Teacher of Art & Design

Location: Havering, East/Outer London

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

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent or Fixed-Term

Start Date: Immediate / ASAP or January Start

An ambitious, creative secondary school and Sixth Form in the East London Borough of Havering is seeking an imaginative, technically skilled, and dynamic Teacher of Art & Design to join their expressive Visual Arts faculty. This is an exciting opportunity for a visual arts practitioner, whether an experienced teacher seeking to lead high-level gallery showcases or a passionate Early Career Teacher (ECT), to cultivate artistic confidence, fine art techniques, and creative problem-solving across an eager student body.

About the Role

As a Teacher of Art & Design, you will inspire students to experiment across media, from fine art drawing and painting to printmaking, sculpture, photography, and digital illustration. Joining a vibrant department, you will deliver engaging practical workshops and theoretical lessons across Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 (GCSE Art & Design / Graphic Communication), and Key Stage 5 (A-Level Fine Art / Art, Craft & Design), guiding pupils from initial sketchbook ideation to finished exhibition-quality projects.

• Environment: A supportive Outer London secondary school featuring light-filled studio spaces, kiln facilities, printmaking rigs, digital suites, and a calendar of annual student exhibitions

• Culture: A highly collaborative Visual Arts department supported by dedicated technician cover, shared digital schemes of learning, and forward-thinking leadership

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver practical, inspiring Art & Design lessons across Key Stages 3, 4, and 5 that develop students' technical skills, contextual understanding, and critical analysis.

• Guide GCSE and A-Level candidates through non-examined assessments (coursework portfolios and externally set assignments) using diagnostic portfolio feedback and structured moderation routines.

• Embed rich art history, contemporary movements, and diverse global artists into daily teaching to expand students' cultural literacy and creative critical thinking.

• Maintain workshop safety, material inventory, and studio organization, ensuring proper handling of specialized tools, paints, solvents, and equipment.

• Contribute positively to department enrichment, such as lunchtime studio access, gallery trips, community art installations, and student exhibition curation.

Requirements

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

• A strong academic degree in Fine Art, Visual Arts, Graphic Design, Art Education, or a closely related creative discipline.

• Demonstrated track record or capability of delivering outstanding Art & Design teaching across Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 (KS5/A-Level Fine Art or Graphic Communication experience is highly desirable).

• In-depth knowledge of national Art & Design examination board specifications (e.g., AQA, Edexcel, OCR) and portfolio grading criteria.

• Superior studio management skills, strong personal artistic technique, and an infectious enthusiasm for visual media, design, and student expression.

Salary & Benefits

• Pay Scale: Outer London Main / Upper Pay Scale (MPS/UPS Outer London, commensurate with experience), with potential TLR opportunities available for Key Stage Coordination or Visual Arts Enrichment.

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

How to Apply

If you are a passionate, innovative Art & Design specialist ready to inspire the next generation of visual artists and designers at a thriving secondary school in Havering, we invite you to apply. Please submit your application and CV as soon as possible for consideration.