Head of History

• Job title:Head of History
• Job Type:Full Time, permanent
• Salary:£49,663-£76,199 per annum
• Department:Department of History
• Reporting to:Assistant Head (Director of Studies)
• Location:Highgate, North London
• Start:September 2026
• Closing Date:18 March 2026 at 12:00 pm

Highgate is looking for an enthusiastic and inspiring Head of History, starting in September 2026.

The successful candidate should be academically well qualified: it is expected that applicants will have an excellent History degree; a further research degree would be considered an advantage but is not a requirement.

The ability to teach and potentially lead the Politics department is a possibility for the right candidate.

Applicants should be experienced teachers who demonstrate a profound and continuing academic interest in their subject and an enthusiasm for sharing this passion with pupils and colleagues. The successful candidate will have excellent managerial instincts, a commitment to professional development, an enthusiasm for learning, and the ability to reflect deeply on their practice.

All pupils study History in Years 7 to 9, and approximately 70% of pupils in Years 10-11; History is also a very popular option at A Level, with pupils opting for either our medieval, early modern or modern routes. The root of History’s popularity is our effort to show pupils the subject is an ongoing debate about what happened in the past. This informs our teaching at each Key Stage: our message to pupils is that they are historians-in-training and by the time they reach the Sixth Form, we want them to develop a deep and extensive knowledge of a history in which they have developed a particular interest. Whatever their level of attainment, we want our pupils to become adept at reading and evaluating texts and images, forming persuasive arguments, and doing so independently with increasing confidence. We want to promote a love of reading history and historical fiction, and to help them develop sophisticated vocabularies.

As a result, our pupils achieve outstanding results in public examinations. In 2025, 87% of Y11 Historians achieved Grades 9-8, following the Cambridge IGCSE course. In the same year, 83% achieved A*/A grades at A Level (AQA), with 49% at A*. Since 2018, 25% of our pupils who apply to read History at university have received offers from Cambridge and Oxford. We have a vibrant Sixth Form Extension Programme, and approximately a third of our Sixth Form cohort apply for History or History Joint Honours at university.

There are twelve members of the History Department, which includes several members of Senior Team. The Department has its own office which is well-resourced with its own regularly updated library. Teachers place pupil progress at the heart of our weekly discussions and planning, and all members of the department keep abreast of the latest historical publications, which inform their lesson planning and off-piste talks to the History Society. Each staff member is equipped with a Microsoft Surface device, which wirelessly connects to the audiovisual system in every classroom. Colleagues share expertise and resources and embrace a culture of regular mutual observations. They also volunteer for extra responsibilities when necessary, including the organisation of our educational visits. All pupils in Year 9 benefit from a trip to the WW1 Battlefields in northern France to complement their classroom lessons, and there is an optional annual visit to Berlin for Year 10 historians. In addition to historical walking tours of London, our Sixth Form historians also have the option of joining a visit to Paris to complement their A Level courses. The School History Society is very popular and meets weekly; in addition, Sixth Form historians publish the annual Highgate History Journal.

Person Specification

Highgate School seeks to appoint teachers who will have, in addition to the professional qualities outlined below, the following proven personal qualities, or the potential to develop them. At interview, candidates will have the opportunity to demonstrate or give an account of these attributes.

• Profound and continuing interest in the academic subject/s to be taught.
• The depth of knowledge and agility of mind to allow flexibility in lessons, adapting delivery as appropriate in the light of pupils’ responses.
• Empathy with pupils across the age and ability spectrum at Highgate and the ability to implement a range of teaching strategies to cater for each individual pupil.
• Capacity to deal sensitively with problems raised by pupils, in line with Highgate’s pastoral policies and sanctions system, working in partnership with Highgate’s designated staff i/c pastoral care.
• Ability to create effective rapport and a sound relationship with pupils, earning their respect and trust but maintaining proper professional boundaries by not deliberately courting popularity or friendship.
• Dynamism and enthusiasm to contribute broadly to the life of a busy co- educational independent day school.
• Willingness to contribute to the extensive range of activities provided for pupils and to support them in their co-curricular pursuits.
• Capacity for industry and initiative in both independent work and as part of teams of colleagues in academic work, pastoral care, sports and co-curricular activities.
• Awareness and understanding of matters relating to the personal, social, health and emotional development of pupils.
• Willingness and ability to liaise effectively and professionally between pupils, staff and parents when required, making accurate records of these exchanges.
• Patience and thoughtfulness to see any issues that may arise with pupils, parents or colleagues from a variety of perspectives.
• The ability to defuse difficult situations using different strategies such as careful listening, sensitive use of humour, praise and recognition where due, utilising the School’s reward system.
• Retention of a sense of perspective and, on occasion, the invaluable ability to laugh at oneself.

