HEAD OF BIOLOGY

HEAD OF BIOLOGY

SEPTEMBER 2026

St Mary’s School
Bateman Street
Cambridge
CB2 1LY

T: 01223 353253
F: 01223 280254

hr@stmaryscambridge.co.uk

St Mary’s School Cambridge – A Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered Office: Bateman Street Cambridge CB2 1LY –

No. 184031 England Registered Charity No. 290180

Welcome from the Head

Thank you for showing interest in this role at St Mary’s School, Cambridge.

We are an independent day and boarding school for girls aged 3 to 18. We have a school roll of over 500 students.
Approximately 15% of the students are boarders. Reflecting the cosmopolitan community of Cambridge, on average
25% of students originate from overseas, from around 30 countries.

The School offers a secure and welcoming learning environment for girls: we are delightfully situated in the heart of
the  academically  renowned  and  culturally  vibrant  city  of  Cambridge.  The  Junior  School  is  adjacent  to  the  famous
backdrop  of  Coe  Fen,  and  the  Senior  School  and  Boarding  House  overlook  the  University  of  Cambridge  Botanic
Gardens.

Cambridge is an outstanding place to live and work. As a university city, Cambridge has the cultural advantages of a
much larger settlement but with a population of approximately 145,000, it is a safe, clean and attractive location. The
city has an international reputation owing to its world ranking university and the school benefits from its proximity to
the digital and enterprise communities in the various high-tech science parks and enterprise hubs. We are within easy
travelling distance of London, less than an hour by train and a short hop from London Stansted Airport.

There has been major investment in new facilities at the School over the past decade: a new Junior School; a new Sixth
Form Centre; new provision of Art & Photography; the creation of our Science Hub; and our new boarding facility,
Mary  Ward  House.  We  have  developed  our  sporting  facilities  through  an  ambitious  collaboration  with  Homerton
College, University of Cambridge and have invested in a new boat house in a joint partnership with City of Cambridge
Rowing Club and Homerton College. We are proud to have opened our Mary Ward Educational Suite in January 2024
which provides new state of the art teaching spaces.

High quality facilities are only as good as the people who work in them, so we invest heavily in our staff, who we know
are  our  greatest  asset.  We  encourage  staff  to  develop  themselves  through  training  and  facilitate  bespoke  CPD
opportunities for all.

St Mary’s School promotes equal opportunity for all staff and pupils and is committed to its culture of diversity and
inclusion. We encourage applications from candidates from a wide range of backgrounds.

Above all, St Mary’s School, Cambridge is a very happy place. We have an excellent local reputation for being very
friendly and nurturing, and yet ambitious, for the young women in our care, enabling strong progress to next steps at
university,  the  world  of  work  or  a  gap  year.  Our  girls  are  genuinely  delightful,  the  teachers  and  support  staff  are
exceptionally dedicated; we are a very close-knit, loving, joyful and purposeful community.

St  Mary’s  really  is  a  warm  and  welcoming  environment  for  all  staff,  whatever  their  role,  and  we  look  forward  to
receiving your application.

Hannah Helliar

St Mary’s School, Candidate Pack V1.1 (Jan 24)

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The St Mary’s Approach

We are  proud to  be a  Christian  school  in  the  Catholic tradition and founded on the principles of our 17th century
foundress, Mary Ward, our vision is that ‘By God’s grace, women in time will do much’ (Mary Ward 1585-1645). The
challenge for women is not over, and whilst there are now more opportunities for 'women to do much' there are still
considerable barriers and so our work continues via our mission to develop curious, creative and compassionate young
women with the aspiration, confidence and integrity to shape a better world for the common good. Our approach is
based on the core values of Freedom, Joy, Justice, Love and Truth and we live these values in school through our HEART
habits of

H – Hard work
E – Empathy
A – Adaptability
R – Responsibility
T – Thoughtfulness

We show perseverance and sustain focus.
We are kind, joyful, generous, value friendship and celebrate diversity.
We adjust to difficult situations, are open minded, discerning and take calculated risks.
We act justly and strive to uphold truth and lead by example.
We are creative, reflective, attentive, show gratitude, hear others and disagree well.

