Head of Psychology
Brighton College
Brighton and Hove
- New
- Salary:
- Brighton College has its own pay scale, above the maintained sector. All of our teachers are enrolled into the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- August 2025
- Apply by:
- 4 November 2024
Job overview
Brighton College is seeking to appoint a Head of Psychology to start in August 2025.
The Department
The department consists of three members of staff. The subject is taught at A-level in classes, which average fifteen in pupil numbers across years 12 and 13. There are currently 100 pupils taking the subject at A-Level. At present we follow the AQA syllabus.
The results in recent years have been excellent, most notably achieving 98% A*-B, in the A-Level last summer. Many pupils, each year, opt to go on to study Psychology and psychology related degrees at top UK and international universities.
The department is currently housed in a dedicated classroom, with full interactive C-touch facilities. However, with the expansion of the department due to a significantly increased uptake by pupils, it is expected that a second dedicated classroom will be in use from September this year.
Pupils engage in the annual reading trip at the end of year 12, undertaking their own research. Recent trips have included visiting the psychology department of Exeter University, and to the Bethlem museum of the Mind, in London.
Role Specification
The successful candidate will be responsible for the leadership, management and administration of all aspects of the Psychology department, taking responsibility for the teaching, progress and attainment of all Year 12 and 13 pupils.
They will be an outstanding classroom practitioner who able to lead by example and communicate their passion for psychology and related academic disciplines. They will devise and oversee the department’s extension programme, and will – in all likelihood – contribute to it themselves. This will include supporting pupils with applications to leading universities (including Oxford and Cambridge).
All teachers at Brighton College are also expected to contribute to the school’s pastoral system, generally as a tutor in one of our 14 day or boarding houses. There is also an expectation that all teachers will contribute to the cocurricular life of the school, through the extensive Games programme, and/or through the leadership of one of over 100 school societies.
Candidates are encouraged to point to interests and enthusiasms as part of their application. All teachers will have the benefit of guidance by an experienced mentor, whose role it will be to provide support during their probationary period.
Thereafter, all teachers are supported to regularly participate in continuous professional development.
Safeguarding Responsibilities
• This role will involve daily contact with pupils and you will be engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.
• All staff and volunteers have a responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for who you are responsible and with whom you come into contact.
Attached documents
About Brighton College
THE SCHOOL
Brighton College is an inspiring place to work. As the leading co-educational school in the UK, it is renowned for its inspirational teaching and innovative education, whilst placing kindness and community at the heart of our approach to education. Named ‘UK School of the Decade’ by The Sunday Times in November 2020, we educate 1,300 pupils between ages 11 and 18.
Established in 1845, the College has grown exponentially in recent years. The Principal, Richard Cairns, a recent Tatler UK Head of the Year, has been in post since 2006 and, under his leadership, pupil numbers have doubled. Since 2006, the College has moved from 147th in The Sunday Times results table to 3rd – the best position ever achieved by a co-educational school.
The school site in Kemptown has seen the addition of stunning new facilities, sustainably designed by leading international architects, with recent investment well in excess of £100 million. These include the Nicola Leach Music School and Sarah Abraham Recital Hall (2015), the Yeoh Building teaching complex (2017), the School of Science and Sport (2020) and The Richard Cairns Building (2024), a stunning new performing arts complex and Sixth Form Centre, with a 400-seat theatre and Global Futures hub. World-class facilities enable us to share a huge variety of opportunities with pupils, and allow for innovative and exciting approaches to teaching and learning.
We believe that we are a part of society, not apart from it, and so activism and community involvement are key components of the curriculum. We have a thriving volunteer programme, driven by pupils, and are proud of our progressive stand on diversity, equality and inclusion. Brighton College also has a family of schools, which includes our three Sussex prep schools: Brighton College Prep School, Handcross Park School and St Christopher’s, and our London prep school, Brighton College Prep Kensington. Overseas, we have opened schools in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore and Vietnam.
Our approach to education is regularly celebrated. As well as being named 'UK School of the Decade', we have been named ‘School of the Year’ twice by The Sunday Times, and The Week named us ‘Most forward-thinking school in Britain’ for two years running in 2017 and 2018, ‘Best in the UK for STEM’ in 2020 and 2024, and awarded us 'Best Sixth Form in Britain' in their 2025 Awards. Our most recent ISI inspection in November 2021 gave us the highest possible grade (‘Excellent’) in both categories: the quality of pupils’ academic and other achievements, and the quality of pupils’ personal development.
Most importantly, Brighton College is a happy school. Staff and pupils feel fulfilled, and our emphasis on kindness lends itself to a thriving intellectual, sporting and performing arts culture. Our location in the city gives us the best of all worlds: we are a mere five minutes from the sea and the city centre, ten minutes from the South Downs, and in the heart of the local Kemptown community.
We hope that you will want to come and join the fantastic group of professionals and pupils who work here.
LIVING AND WORKING IN BRIGHTON
The College enjoys its location in Brighton, one of Britain’s youngest cities and one of the most vibrant and progressive in Europe. A recent national survey identified Brighton as the ‘happiest city in the UK’ and it regularly features within the top cities for quality of life nationally. With an extensive beach and seafront, and proximity to beautiful rural areas including the South Downs National Park, the opportunities for recreation and leisure are varied and numerous. Transport links are also excellent, Brighton being within easy travelling distance of London (50 minutes by train), and 30 minutes from Gatwick Airport. Brighton is also a university city, and the College has good links with both the University of Sussex and Brighton University. Our annual involvement in the Pride parade has strengthened existing links with the local community.
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