Essential Professional Criteria

• Criteria
• How will these be tested or verified?
• A good honours degree in a related subject
• • Original degree certificate(s)
  • Questions about subject specialisation (and course content for more recent graduates)
  • Opportunities at interview to discuss techniques for teaching set topics
• Excellent communication skills
• • Two panel interviews
  • A taught lesson
• The ability to use ICT appropriately to support teaching, or a willingness to learn the skills
• • Lesson planning and resources
  • Opportunities to recount experience and expertise at interview
• The ability to establish good relations with colleagues and pupils.
• • Opportunities at interview to recount experiences where these skills have been demonstrated
  • Questions which referees will be
  • Asked as part of the confidential reference request
• Sympathy with and knowledge of fundamental British values
• • Questions at interview to test this
• Awareness and understanding of safeguarding and welfare of children
• • Questions at interview to test attitudes towards and knowledge of children’s safeguarding and welfare
  • Questions which referees will be asked as part of the confidential reference request

Desirable Professional Criteria

• Criteria
• How will these be tested or verified?
• Experience of teaching academic lessons, either as an employed teacher or during a teaching placement, and an understanding of effective assessment.
• • A 50-minute lesson to be taught
  • Potentially, the opportunity to comment on and grade pupils’ written work
• A teaching qualification (eg PGCE, GTP)
• • Original certificate
• Experience of teaching successfully in an academically selective school
• • Opportunities at interview to recount
• Knowledge of, and experience of, teaching Politics at A Level
• • Opportunities at interview to recount experience of teaching and of successful strategies used in teaching these topics
• A willingness to be involved in the wider life of the department and school.
• • Opportunities at interview to recount experience of running or participating in such activities or to give ideas for these

Head of History: Job Specification

The Head of History reports to the Assistant Head (Teaching and Learning), and through them, to the Deputy Head (Academic). The main responsibilities are:

• to develop a strategy and vision for History across the curriculum, including the creation of a coherent co-curricular programme
• to lead the department in delivering excellent teaching and learning, ensuring consistently high-quality lessons are taught by all History teachers, leading to excellent educational outcomes for pupils
• to ensure that History fully espouses the school’s academic ethos, especially in normalising academic struggle, teaching beyond public examinations and promoting scholarship for all
• to prioritise teachers’ development, as both subject specialists and excellent classroom practitioners

The particular responsibilities are:

Curriculum and Teaching and Learning

• to ensure the consistent delivery of lessons of high quality which stretch, stimulate and educate pupils of every level of ability
• to carry out regular lesson observations, learning walks and work scrutinies; on the back of these, to develop colleagues’ accordingly
• to play a pro-active role in curriculum development
• to ensure the Deputy Head (Academic) is assured of the effectiveness of provision in History and remains informed of significant curricular changes that need to be discussed and implemented
• to review and ensure that appropriate support is provided for pupils with LDD and Gifted and Talented pupils studying History, both within and beyond the classroom
• to oversee the provision of extension and university mentoring, and to support and monitor students’ applications to study History and related disciplines at university
• to ensure a robust programme of peer observation within the department

Management

• to oversee excellent results in public examinations and to perform thorough analysis of results data, scripts and mark schemes to inform strategy
• to ensure that the thrust of the school’s development plan is reflected in the annual History department development plan
• to ensure that full support and coaching is given to all teachers to support professional growth and leading by example in the classroom, and to ensure appropriate monitoring takes place when a teacher encounters difficulties, whether of an academic nature or with regard to classroom discipline
• to play an active role in the recruitment of History teachers, and to then assist with induction and probation, acting as a mentor to any new colleagues
• to support History staff in order to meet personal and professional targets, both generally and as part of the school’s appraisal system; the Head of History will carry out appraisals for most of their team
• to organise History department meetings, to set the agenda, record action points and ensure decisions are implemented
• to ensure the department is sensibly timetabled each year
• to submit and manage the annual History budget
• to advise their line-manager of necessary improvements to teaching facilities
• to be on site for the release of A Level results and online for the release of GCSE results, to assist pupils with any post-results services and advice
• to liaise, where appropriate, with other Heads of Departments on cross-curricular initiatives and ensure these are well-planned

Co-curricular and Enrichment

• to ensure that there are effective and lively co-curricular opportunities for pupils across History including academic societies, visits, guest speakers, pupil publications, essay competitions, etc.
• to establish contacts with History departments at universities
• to promote the studying of History, or associated degrees, at university

Support | A welcoming, comfortable and exceptionally well-resourced environment with significant assistance from a range of support staff.