Our unique approach to  education  fosters  a love of life and of  learning, while growing the academic  curiosity and
spiritual wellbeing of each individual girl so that they can look beyond themselves and enter adulthood aspiring to be
more and to give more, not just to have more. We warmly welcome girls, and staff, of all Christian denominations and
other faith and secular backgrounds to join our thriving community.

The  school  recently  celebrated  its  125th  anniversary,  and  building  on  our  400-year  tradition,  St  Mary’s  School,
Cambridge belongs to an international network of approximately two hundred Mary Ward schools.

A Love for Learning at St Mary’s

At our school, our values — freedom, joy, justice, love and truth — shape a respectful, inclusive and engaging learning
environment where every student can be herself and achieve her best. We nurture curiosity, ambition and a genuine
love of learning, inspiring students to pursue academic excellence with confidence and purpose.

Through  expert  teaching,  a  challenging  curriculum  and  personalised  support,  we  empower  each  pupil  to  embrace
opportunities, overcome challenges and fulfil her potential. Our commitment is not only to outstanding results, but
also to developing independent, reflective and critical thinkers who are ready to thrive at university and beyond with
adaptability, creativity and determination.

As  a  learning  community,  we  are  proud  to  be  continuously  refining  and  enhancing  our  practice,  and we welcome
applications  from  colleagues  who  share  our  ambition,  curiosity  and  dedication  to  high-quality,  research-informed
teaching.

Digital St Mary’s

St Mary's is a digital school. The goals of the School are supported through

•  developing a community of staff and students which learns in, responds to and engages with an ever-changing

digital world;

•  preparing students for their future by giving them the confidence to work in a digital environment;
•  establishing creative teaching and learning environments;
•  employing teaching staff who are trained and supported to be technologically and digitally skilled.

All members of St Mary's work digitally using Microsoft 365 as a platform. All students in the Senior School and Sixth
Form have access to an individual device (Microsoft Surface Pro) which are used extensively in lessons and for home
learning.

St Mary’s School, Candidate Pack V1.1 (Jan 24)

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Job Description: HEAD OF BIOLOGY

Reporting to:
Hours of Work:
Salary:
Direct reports:
Start Date:

Head of Science and Deputy Head Operations & Data
Full-time
£37,945 - £53,219 FTE (dependent on experience)
3 Teachers of Biology
Tuesday 1 September 2026

Science Department: Department Summary

St Mary’s School is looking to appoint an outstanding Head of Biology to teach Biology, up to and including Key Stage
5. The ability to teach Physics or Chemistry is an advantage. The ability to teach all, or most, of the three Sciences up
to Key Stage 3 is desirable. A general interest in STEM subjects is essential.

As the head of a thriving and core department you will lead a team of enthusiastic and skilled colleagues who love
their subject and are keen to continue to develop in their roles. As a teacher you will work with a broad ability range
of  enthusiastic  students  in  small  classes  who  are  a  delight  to  teach.  You  should  enjoy  the  challenge  of  teaching
motivated and ambitious students and show a love for the subject which reaches beyond the classroom.

The Science Department  is  a  central  part of school life and has gained a reputation for academic excellence, with
parents and students alike viewing science as a desirable career pathway. The department is superbly resourced with
purpose-built  laboratories  to  encourage  and  facilitate  student  enquiry  and  research.  As  such  this  is  a  fantastic
opportunity for an aspiring, imaginative and inspirational teacher to join a creative and innovative environment. You
will join and be supported by a successful Science faculty with exacting standards.

There are currently 5 full-time and 4 part-time teachers in the department and 3 highly experienced and dedicated
technicians who manage well-resourced Science prep rooms and who contribute to the department’s success. Each
lab is equipped with a PC, an interactive whiteboard and a ‘Genee Vision Visualiser’ (digital camera projector).

Chemistry, Biology and Physics are taught as separate subjects from Year 8 to A Level. At KS3, students follow an ‘in-
house’ course that teaches the foundations of the subject. From Year 9, the Edexcel IGCSE course is followed. At GCSE
students can choose, with advice from their teachers, either the separate or the double award IGCSE route.

