Teacher of Humanities

We are looking to appoint a well-qualified, talented, and energetic teacher of Humanities starting September 2026 - this role would be ideal for any candidate who has a specialism in Geography, History or PSHE.

History

At Bedford, our vision for the History department is to have every student leave us with the knowledge and skills they need to have a deep appreciation of world history. We want to enable students to gain a deeper understanding of the world in which they live and the developments over the course of history that have created that world. We teach a 3 years KS3 curriculum that covers events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 through to modern day, post-World War II events, covering a range of topics to give students a broad understanding of the historical context of the world in which they live.

At GCSE we follow the Edexcel History syllabus and cover Medicine Through Time, Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, the American West, and Weimar and Nazi Germany. We look to provide students with an understanding of the big picture of history with a more detailed focus on key events in national and international history covered over KS3 and 4.

We encourage pupils to think critically about the information they are presented with daily, considering the importance of understanding the provenance of the sources they are presented with as we believe this is an essential skill for them to possess in the modern world.

Above all we aim to foster within our students a love of the subject that prompts a desire to explore the topics we study and to allow pupils to further explore history independently. We are looking to appoint a member of staff who shares these values and who is dedicated to ensuring that students get the best learning experience possible in History.

Geography

Our department vision is that every student should leave Bedford as competent geographers. Within this they will become 'global citizens' where they are proactive in their part in making the world a more sustainable place, and contribute to this in a positive way regardless of aptitude or socio-economic background. Students will embed skills that enable them to be critical thinkers to analyse data, adapt to varying situations and implement them in a positive way.

At Bedford High School, KS3 students have Geography lessons twice a week whilst Key Stage 4 students have Geography lessons five-times a fortnight. At GCSE, we study the AQA syllabus.

The Geography department at Bedford High School is an energetic and collaborative department consisting of a team of four enthusiastic and dedicated Geographers. We collaborate on planning and good practice so that we can share ideas and resources. Our KS3 curriculum is well sequenced and planned, enabling us to fulfil all of the requirements of the National Curriculum, whilst delivering additional content that we feel passionate about. This means we play to the strengths of the teachers in the department, this ensures we have consistency in all Geography lessons. We then can spend more time on delivering Quality First Teaching, and spend less time on preparing resources.

We have also introduced some experiences outside of the classroom. In recent years, we have introduced KS3 trips to Chester as part of a wider Humanities focus. Here students collected primary data to gain essential Geography fieldwork techniques. We also run regular fieldwork trips at KS4 to Formby to conduct sand dune investigations. We have also had trips to Bowness in the Lake District studying the effects of tourism. We have also provided enrichment within school in recent years setting up an eco-club that raises awareness of environmental issues around school.

PSHE

In PSHE curriculum at Bedford, we aim to equip students with the knowledge, value and skills to flourish as global citizens in a diverse and changing world. Our blended curriculum is designed to enhance the social, emotional, cultural and spiritual development of our students. Our goal is to give our students a range of voices and perspectives to understand the world they live in.

Through our units of study, we strive to provide students with the knowledge to question and evaluate information and misinformation, and to communicate successfully and thoroughly their views based on this. In RE, students will explore a range of religious beliefs, as well as ethical and moral dilemmas, and be able to form robust and equitable opinions that will enable them to thrive in a multicultural world. In PSHE, students will learn to safeguard their own wellbeing, establish healthy and safe relationships, and encounter practical and real-world scenarios to best equip them to become positive and thriving members of society.

If you feel you have the necessary skills and qualities to undertake this role, we will be delighted to receive your application form. Please complete the application form, we do not accept CV's and return to Mrs Claire Taylor, HR Manager, at the school address or by email to recruitment@bedford.wigan.sch.uk. Early applications are encouraged and we reserve the right to close the vacancy early and interview before the closing date if a suitable candidate is found.

All offers of employment are conditional subject to all satisfactory pre-employment checks which include an enhanced criminal record with barred list through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), appropriate overseas checks, medical clearance, references and verification of your qualifications satisfactory to the school. In line with recommendations from Keeping Children Safe in Education Guidance we will carry out an online search as part of our due diligence for all shortlisted candidates. Shortlisted candidates are also required to complete a self-declaration of any criminal records or information that would make you unsuitable to work with children. When completing application forms all candidates must provide a full employment history and any gaps to be clearly identified. At Bedford High School safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this
commitment and adhere to the school's child protection policies and procedures. All candidates must be legally entitled to work in the UK and comply with the Immigrations, Asylum and Nationality Act regulations. Applications from all sections of the community are welcome. The post involves working with children, young people or vulnerable adults and is therefore exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

Shortlisted candidates will be notified by email of the interview arrangements. Please ensure your correct email address is provided on your application form.

As we receive many applications for posts, we regret that we will only be able to contact those applicants who are shortlisted for interview. Therefore, if you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume you have not been shortlisted for interview on this particular occasion.

Closing date: Wednesday 22nd 2026 at 9am. Early applications are encouraged and we reserve the right to close the vacancy early and interview before the closing date if a suitable candidate is found.

Interview date: TBC.

At Bedford, our vision for the History department is to have every student leave us with the knowledge and skills they need to have a deep appreciation of world history. We want to enable students to gain a deeper understanding of the world in which they live and the developments over the course of history that have created that world. We teach a 3 years KS3 curriculum that covers events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 through to modern day, post-World War II events, covering a range of topics to give students a broad understanding of the historical context of the world in which they live.

At GCSE we follow the Edexcel History syllabus and cover Medicine Through Time, Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, the American West, and Weimar and Nazi Germany. We look to provide students with an understanding of the big picture of history with a more detailed focus on key events in national and international history covered over KS3 and 4.

We encourage pupils to think critically about the information they are presented with daily, considering the importance of understanding the provenance of the sources they are presented with as we believe this is an essential skill for them to possess in the modern world.