Head of Department - Geography (Maternity Cover)

Job Title: Head of Department - Geography

E-ACT Bourne End Academy | Developing Future Leaders

Bourne End Academy (BEA) is an ambitious and vibrant school community led by a Headteacher, who brings over 18 years of experience in teaching and senior leadership. With a commitment to high standards, inclusion, and continuous improvement, Bourne End strives to ensure every student becomes an Amazing, Ambitious Achiever, academically successful, confident, and well‑prepared for life.

At BEA we are on a journey of rapid improvement, we work as a team, fully committed to supporting, developing and maintaining a culture of positivity, ambition and fun.

As part of the E-ACT family of schools, Bourne End benefits from exceptional professional development, innovation, and collaboration, helping them build a culture of belonging, curiosity, and excellence.

If you are a dedicated professional who shares our commitment to developing future leaders find out more information here: https://bourneendacademy.e-act.org.uk

Join us in Opening Minds, Opening Doors!

Are you ready to join a vibrant educational community where every child is empowered to flourish and every colleague is supported to thrive? At our academy, we are passionate about developing the whole child through a nurturing, inclusive, and ambitious culture. With a strong people-first ethos, we invest in our staff just as much as our pupils, recognising that great teaching starts with great support. If you're driven by purpose and want to make a lasting impact, we would love to welcome you.

At Bourne End Academy, we believe in opening minds and broadening horizons. We are looking for an enthusiastic and talented Head of Department for Geography who shares our commitment to inclusion, ambition and high-quality education, and who can lead the subject with passion and purpose.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the Geography department, setting a clear vision for high standards and continuous improvement
• Plan, deliver and oversee a rigorous, knowledge-rich Geography curriculum that engages and challenges all learners
• Monitor and evaluate student progress, implementing effective interventions to secure strong outcomes for all groups
• Ensure consistently high-quality teaching, learning and assessment across the department
• Support, coach and develop staff to enhance professional practice and departmental performance

Pay range:

• M1 - U3 - £34,398.00 - £52,490 (includes fringe allowance) plus TLR 2C - £8,611.00
• Total: £43,009.00 - £61,101.00
• 32.5 hours per week, 52 weeks per year
• Fixed term maternity cover

Qualifications and Skills:

• Qualified Teacher Status
• Excellent subject knowledge in Geography and a passion for delivering engaging, high-quality lessons
• Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop a team effectively
• Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise and manage workloads
• Skilled in using data to monitor progress, identify gaps and drive improvement

What are we about?

Join a trust that is going places!

At E-ACT, we believe every child deserves opportunity. Our ‘Opening Minds, Opening Doors’ strategy breaks down barriers and builds pathways to success; driven by purposeful leadership, collaboration, and innovation. We champion diversity, encourage a people-first culture, and ensure every voice is heard.

We are proud to lead system-wide change both locally and national - providing sector-wide support while transforming futures. Our achievements are recognised through winning MAT of the Year 2023 at the MAT Excellence Awards and National School Awards, and also the TES Trust Leadership Award 2024. E-ACT is recognised for shaping bold educational outcomes. Most recently, two of our Birmingham academies were selected by the Department for Education as RISE Regional Hubs, in recognition of their outstanding work on inclusion and behaviour, a testament to the impact of our people-first culture and relentless drive for excellence.

With 37 academies and over 25,000 pupils, our dedicated staff make excellence possible. We prioritise wellbeing, tackle workload, and continuously raise the bar. We don’t just educate, we inspire ambition and empower every child to thrive.

Want to be a part of something extraordinary? Find out more at www.e-act.org.uk  

Benefits: 

Financial and Lifestyle

We offer a strong financial package including access to defined benefit pension schemes (LGPS or TPS), life cover at three times pensionable pay, and 31 days of annual leave for year-round employees. Staff can also benefit from the Cycle to Work scheme, promoting healthy and sustainable commuting.

Professional Growth and Development

We invest heavily in staff development through tailored INSET days and high-quality CPD opportunities. Teaching staff benefit from automatic TLR progression, a structured 9-point pay scale (M1 to UPS3), and full TLR payments for part-time colleagues fulfilling full responsibilities.

Culture and Wellbeing

Our people-first culture values every colleague. We support wellbeing through the Wisdom app and a free Employee Assistance Programme offering counselling and financial advice. Collaboration is at the heart of our Trust, encouraging shared learning and collective success.

Please look at our 'Work for Us' page and Recruitment Pack for more information.

How to apply:

Please read the supporting documentation carefully before completing your application.

E-ACT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults, and all appointments are subject to enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks and satisfactory references.

E-ACT is also committed to promoting equality, challenging discrimination and developing community cohesion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.