At A level the Chemistry and Biology departments follows the OCR A course and Physics the Edexcel course. All three
subjects are popular options with students studying in classes of usually no more than 10. A high number of students
go on to read a range of subjects at university from Physics and Engineering to Veterinary Science and Medicine. All
members of the science faculty provide strong support and guidance to students for their university applications.

Applicants without  a formal  teaching  qualification should be able to demonstrate an ability to teach and example
teaching they have undertaken (including adult education, university teaching). They should also have high subject
knowledge, be effective communicators and be able to identify themselves with young people.

For  further  information,  please  do  not  hesitate  to  contact  the  Head  of  Science  Miss  Egan-Smith  (MEgan-
Smith@stmaryscambridge.co.uk).

Maggie Egan-Smith

Head of Science

St Mary’s School, Candidate Pack V1.1 (Jan 24)

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Head of Biology: Job Description

The Head of Biology will:

Overall Expectations

•  be fully responsible for leading, overseeing and teaching the Biology curriculum;
•  enhance the standing of the department within the School and embed the subject within the culture of the School;
•
support  the  Strategic  Plan  and  School  Development  Plan  by  actively  contributing  to  culture  of  continuous
improvement and development;

•  provide opportunities for all students to develop a love of the subject;
•  be inclusive, by being responsive to the needs of students, positively affecting their behaviour and attitudes, and

offering them a broad range of opportunities;

•  develop and maintain high levels of student uptake in the subject;

Vision

•  determine an exciting vision for the possibilities of Biology within the school, including developing proactive links

with our international boarding students and our Junior School;

•  want to develop the School’s reputation for excellence in the field of Biology;
•  be creative in promoting Biology to all our other stakeholders;

Leadership & Management

•
•

lead and manage all members of staff within the department;
regularly  meet  with  members  of  department  to  maintain  and  develop  all  aspects  of  the  department,  such  as
teaching resources, schemes of work and the physical environment of the department;

•  work closely with members of department to help develop all their skills, within the School culture of continual

•

appraisal and professional development;
support  teachers  who  teach  the  subject  ensuring  schemes  of  work  are  followed,  and  that  appropriately  high
standards are maintained through the setting of guidelines and lesson observation;

support probationary, new and student teachers, including the induction process of ECTs, as appropriate;

•  encourage high quality assessment and feedback throughout the department;
•
•  keep abreast of new developments in the subject, making departmental colleagues aware of new developments;
•  oversee the departmental development plan in coordination with the Senior Deputy;
•  prepare annual analyses of the Department’s end of year and public examination results;
•
•  maintain and develop the team to deliver against existing commitments and plan and prepare for the future by

share in the work of appointing new members of the department;

identifying and addressing requirements in terms of competence and succession planning;
inform your direct line-manager of any difficulties that may arise in the department;

•
•  manage the departmental budget;

Whole School Responsibility

•  actively participate in the promotion of the School, for example, showcasing the department during open events

and contributing to the marketing strategy, publications and publicity material;
represent the department at Sixth Form option events;

•
•  establish and maintain Junior School links and foster educational continuity between Years 6 and 7, contributing

to transitional activities as necessary;

•  encourage and contribute to the retention of students into our Sixth Form;

St Mary’s School, Candidate Pack V1.1 (Jan 24)

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•  work with the Admissions Team with the setting and marking of entrance exam papers across the Senior School,

throughout the year, and be prepared to mark papers that are sat during normal school holidays;

•  help to establish curriculum links between departments and be part of the wider Heads of Department team

Teaching & Learning

•

teach  Biology  to  all  Key  Stages,  and  it  is  preferable  they  have  the  desire  and  ability  support  with  Biology  for
university application;

•  develop more robust and systematic cycles of monitoring and evaluation that contribute clearly into actions for

continued improvement in Biology;

•  be responsible for the selection of appropriate textbooks and teaching materials;
•  promote the values of St Mary’s as a community of learners so that students acquire the values, attitudes, skills

and knowledge needed to make a positive contribution to society;

•  be responsible for developing a variety of teaching approaches within the department which emphasise the need

for student engagement;

•  work  with  the  Head  of  Science,  Senior  Deputy  and  the  Assistant  Head  Teaching  &  Learning  on  all  matters

concerned with teaching, learning and the curriculum;

