Job Title: Head of Physics
Hours of Work: Full time
Reports to: Deputy Head Academic
Start Date: September 2025
The Headmaster and CEO of Eltham College family of Schools is seeking to appoint an inspirational and highly professional Head of Physics. The position of Head of Physics involves responsibility for the delivery of the teaching of Physics, which is currently taught as a core subject in the lower school and at GCSE and as an optional subject at A-level.
In addition to the base salary, the post comes with a Responsibility Allowance.
Department
The Physics department is amongst the best performing departments in the school and attracts pupils of high calibre at A-Level. It is also amongst the most popular subjects on offer with many of the pupils choosing to read a Physics related course for further education.
We teach Edexcel’s IGCSE Physics in Years 9 to 11 and Edexcel’s A level in the Sixth Form. The vast majority of pupils will take separate sciences with a small number of students entered for the double award IGCSE instead and in both cases, they will be taught by specialists for each subject. The IGCSE and A-Level results have been excellent over the past several years.
Pupils participate in various competitions at all age groups e.g. The UK Space Design Competition, Weismann safe cracking competition, First Lego League, the BPhO A level, AS and GCSE Challenges, which have all seen prizes awarded at Gold, Silver and Bronze level. There are a number of regular visits in place to support the curriculum: Williams Racing, Culham Centre for Fusion Research and CERN in the Sixth Form. We have also welcomed a number of visiting speakers from institutions such as McLaren F1, NASA, and CERN.
The Physics department is well resourced with five teaching staff and well supported by a full and part-time Physics technician across four dedicated laboratories which are fully equipped and part of a £7m rolling programme of ongoing refurbishment, extension and upgrades to facilities. Physics is a forward-thinking department, and we are always exploring ways to promote and enhance the excellent teaching which goes on. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to continuously develop ideas and resources.
Eltham College is a highly successful independent day school in south-east London, educating boys and girls aged 7 to 18 across both Junior and Senior Schools. The College has grown considerably over recent years: there are now over 800 students in the Senior School and around 260 pupils in the Junior School and places are heavily oversubscribed. Since 2020, girls have been able to join Years 3 and 7, mirroring the Sixth Form which has been coeducational for over 45 years. The school places an equal emphasis on academic, pastoral and co-curricular excellence and has an outstanding reputation in all three areas as well as for the friendly, unpretentious nature of daily life.
A highly competitive salary is available, together with a clear programme of staff development and opportunities for promotion. Accommodation may also be available.
Application closing date: 8am on Monday 27 January 2025
Interviews to take place on Monday 3 February 2025
(Suitable candidates may be interviewed before the closing date and Eltham College reserves the right to withdraw the position if an early appointment is made).
We welcome applications from all parts of our community as we aspire to attract staff that match the social and cultural diversity of our student intake. Candidates will be assessed against relevant criteria only (i.e. skills, qualifications, abilities, experience).
Eltham College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants undergo enhanced child protection screening relevant to the post, including checks with past employers and the DBS.