Pension | The School pays the employer’s contribution to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.

Professional development | Comprehensive induction. Focus on continued learning and development for all employees.

Holidays | Terms are shorter than in the maintained sector.

Location | Highgate Village, adjacent to Hampstead Heath, with quaint shops and easy connections across London.

Facilities | Free access, at stipulated times, to our sports facilities, including a fitness suite and new swimming pool. Staff can borrow from 1,700 books held in the Sir Martin Gilbert Library.

Lunch | Free tea and coffee A complimentary lunch including hot meals, sandwiches, salads, fresh fruit and dessert.

Sustainable travel | Access to the Cycle to Work Scheme and a Season Ticket Loan scheme for public transport.

Flexible working | Flexibility for parents, enhanced maternity pay and paid dependant leave.

Highgate is a caring, open-minded community, where we promote kindness, empathy and friendship. Everyone who works and studies with us deserves to feel they are part of a welcoming environment that enables them to be themselves and to thrive as individuals.

Our community extends beyond the school, through partnerships, charity work and our commitment to equality, inclusion and sustainability. All members of our school community are encouraged to look outwards and play an active role.

In a recent ISI inspection (Dec 2021), it was noted that “Pupils show exceptional respect for, and appreciate diversity within the school and wider community, and their own and other cultures, demonstrating sensitivity and tolerance to those from different backgrounds and traditions.”

Highgate is committed to staff wellbeing, which we promote by encouraging a strong work-life balance; trying our best to support flexible working requests; providing a nutritious complimentary lunch in the dining hall; and offering access to sporting facilities including our recently renovated swimming pool.

The Staff Wellbeing Committee, with representatives across the School, meets regularly to drive forward initiatives, and a selection of staff have been trained as Mental-Health First Aiders.

We encourage an open culture throughout our school, with regular staff surveys, action committees and opportunities to feedback. We strive for continual learning and improvement, and staff training and development is paramount. There are opportunities to participate in the wider life of our school, such as taking part in trips or societies and getting involved in partnership projects.

More details about working at Highgate can be found here:

As an independent school, we want to use our position as a charity effectively: to make high-quality education accessible to as many children as possible – through our bursary programme at Highgate and through our work with local state schools. We have partnerships with over 60 state schools across 7 London boroughs, and we are the principal educational sponsor for London Academy of Excellence, Tottenham – an academically-selective state sixth form in a community where such opportunities are lacking.

Alongside this, our staff and pupils undertake charitable activities throughout the year. These range from staff giving up their time to neighbourhood schools and charitable organisations, focused fundraising campaigns, to pupils undertaking community work in the local area or further afield.

As a school, we have a central role to play in educating our pupils, staff and parents about the importance of environmental sustainability. We are taking positive action to adapt our operational performance to tackle the negative effects of climate change. We encourage all our staff to reflect upon their personal and professional practices, to support our environmental agenda and to make positive changes wherever possible.

• Closing Date:18th March 2026
• Timing of interviews:Week commencing 23 March

Contact: James Newton, Deputy Head (Academic) is happy to answer any questions about this post.

Early Application: Applications will be considered ‘as and when’ received and we may close the vacancy if we appoint before the closing date.

We know that more diverse teams are stronger teams, and that the more inclusive we are, the more our staff and pupils will feel a sense of belonging and will thrive. To enable us to make reasonable adjustments, please let us know of any disabilities (including neuro-divergence) when you submit your application.

As this role will have regular unsupervised contact with children you must, if appointed, comply with Highgate’s Safeguarding Policy and Staff Code of Conduct. If, in the course of carrying out the duties of the post, the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety and welfare of our pupils, these concerns must be reported immediately in accordance with the Safeguarding Policy. If, while in the post, Highgate becomes aware of any safeguarding concerns to staff, pupils or the community, these will need to be followed up in line with the safeguarding policy and code of conduct which is underpinned by KCSE and other legislation. These concerns may need to be shared with other agencies. A copy of these policies will accompany all offers of employment. Training will also be provided to all staff to support Safeguarding practice.

Highgate is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service and overseas police check if necessary. Candidates from overseas must provide information about their past conduct, for example, by providing documents issued by overseas teaching authorities.

Please note that this role is ‘exempt’ from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore, you are required to declare any convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings that are not ‘protected’ (i.e. filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide details of all unspent convictions and those that would not be filtered, prior to the date of the interview.

In accordance with the latest guidance from KCSIE, we shall be conducting online searches on any candidates who are shortlisted.