Head of Computer Science at Highbury Fields School
Who are we looking for?
‘Leaders and staff have extremely high expectations for all aspects of school life’ (OFSTED, September 2022)
You will be an ambitious, highly skilled teacher of computer science who is motivated by and wants to contribute significantly to our realistic aim of achieving a Progress 8 score of +1.0 at GCSE and an ALPs score of 3 at A-level. You will have demonstratable experience of improving the progress of students and the skillset to develop and refine our computer science curriculum and pedagogy.Most importantly, you will be able to foster confidence and joy for girls and young women in their learning of computer science, with the ambition of increasing the number of students choosing the subject at GCSE and, over time, introducing it at A-level.
The successful candidate will understand the context of our school community; will be highly ambitious for students and staff; and will be able to develop and lead strategies that support all students to be successful. They will be an excellent, reflective practitioner, ideally with successful experience of teaching both GCSE and potentially A-level, and will have the skills to review and further improve our computer science curriculum and to lead digital literacy across the school.The appointed person will champion a love of the coding and computer science sciences both in and outside of the classroom and will be a team player, who is willing to contribute to the school’s extensive enrichment programme.
If you are looking to develop your career in a highly supportive and innovative environment and you truly believe, as we do, that every child can achieve excellence, then we look forward to receiving your application.
Interested applicants should apply using the school application form by the deadline of 12.00pm on Tuesday 29th April 2025.
Who are we?
‘The school focuses on the holistic child’ (OFSTED, September 2022)
‘Pupils respond extremely well to the challenge of becoming independent learners’ (OFSTED, September 2022)
Highbury Fields is an ‘outstanding’, oversubscribed and exceptionally high achieving 11-18 all girls’ community school. Enviably and conveniently located on the iconic Highbury Fields in Islington, our vision is to be ‘a community in which everyone enjoys academic and social success’.The school actively celebrates and promotes equality, diversity and inclusion and aims to make everyone in our community feel welcome and wanted in school.
We are proud to serve a culturally rich, but often underprivileged, community and are fiercely determined that every child in our care will develop into a confident young woman, who is academically and socially accomplished and has agency over her next educational steps.
The school’s consecutive ‘outstanding’ OFSTED reports of 2016 and 2022 and our consistently high progress 8 scores (0.6 in 2022, 0.82 in 2023 and 0.43 in 2024) have established our students’ reputation for academic excellence and we are highly regarded in the local community and beyond for our calm, focused learning environment.
However, we are neither complacent nor satisfied. The school strives for excellence in all aspects of its work and over the last two years we have completely revised our studied, pastoral and enrichment curricular to ensure we are meeting the needs of all our students.These revisions, combined with our research led approach to pedagogy; a strong partnership with a local primary school; and the strategic growth of our sixth form makes Highbury Fields a dynamic and exciting school to be a part of. Indeed, we firmly believe that anything is possible for our children and young people and have the ambition that within the next five years, their progress will be +1.0 at GCSE and ALPs 3 at A-level, so that their life chances can be even further improved.
Come and join us, as we strive to take each student on an educational journey of memorable and stimulating learning experiences, that enables them to be academically and socially successful, both in school and beyond.
What can we offer the appointed candidate?
‘Low-level disruption in class is very rare. Pupils come to lessons ready and eager to learn’ (OFSTED, September 2022)
Working at Highbury Fields School offers colleagues the following benefits:
- An exceptional learning environment
- A highly regarded research based internal learning and teaching development programme
- A firm commitment to the wellbeing of staff, including:
o 20% PPA time
o A morning or afternoon of keeping well time outside of school every half term
o A later start following parents’ evenings
o A half day at the end of each term- A generous pension scheme
- Reduced London wide gym membership
- Cycle to work scheme
- Interest free travel season ticket loans
- Employee assistance programme
- Computer purchase scheme
What are the safeguarding requirements of the role?
‘Pupils are proud of their school. They enjoy school and feel safe’ (OFSTED, September 2022)
Highbury Fields School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects that all staff will share and demonstrate this commitment.
The position is subject to a DBS enhanced disclosure check.
Applicants must complete the school application form and in line with ‘keeping children safe in education’ and safer recruitment practices, the school will conduct an online search for all shortlisted candidates. The online search is part of the school’s safeguarding procedures to determine from publicly available information whether they are suitable to work with children and young people.Shortlisted candidates will also be asked at interview about their online presence.
Where should I look for further information?
‘Staff are proud to work at the school. Leaders engage with staff’ (OFSTED, September 2022).
For further information about the school, please refer to the school’s curriculum booklet and latest OFSTED report.
We actively encourage applicants to visit the school. To arrange a conversation about the role, or a tour of the school, please email the Headteacher’s PA, Karen Bolden, HR@highburyfields.islington.sch.uk