Head of Department Drama

St Edwards Church of England School Head of Department Drama Contract: Full Time, Permanent (33.25 hours per week) Salary: MPR/UPR + TLR2c (£37,870 to £56,154 + £8,611) Start date: September 2026 As St Edward's Church of England Academy continues to grow and flourish, we are delighted to invite applications for an inspirational Head of Drama to lead a vibrant and creative department. Drama holds a vital place in our curriculum, empowering students to express themselves, develop confidence and engage deeply with the world around them. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape a Drama curriculum that nurtures creativity, collaboration and personal growth. We recognise the emotional and professional demands of leadership roles and are committed to supporting staff wellbeing. At St Edward's, we work hard - but thoughtfully - ensuring workload is manageable and leaders feel supported, trusted and valued. The successful candidate will:

• Lead, shape and develop an ambitious Drama curriculum
• Inspire high quality teaching and creative practice
• Promote performance, enrichment and wider participation
• Build a culture of confidence, expression and mutual respect
• Support and develop colleagues within the department
• Contribute to whole school leadership and community life
• Share our vision of helping every student live life in all its fullness
This role is perfect for someone who believes deeply in the transformative power of the arts and wants to lead with purpose, compassion and ambition. As part of the Unity Schools Partnership, we offer:
• A wide range of CPD opportunities (both in school and beyond)
• Opportunities for career progression (including the opportunity to participate in the Trust's Leadership Development Programme)
• A supportive working environment.
• We can offer you excellent career development in a supportive environment.
• We are situated in Romford within easy travel and road links to both London and Essex.
If you would like an informal discussion about the post, or you would like to visit the school, please contact the Maria Driscoll (Headteacher's PA) on info@steds.org.uk. We look forward to receiving your application. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS checks required for relevant posts. Closing date: 9:00am, 11th May 2026 Interviews: From Wednesday 13th May 2026 Please note: we may hold interviews as and when applications are received and we reserve the right to offer to a candidate prior to the closing date. We only accept applications submitted online via our careers website and which are completed before the closing deadline. With this in mind, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible and advise you check the job information as per the listing on our careers site. In line with safer recruitment, we are unable to accept CVs. Failure to complete an application form satisfactorily may result in not being shortlisted for the post. Unity Schools Partnership is committed to safer recruitment, equal opportunities, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check will be required. We care deeply about inclusive working practices and diverse teams. If you'd prefer to work part-time or as a job-share, we'll facilitate this wherever we can - whether to help you meet other commitments or to help you strike a great work-life balance. We're keen to ensure we're designing an organisation that works for everyone, so we particularly encourage applications from different under-represented groups. Unity Schools Partnership, welcoming diversity.

As St Edward's Church of England Academy continues to grow and flourish, we are delighted to invite applications for an inspirational Head of Drama to lead a vibrant and creative department. Drama holds a vital place in our curriculum, empowering students to express themselves, develop confidence and engage deeply with the world around them. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape a Drama curriculum that nurtures creativity, collaboration and personal growth. We recognise the emotional and professional demands of leadership roles and are committed to supporting staff wellbeing. At St Edward's, we work hard - but thoughtfully - ensuring workload is manageable and leaders feel supported, trusted and valued. The successful candidate will:
• Lead, shape and develop an ambitious Drama curriculum
• Inspire high quality teaching and creative practice
• Promote performance, enrichment and wider participation
• Build a culture of confidence, expression and mutual respect
• Support and develop colleagues within the department
• Contribute to whole school leadership and community life
• Share our vision of helping every student live life in all its fullness
This role is perfect for someone who believes deeply in the transformative power of the arts and wants to lead with purpose, compassion and ambition. As part of the Unity Schools Partnership, we offer:
• A wide range of CPD opportunities (both in school and beyond)
• Opportunities for career progression (including the opportunity to participate in the Trust's Leadership Development Programme)
• A supportive working environment.
• We can offer you excellent career development in a supportive environment.
• We are situated in Romford within easy travel and road links to both London and Essex.