Alleyn’s is a thriving, successful school with its eyes on the future and there could not be a more exciting time to lead the Biology Department. We are therefore delighted to be inviting applications for the post of Head of Biology at Alleyn’s from the start of the Advent term 2025.

As a leading independent and academic co-educational school, Biology at Alleyn’s is a core part of our curriculum, and the excellent teaching and exciting offering beyond the classroom plays a key role in supporting and inspiring our pupils to flourish. The department contributes to a wide-ranging programme of enriching trips and activities, and numbers studying Biology-related courses at University and beyond are high.

Our pupils are curious, engaged and motivated; we have high aspirations for every child and our Biology Department carefully caters for all. Our facilities are extremely good and an ambitious site masterplan will ensure further investment in these over the coming years.

The successful candidate will provide leadership to a talented and committed team of practitioners, ensuring the highest standards of learning and achievement for all pupils, and personally enriching professional development for staff. To this end, they will possess excellent communication skills – both oral and written – to engage effectively with pupils, parents and staff.

Our Heads of Department are passionate about questions of curriculum and pedagogy, and the successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to think big and engage with research and national conversations, while caring deeply about the fine details of classroom practice.

This exciting, challenging and significant position would be ideal for an experienced colleague seeking promotion to a key middle leadership position and is accompanied by a generous remuneration package.

Post Outline

This is a permanent, full-time role for the start of the Advent term 2025 (Thursday 28 August 2025).

The successful applicant will be a dynamic teacher with an obvious love of Biology, who will provide professional, dynamic and creative leadership and management of the Department to secure high-quality teaching, effective use of resources and the highest standards of learning and achievement for all pupils. They will have the ability to develop, articulate and lead through a vision and strategy for the development and delivery of Biology across the School.

To this end they will possess excellent organisational and administrative skills, while at the same time being able to inspire pupils and staff alike.

We have our own very competitive salary scale which takes account of experience and the nature of the role, and all staff enjoy access to superb facilities and resources, as well as variety of great benefits which are detailed in our ‘Working at Alleyn’s’ brochure.

How to apply

To apply, please visit our website: www.alleyns.org.uk/jobs

Our application form needs to be completed, together with the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form, and we also require a CV and a covering letter addressed to Mrs Jane Lunnon, the Head, explaining why you are interested in this particular position at Alleyn’s and why you think it would suit you at this time in your career.

All documents should be emailed.

Alternatively, they can be posted to Mrs Jane Lunnon, Head, Alleyn’s School, Townley Road, London SE22 8SU.

The deadline for applications is midday on Monday 24 February 2025.

Interviews are planned for Wednesday 5 March 2025 and shortlisted candidates will be asked to plan and teach a lesson.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss an application, you are very welcome to contact the HR Department (jobs@alleyns.org.uk, 020 8299 8009).

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. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. Alleyn’s is an Equal Opportunities employer.

Alleyn’s welcomes applications from all applicants who meet the requirements for the position, however we are especially keen to receive applications from those in minority groups for which the School is currently underrepresented. We celebrate diversity and thrive on the benefits it brings.