an environment where continuation in the study of science subjects is high through to Advanced Higher, which follows Higher in Lower 6 (S5) and GCSE in the single sciences in Lower 5 (S3) and Upper 5 (S4).
The enjoyment of science as a curriculum subject is enhanced by interdisciplinary learning that takes place within the co-curriculum and leads to high uptake rates for university STEAM subjects, with 99% of students obtaining entry into their first choice course in recent years. Variety in the co-curriculum and the opportunity for students to suggest activities supports ongoing success in Space Design and more recently Formula 1 in Schools, both enhanced by the ability to undertake the CREST Award or undertake an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) with a scientific focus.
Fieldwork in Biology for examination classes, developing and leading a STEAM focused World of Work trip for Lower 4 (S1) students, along with a biennial trip to CERN to visit the large hadron collider, each indicate the passion that is fuelled for study across science at St George’s School.
About the School
As Edinburgh’s only all-through independent school for girls aged 3-18, St George's is a place of possibilities: where everyone is clearly heard; pupils feel empowered to be themselves; and innovation is constantly encouraged.
The courage of our founding mothers, who pioneered women’s education in Victorian Scotland, still echoes defiantly through our corridors. That’s why amplifying the voice of every girl remains part of our DNA today as a loyal school community with a unique spirit of pride.
Over 90% of our girls achieve their first-choice post-school destination: leaving us as robust, empathetic change-makers, ready to take on the world…