Due to an internal promotion, Bedford School’s outstanding Art department seeks a full-time teacher to join the team as a painting specialist from September 2025.
Art is a highly popular subject at Bedford School both as an examined subject across GCSE and A-Level courses and as a central pillar of the thriving creative co-curricular life of the school. Our Art department has three specialist studios in painting, printmaking, and sculpture, which all year groups in the Upper School experience on rotation. The department consists of three full-time specialist teachers, a part-time technician (all of whom are practising artists), and a part-time Art History teacher
The successful candidate will take charge of a dedicated Painting Studio, which enjoys an enviable position in the school grounds. They will be a team player: the ability to communicate well with colleagues and students is essential, to enable the happy and creative working environment in the Art department to continue. The successful candidate will be able to make a substantial contribution to Art at our school both as an academic subject and as an exciting part of our co-curricular offer in the creative arts. The ability to teach digital processes such as Photoshop would be an advantage. They will be ready to make the most of the resources and specialist facilities available at a leading independent boarding school.
This role could be an exciting new challenge for an experienced teacher seeking to broaden their experience amidst outstanding facilities and artistic opportunities. The role could also be an ideal fit for a well-qualified and experienced professional who wishes to transition to a career in teaching; Bedford School has outstanding and well established in-school support available for well-qualified graduates who wish to train as a teacher; there is plentiful experience in the Art department to support graduates with teacher training.
Full-time teachers at Bedford are also expected to play a full part in the extensive co-curricular programme and be a Tutor attached to a boarding or day house.
Closing date: Thursday 13 March
Interview date: Wednesday 19 March
Lesson brief for interview day:
As part of the interviews shortlisted candidates will teach a Year 10 class of up to 15 boys for a 35-minute lesson. In this lesson they will introduce the class to an artist relevant to the theme of ‘Stillness & Movement’ and to devise a simple practical task in response to their chosen artist. A Clevertouch screen will be available. Materials available could include: watercolour, acrylics, colour pencil, inks, oil or chalk pastel, felt-tips, charcoal; material requests, resources and PowerPoints will be required by Monday 17 March at the latest.
The Deputy Head (Academic), Luke Rogers, or incoming Director of Art, Florence Burbridge, would be happy to talk to prospective applicants and can be contacted through the main school reception on 01234 362200 or by email lrogers@bedfordschool.org.uk and fburbridge@bedfordschool.org.uk
An Introduction to Art at Bedford School
The Art School is situated in Howard’s, a listed redbrick Georgian building of the mid-1750s. It was originally a Moravian School, and James Gilray, the 18th Century caricaturist, was educated there. Over the years, the building has been altered and developed, but it retains much of its character, while providing an exciting set of specialist studios for painting, printmaking and sculpture, with an Art library and a lecture theatre/computer suite. The printmaking studios will be refurbished and extended over Summer 2025.
The Painting Studio is an established, sizeable and well-equipped space which currently consists of:
• A large general classroom with sinks
• Art library & lecture theatre
• V1 Form studio
• Computer suite
• 2x Store cupboards
The Art Department aims to provide a stimulating environment where students can develop their artistic creativity whether they are studying Art for examinations, enjoyment or as an introduction to the subject. We strive for excellence and aim to expose pupils to as much art as possible; through exhibitions in our Foyer Gallery, visiting London and local galleries and promoting educational and cultural visits abroad. A Study Tour is typically arranged every two years (recent destinations have included Rome, New York, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris and Florence). A weekly after-school Art History class is an encouraged optional extra for those boys interested in attending which is offered by a part-time visiting Art Historian.
We keep abreast of contemporary issues in Art and the Art Appreciation Society. An endowment fund from Old Bedfordian Gilbert Lloyd enables us to invite a wealth of outside speakers to add breadth to our lectures and discussions and to illustrate different ways of working. Recent speakers for the Gilbert Lloyd lectures have included Andrew Graham Dixon, Martin Gayford, Eric Parry RA, Will Gompertz (OB) and Paul Catherall.
All boys who enter the school at 13+ have 2 periods of Art per week. A selection of subjects for GCSE is made during this year and boys who choose Art move to 4 periods per week from Year 10 onward. GCSE groups rotate to each of the specialist studios for teaching. Sixth Form pupils have up to 8 periods per week. Approximately 40 boys study GCSE Art annually. Results continue to be impressive, and 9-7 grades are the norm. The course specification we follow is Fine Art and is administered by OCR.
Approximately 30 pupils study Art in the Sixth Form. The boys have up to 8 time-tabled periods per week but will often spend more time than this in the department, working in their dedicated studio spaces. The department follows the OCR A-Level Fine Art specification working in the areas of painting, sculpture, printmaking and critical studies. The course itself builds on the skills, knowledge and understanding acquired at GCSE. Drawing, including Life drawing, is an important activity and underpins much of what is done in the department. Pupils regularly gain places at Central St Martins and other Foundation and Degree courses. Architecture has recently been a particularly popular course; Sixth Formers have left Bedford for places at AA, Bartlett, Manchester and Sheffield.
Further details about the role and a link to our recruitment portal, where you can apply using our online application form, can be found on our website:
The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The School may carry out online searches on shortlisted applicants. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions on a self-declaration form in advance of attending an interview (including those which are “spent” unless they are “protected” under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.
Bedford School is part of The Harpur Trust.