Teacher of Biology
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:
- Week Commencing 18 August 2025
- Apply by:
- 27 January 2025
Job overview
Brighton College is seeking to appoint a Teacher of Biology, to start in late August 2025.
THE DEPARTMENT
The department consists of 9 members of teaching staff and one full-time technician. The current Head of Department is also the Head of University Medical Admissions, and another colleague hold the role as Deputy Head of Department. Staff have specialisms ranging from plant circadian rhythms to immunology and physiotherapy, whilst one is a qualified doctor. The subject is taught to all pupils in Years 7 to 11, with GCSE material taught from Year 9 when we commence the Edexcel 9-1 syllabus. We currently have 100 pupils studying the OCR Biology A-Level specification in the Sixth Form.
Public examination results are consistently outstanding. In 2024, 93% of pupils taking biology GCSE achieved a grade 8 or 9 at GCSE (72% 9) and 98% A*-B at A Level (62% A*). The department also has a very comprehensive support programme for candidates applying to Oxbridge and medicine, with much recent success in this area. Last year 7 candidates went to Cambridge for medicine or biological natural sciences.
The department has exclusive use of six very new laboratories and a preparation room on the top floor of the recently-opened School of Science and Sport. The practical emphasis to teaching in the department is further supported by a dedicated glasshouse classroom and an experimental space on the roof of the building. We have a range of activities to explore biology beyond the syllabus, including regular extension activities, external speakers, excellent links to local medical schools and universities, sixth form fieldwork days, and successful participation in national Biology competitions and events.
ROLE SPECIFICATION
The successful candidate will be expected to be capable of teaching Biology across the curriculum, from Year 7 to A-level. An ability to contribute towards the department’s extension programme, including a willingness to support pupils with applications to leading universities (including Oxford and Cambridge), will be a distinct advantage.
All teachers within the department are expected to assist in the development of schemes of work, as well as in the creation of teaching resources and the compilation of content for our Microsoft OneNote Notebooks and SharePoint.
Additionally, all teachers at Brighton College are expected to contribute to the school’s pastoral system, generally as a tutor in one of our 15 houses (of which six are boarding houses and nine are day). There is also an expectation that all teachers will contribute to the co-curricular life of the school, through the extensive Games programme, and/or through the leadership of one of almost 100 school societies. Candidates are encouraged to point to interests and enthusiasms as part of their application.
All staff have the opportunity to contribute to our super-curricular Masterclass programme; this a is a series of sessions focussing on an area of personal academic or cultural interest. These have included subjects such as Magical Realism, Cuisine and Culture and Great Debates in History.
All teachers joining Brighton 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 expected and supported to participate in continuous professional development, throughout their time at the College.
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. Results are consistently excellent. In 2024, our pupils achieved the best A-level results in the UK and Brighton College was awarded an unprecedented three accolades by The Sunday Times; UK Boarding School of the Year, Top School in the UK for A-levels and Top Academic School in South East England.
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 parts 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 2024 gave us a glowing report and two areas of 'significant strength', the first highlighting the brilliance of the school's enriching curriculum, activities programme, focus on academic excellence and co-curricular programme. The quality of relationships across the school was also clear to the inspectors, as the culture of kindness throughout the school was identified as our second 'significant strength'.
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’re 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 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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