Head of History

Teaching careers in HMC independent schools

We are currently seeking to fill the position of Head of History.

Required for: September 2026

Location: Vincent Square - Westminster Under School

Contract: full-time, permanent

Salary: Westminster Under School has its own salary scale, and new members of staff are placed at a point relevant to their qualifications and experience. Details of salary will be discussed at interview with those candidates who are shortlisted. There is also an associated responsibility allowance for this role.

The Final date to receive applications is midday on Monday 19th January 2026. Interviews will take place in-person shortly after the closing date.

We are recruiting for the rare position of Head of History in a school where history runs through its veins, where pupils brim with enthusiasm for the subject, bringing their broad general knowledge into the classroom and excelling in both taught History lessons and the wider extra-curricular nature of History at the Under School. We are recruiting for an experienced, inspiring and caring Head of History who will continue to lead the department, furthering its current success.

The subject is taught by several teachers across the School, all of whom contribute to the department. There is a strong academic but progressive ethos and at the heart of it is the enjoyment of not just the subject but an overall love of academic endeavour and critical thinking. History is taught chronologically throughout the School, from the ancient Egyptians in Year 3 up to Victorian Britain until 1901 in Year 8.

Each year group has at least one History trip each year, for example, to Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament - both on our doorstep, or further afield such as to the Battlefields of northern Europe, or to study Anne Frank in Amsterdam. History Society takes place regularly at lunchtimes where pupils seize the opportunity to research independently and present to other adults and pupils about a historical event or theme of their choosing.

Moreover, a majority of the senior part of the School participates in the annual Townsend Warner competition. We have won either the School competition or the individual competition several times in recent years and so History really is at the very heart of the School.

This is an exciting time to join the Under School, as we look forward to expansion and becoming a co-educational school for children aged four to 13 from September 2026. A key part of this role over the next year will therefore be to support with the development of our new curriculum for Reception to Year 2, and to adapt the current schemes of work for a co-educational environment.

The role of Head of History, line managed by the Assistant Master, Teaching and Learning, is to:

• Teach in any year groups from Years 3 up to Year 8, including pupils taking the Scholarship examinations for Westminster, Eton and any other senior schools.
• Build on an exciting, inspiring and academically robust, chronologically-based curriculum across all Key Stages, involving a variety of tasks and development of wider skills and knowledge, e.g., study skills, PSHE, RSE and wellbeing, use of technology within lessons, Fundamental Values, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and so on.
• Contribute to the Department Development Plan, in liaison with the Assistant Master, Teaching and Learning.
• Ensure that all groups of pupils are catered for, including exceptionally high achievers and SEND pupils (who gain results comparable to non-SEND pupils).
• Liaise and develop links with colleagues in the History department at the Senior School and in similar schools, participating in cluster groups, for example, to keep up to date with good practice and syllabuses.
• Organise and deliver the History post-exam programme for Year 8 (where applicable).
• Support and give advice to teachers of other subjects and explore opportunities for cross-curricular work.
• To act as a strong, positive Head of Department who leads by example, being involved in tasks that all Heads of Department are involved with, e.g.:
  • Lesson observations and learning walks
  • Book looks and checking appropriate marking
  • Organi…