Job Description
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About our School
Sweyne Park is a larger than average mixed, comprehensive school. The school became an academy on 1st April 2013 and opened its Sixth Form in September 2014.
Our school is a safe and happy environment and central to our school is a belief in respect - respect for yourself, respect for others and respect for the environment. We believe that our focus on respect leads to high expectations and excellent discipline, and this in turn leads to the highest possible achievement for each individual pupil. In December 2018 we were the first Secondary School in the East of England to achieve the prestigious Rights Respecting Gold Award.
At Sweyne Park we are determined to provide first class teaching and learning for all our pupils. This aim is supported by our commitment to recruiting and retaining the very best colleagues, and our nationally recognised programme of employee training. We do our utmost to ensure our pupils achieve strong examination results and progress on to high-quality destinations. We provide a broad and balanced academic curriculum with a wide range of cultural, artistic, sporting and social opportunities. We are committed to very strong partnerships between home, school and community members. We believe that the whole community can contribute to motivating and supporting pupils' progress. In October 2017, the Sweyne Park School and Glebe Primary formed a Multi-Academy Trust, the Rayleigh Schools Trust ("The RST").
Head of Business Studies & Economics
In this key role, you will lead the department in delivering high-quality, engaging, and rigorous curricula. You will inspire students to understand the dynamic global economy and foster the skills necessary for success in higher education and future careers.
Job Purpose
- To provide strategic leadership and direction for the Business Studies & Economics Department.
- To ensure high standards of teaching, learning, student progress, and attainment across all key stages.
- To lead, develop, and manage the departmental team effectively.
We are seeking
- A qualified teacher with a strong record of academic achievement in Business Studies and/or Economics.
- An innovative, forward-thinking leader who can motivate staff and students alike.
- Excellent subject knowledge and thorough understanding of curriculum development, assessment, and intervention strategies across KS4 and KS5.
- A commitment to enrichment activities, including university links, business competitions, and enterprise initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Departmental Management
- Formulate and implement a departmental development plan aligned with the whole-school strategic vision.
- Oversee the allocation of resources, budget management, and learning environments within the department.
- Lead departmental meetings to share best practice, evaluate performance, and drive continuous improvement.
- Promote Business Studies and Economics across the school to maximise uptake.
Curriculum Development, Teaching & Learning
- Lead the design and delivery of an ambitious, high-quality curriculum for KS4 and KS5 Business Studies and Economics.
- Monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching and learning through lesson observations, work scrutinies, and learning walks.
- Ensure appropriate differentiation and inclusion strategies are embedded for students of all abilities (including SEND and High Attainers).
- Coordinate extracurricular initiatives, guest speakers, trips, and enterprise challenges to enrich learning.
Assessment, Data & Student Outcomes
- Establish robust assessment systems to monitor student attainment and progress against targets.
- Analyse assessment data to identify underperformance and implement effective intervention plans.
- Oversee exam entries and liaise with exam boards for KS4, A-Level, and vocational courses.
People & Team Leadership
- Line manage and appraise departmental staff, fostering professional growth and development.
- Support early-career teachers (ECTs), trainee teachers, and non-specialists teaching within the department.
- Encourage collaborative working, shared resource creation, and ongoing professional learning.
Person Specification
Essential
- Degree in Business Studies, Economics, or related field
- Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
- Successful experience teaching Business Studies and/or Economics at KS4 & KS5
- Proven record of outstanding examination outcomes
- Experience tracking data and delivering targeted interventions
- Deep knowledge of current specification requirements (AQA, Edexcel, OCR)
- Strong understanding of effective pedagogical strategies
- Strong understanding of effective pedagogical strategies
- Ability to lead, motivate, and manage a team
- Passion for business and economics education
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- High expectations for student behaviour, work ethic, and achievement
- Commitment to ongoing personal and departmental professional growth
Desirable
- Postgraduate qualification / NPQ Leadership qualification
- Middle leadership or subject responsibility experience
- Experience teaching vocational pathways (BTEC/CTEC)
- Experience establishing external business or university links
If you are a dedicated practitioner who is passionate about learning, we would look forward to receiving your application.
All candidates must complete an application form, which should be returned to Kelly Gelder, HR Manager, at hr@rayleighschoolstrust.com.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of suitable applications, therefore, early submission is encouraged.
The Sweyne Park School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all employees to share this commitment. The successful applicant's appointment will be subject to satisfactory enhanced clearance by the Disclosure & Barring Service.
Information about the School
Welcome to The Sweyne Park School, we are a larger than average mixed, 11-18 comprehensive school. The School became an academy on 1st April 2013 and opened its Sixth Form in September 2014.
Our school is a safe and happy environment and central to our school is a belief in respect - respect for yourself, respect for others and respect for the environment. We believe that our focus on respect leads to high expectations and excellent discipline, and this in turn leads to the highest possible achievement for each individual pupil. In December 2018 we were the first Secondary School in the East of England to achieve the prestigious Rights Respecting Gold Award.
At Sweyne Park we are determined to provide first class teaching and learning for all our pupils. This aim is supported by our commitment to recruiting and retaining the very best staff, and our nationally recognised programme of staff training. We do our utmost to ensure our pupils achieve strong examination results and progress on to high quality destinations. We provide a broad and balanced academic curriculum with a wide range of cultural, artistic, sporting and social opportunities.
We are committed to very strong partnerships between home, school and community members. We believe that the whole community can contribute to motivating and supporting pupils’ progress.
In October 2017, the Sweyne Park School and Glebe Primary formed a Multi-Academy Trust, the Rayleigh Schools Trust (“The RST”).