Lead Practitioner of Science

Do you want to be part of a transformational team at one of the top schools in the country for student progress?  

We are a high performing school and have a relentless focus on high standards in all that we do. We have a total belief that every student can be successful regardless of their starting point and we have a strong culture of excellence to achieve this.  Students make exceptional progress during their time at Paddington, and we are consistently in the top 1% of schools in the country for student progress. 

We ensure that our classrooms are disruption-free so our teachers can focus on the main thing – teaching and learning. We have effective behaviour systems in place which means that behaviour is well-managed and teacher time is protected. We are renowned for the positive environment and strong relationships between staff and students.

Paddington Academy is a mixed Academy for 1,200 students aged 11-18. The Academy was recently judged to be outstanding by OFSTED in March 2023 maintaining its outstanding judgement from 2011. Paddington has been described by the Education Minister as a ‘jewel in the crown of state education’. Our thriving and oversubscribed Academy also has a large Sixth Form with over 300 students. Students excel in our Sixth Form and achieve exceptional outcomes which enables them to achieve their next step which for the vast majority of students is university. 95% of students went to university, with 45% gaining a place at a Russell Group university in 2024.   

We are looking for a Lead Practitioner of Science who will work within the Science team as a beacon of best practice. As a Lead Practitioner, you will work closely with the Subject Leader for Science and the Assistant Principal to drive excellence in curriculum design, teaching and learning, and teacher development. This is an exciting opportunity for an exceptional Science teacher with a passion for pedagogy, curriculum development, and professional learning to take a leading role in shaping the success of our department. 

Science is a valued and highly respected subject at Paddington Academy. We have a large and thriving KS5 provision, where Science courses are among the most popular choices. We offer A levels in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, as well as the Level 3 BTEC in Applied Science. Our curriculum is rigorously planned and fully resourced from Year 7 through to Year 13, ensuring a strong foundation for all students. Our results are consistently above national averages at both KS4 and KS5, reflecting the strength of our teaching and curriculum. 

As part of this role, you will play a key role in curriculum development, ensuring that our Science curriculum remains coherent, challenging, and engaging. You will support the review of key aspects of the curriculum, ensuring that content is sequenced effectively, subject knowledge is deepened, and lessons are underpinned by scientific literacy, practical skills, and real-world application. You will also contribute to curriculum resourcing, ensuring that lessons, assessments, and schemes of work reflect best practice and subject-specific pedagogy. 

A key part of your role will be to develop the quality of teaching and learning across the department. Alongside the Subject Leader and other leaders in the team, you will deliver CPD through Curriculum Masterclasses. Here, you will have the opportunity to model expert teaching and support colleagues in embedding high-leverage strategies that improve student learning. These CPD sessions will focus on subject-specific pedagogy, including the effective teaching of required practicals, addressing misconceptions in Science, and strategies for developing scientific reasoning. You will also coach and mentor colleagues, working closely with both experienced teachers and those in the early stages of their careers to refine their planning and teaching. Through this, you will help to build a culture of continual professional growth within the department, ensuring that every Science teacher delivers high-quality, research-informed lessons. This role is flexible and can be tailored to align with your interests, expertise, and the evolving needs of the department. 

As a middle leader at Paddington Academy, you will be empowered to drive change. You will work with your Subject Leader to set strategic priorities and shape the teaching of your subject. Your leadership will directly impact student outcomes, fostering a culture of excellence and a passion for Science. As a Lead Practitioner, you will have access to, and contribute to, a national network of Science teachers and leaders across United Learning, providing opportunities for collaboration and professional learning.  

Paddington Academy is the lead school for United Teaching national SCITT and is a designated Teaching School Hub, so you will be able to access high-quality training at every stage of your career. We are fully committed to teacher and leadership development and training.   

10 reasons to choose Paddington Academy

 Why work at Paddington Academy?

1. We are a highly successful school, rated ‘outstanding’ by OFSTED with GCSE results which consistently place us in the top 1% schools in the UK for student progress for the last ten years
2. Teaching and Learning is at the heart of what we do. Every decision is driven by its potential to impact on student learning.
3. Our approach to teaching and learning is informed by robust research, constantly reviewed and tailored to our unique context 
4. We have a consistent and effective approach to behaviour which means teachers can focus on the main thing – teaching
5. We are renowned for positive relationships between staff and students and serve a community of aspirational students
6. We have a large and thriving sixth form of 330 with high academic standards: 91% of A Level grades were A*-C in 2024, the highest of any school in Westminster
7. We have been awarded a PLATINUM award for professional development. Our approach to CPD is personalised to ensure that every member of our community is provided with first class development opportunities 
8. We are the lead teacher training school for United Learning and we are the Teaching School Hub for this area of London. Every teacher is a learner and we secure opportunities for staff to coach and mentor trainee teachers as a reciprocal learning experience
9. We invest in the long term career aspirations of our staff. We offer a well-established and successful pathway to educational leadership for teachers who aspire to lead in education
10. Staff well-being is important to us and we believe in cherishing our staff. A benefit of belonging to United Learning is access to a comprehensive rewards and benefits package

United Learning  

We are part of United Learning, the largest academy trust nationally, which offers a life-changing education to children and young people across England.    

Our schools work as a team and achieve more by sharing than any single school could. Our subject specialists, our Group-wide intranet, our own curriculum and our online learning portal all help us share knowledge and resource, helping to simplify work processes and manage workloads for an improved work-life balance.