Teacher of Design & Technology (D&T)

Location: Tower Hamlets, East/Inner London

School Type: Secondary School & Sixth Form (Co-educational)

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent or Fixed-Term

Start Date: January Start

An energetic, forward-thinking secondary school and Sixth Form in the vibrant Inner London Borough of Tower Hamlets is seeking an inventive, hands-on, and dynamic Teacher of Design & Technology to join their creative STEM & Applied Arts faculty starting in January. This is a stellar opportunity for a design specialist, whether an experienced educator looking to inspire innovation in a well-equipped workshop environment or an ambitious Early Career Teacher (ECT), to foster spatial reasoning, material craft, and engineering solutions across a high-aspiring student body.

About the Role

As a Teacher of Design & Technology, you will translate creative ideas into functional physical prototypes. Joining the department for the spring term, you will deliver high-impact, practical, and theoretical instruction across Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 (GCSE Design & Technology / Product Design / Engineering / Graphics), guiding students through CAD/CAM software, material processing, iterative design, and structural analysis.

• Start Date: January

• Environment: A flagship Inner London secondary school celebrated for strong STEM pathways, high student progress, and active community design links near East London's creative and tech hubs

• Culture: A collaborative, practical, and highly supportive department featuring fully equipped workshops (3D printers, laser cutters, traditional machinery), shared digital planning frameworks, and visionary leadership

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver academically rigorous, creative D&T lessons across Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 that balance traditional workshop craftsmanship with modern digital design technologies (CAD/CAM).

• Prepare GCSE Design & Technology candidates thoroughly for non-examined assessments (NEA coursework portfolios) and written theory examinations using data-driven tracking and targeted diagnostic feedback.

• Champion strict workshop health and safety protocols (COSHH and CLEAPSS guidelines), ensuring machine safety, correct tool usage, and safe material handling across all key stages.

• Monitor, track, and evaluate student progress, implementing targeted extension tasks to challenge high-aspiring young designers while supporting developing makers.

• Contribute positively to departmental enrichment initiatives, such as STEM engineering challenges, robotics clubs, eco-design projects, and regional design competitions.

Requirements

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or an equivalent recognized teaching credential.

• A strong academic degree in Design & Technology, Product Design, Industrial Design, Engineering, or a closely related discipline.

• Proven track record or demonstrated capability of delivering outstanding Design & Technology teaching across Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 (KS5 Product Design/Engineering experience is desirable).

• Comprehensive understanding of national D&T examination board specifications (e.g., AQA, Edexcel, OCR) and workshop safety standards (CLEAPSS certification preferred).

• Superior classroom presence, strong technical demonstration skills, and an infectious enthusiasm for design thinking, material properties, and practical problem-solving.

Salary & Benefits

• Pay Scale: Inner London Main / Upper Pay Scale (MPS/UPS Inner London, commensurate with experience), with potential TLR opportunities available for Workshop Safety Management or STEM Coordination.

• Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), comprehensive continuous professional development (CPD), structured onboarding for a seamless January transition, and access to staff health and wellbeing schemes.

How to Apply

If you are an ambitious, creative D&T specialist ready to inspire the next generation of designers and engineers from January at a thriving secondary school in Tower Hamlets, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your application as soon as possible for consideration.