•  monitor the setting and reviewing of homework and update the departmental assessment strategy;
•  ensure procedures for rewards and sanctions within school policy are followed throughout the department;

Administration, Logistics and Other Responsibilities

•  meet regularly with their direct report line-manager;
•  manage  the  use  and  provision  of  space  to  ensure  that  all  departmental  areas  are  safe,  secure,  orderly  and

stimulating environments for students;

•  maintain departmental resources, including those in the library and ordering new equipment where appropriate;
•
•
•  ensure pupils are entered for public examinations including external exams and re-sits, in conjunction with the

take responsibility for Health & Safety procedures and practices within the departmental areas;
liaise with the Bursar, Operations Manager, the Works Team over maintenance;

Examinations Officer, and that the department is represented when A Level results are published;

•  attend Head of Department meetings, any other appropriate academic meetings, and whole school meetings;
•  update the Departmental Handbook;
•  organise the agenda for the weekly/fortnightly departmental meeting, ensuring that members of the department
are fully briefed and have every opportunity to put forward new ideas, that minutes are kept and reported;
•  oversee the internal assessment and tracking of pupils, as determined by school policy, and establishing a common

approach to task work;

•  oversee the selection of students for prizes;
•  publicise students’ successes and keep accurate and up-to-date records of achievement;

Enrichment & Extra-Curricular

•  ensure that curriculum enrichment is fully embedded;
•

liaise with the Head of Science and Senior Deputy to create extra-curricular opportunities including outreach as
necessary;

•  encourage our students to participate in national competitions.

St Mary’s School, Candidate Pack V1.1 (Jan 24)

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KEY AREAS
Teaching &
Learning

Safeguarding &
Pastoral

Key Responsibilities for a teacher

PROFESSIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
•  Planning and preparing courses and lessons
•  Teaching, according to the needs of each student
•  Assessing, recording and reporting on the development, progress and attainment of students
•  Setting high educational standards for every student within the classroom
•  Promotion of the general wellbeing of classes and the individual students within these
•  Provision of specific subject related guidance and advice to students on further education
and future careers, including information about sources of more expert advice on specific
questions and university/work experience interview practice

•  On school systems, keeping records of and writing reports on the academic progress and

needs of students

•  Ongoing self-review of your methods of teaching and programmes of work
•  Where appropriate, moderation of non-examinable assessments, including Extended

Project Qualification or other project based qualifications
•  Setting of cover work when absent, when appropriate to do so
•  To promote and safeguard the welfare of students at all times
•  To comply with the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy of the School, and ensure that
any concerns relating to the safety or welfare of children are reported to the appropriate
person

•  Maintaining good order and discipline among the students when they are engaged in

authorised school activities elsewhere
•  Maintaining student health and safety
•

Liaising with the Head of Boarding, the Heads of Year, tutors and the nurses regarding the
welfare of students

•  Keeping records of and writing reports on the personal and social needs of students
•  Tutor duties including one-to-one meetings with tutees, attendance at assemblies,

registration of the attendance of students and supervision of their attendance, organising
form prayers and delivery of PSHEE, whether these duties are to be performed before,
during or after school sessions

Enrichment &
Extra Curricular

•  Participation in the enrichment programme as part of timetabled lessons
•  Participation in the extra-curricular programme, both within the department and for the

Professional
Responsibilities

whole School, outside of timetabled lessons

•  Adherence to the Staff Behaviour Policy of the School at all times
•  Participation in an induction programme
•  Attendance of all INSET meetings and completion of relevant training
•  Communication and consultation with parents
•  Communication and cooperation with persons or professional bodies outside the school
•  Participation in meetings arranged for any of the purposes described above
•  Attendance at Briefings, Parent Evenings, and Open Events, or any other events reasonably

required by the School

•  Participation in meetings at the school which relate to the curriculum for the school or the

administration or organisation of the school, including pastoral arrangements

•  Participation in reviews and appraisal of your performance and that of other teachers,

where appropriate

•  Participation in arrangements for further training and professional development including
those aimed at meeting the needs identified in performance objectives or in appraisal
statements

•  Teachers will be required to be available for cover as indicated on the reserve list but also

at other non-contact times as the need arises

•  Assistance with invigilation, as required
•  Participation in administrative/organisational tasks related to duties around the school
•  Other related duties as directed by Head, senior leaders or line-manager
Person Specification

St Mary’s School, Candidate Pack V1.1 (Jan 24)

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SPECIFICATION  DETAIL
Qualifications

Qualities and
Attributes

Experience,
Knowledge and
Skills

•  Undergraduate Degree in relevant area
•  PGCE, QTS or equivalent desirable
•  Commitment to academic excellence
•  Ability to work effectively in a team
•  Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
•  Ability to communicate articulately and confidently with all stakeholders
•  High levels of personal and professional responsibility and integrity
•  Resilient, flexible and responsive to challenge
•  Prioritise deadlines and work under pressure
•  Self-motivation, enthusiasm and approachability
•  Good rapport with students, colleagues and parents
•  Appropriate levels of personal presentation
•  Excellent secondary school classroom practice
•  Confident use of ICT
•  Effective planning, teaching and class management
•  Preparing and sharing teaching resources
•  Motivating and inspiring students
•  Creative and innovative in teaching and learning
•  Commitment to improve, monitor and self-evaluate teaching and learning
•
Involvement in all elements of school life including enrichment activities
•  Commitment to best practice in pastoral support and student welfare
•  Promotion of safety and wellbeing of students

Personal Values  •  Commitment to the ethos of the school

•  High expectations for student attainment and conduct
•  Commitment to own personal development
•  Commitment to a culture of continuous improvement
•  Readiness to contribute to the whole school when required

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Benefits

At  St  Mary’s  you  will  enjoy  an  exceptional  career  and  comprehensive  benefits  including  a  defined  contribution
workplace  pension  scheme  offered  through  APTIS  (Aviva  Pensions  Trust  for  Independent  Schools)  at  a  flexible
employer contribution level up to 22%, BUPA cash plan, 33% discount (pro rata for part-time staff) on school fees, a
work laptop, an occupational sickness scheme, free lunches and refreshments, a rail season ticket discount, access to
the Cambridge University Botanic Gardens and much more.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

St Mary’s School is committed to ensuring equal opportunities in all aspects of employment and selects staff on merit
irrespective  of  race,  religion  or  belief,  pregnancy  and  maternity,  marital  status,  sex,  sexuality/gender  preference,
disability or age. You are not obliged to complete the Equal Opportunities Form, but any information given will help
us monitor the effectiveness of our policies and procedures.

If you have a disability, you are invited to request any special arrangements that you may require for interview or any
adjustments that you would consider necessary to your working arrangements by contacting our Human Resources
department (hr@stmaryscambridge.co.uk, 01223 353253).

Process

Application is welcomed by completing the Application Form and Equal Opportunities Form which can be found on
the Vacancies page  of our website. This may be accompanied by a covering letter and a curriculum vitae. We are
unable to accept applications supported by a CV alone.

Interviews will be conducted in person, and they will explore candidates’ suitability to work with children. Candidates
are required to bring with them the necessary ID documentation and any relevant qualification certificate(s), all of
which  must  be  originals.  Further  information  of  the  interview  format  will  be  provided  if  you  are  shortlisted  for
interview.

If you have any question, please contact the HR Team by email: hr@stmaryscambridge.co.uk or call: 01223 353253.

Closing date: 8.00am Monday 9 March 2026

Interview date:  week beginning Monday 16 March 2026

We will review applications on receipt. Suitable candidates may be interviewed before the closing date, and we reserve
the right to withdraw the position if an early appointment is made.

Child Welfare and Child Protection Issues

The interview for this post will include exploring issues relating to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
including:

•  motivation to work with children and young people;
•  ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships with children and young people;
•  emotional resilience in working with challenging behaviours;
•  attitudes to the use of authority and maintaining discipline.

Any  relevant  issues  arising  from  the  take  up  of  references  will  be  discussed  at  interview.  The  school  is  an  equal
opportunities employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
and  expect  all  staff  and  volunteers  to  share  this  commitment.  Successful  applicants  are  subject  to  an  Enhanced
Disclosure and Barring Check.

St Mary’s School, Candidate Pack V1.1 (Jan 24)

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St Mary’s School, Candidate Pack V1.1 (Jan 24)

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