Would you like to join us on our journey to become an outstanding school of first choice at the heart of our local community? Do you care enough to want to make a significant difference to the lives of our amazing students? If so, we would love to offer you the exciting opportunity to join our highly dedicated staff as an inspiring and highly motivated Art and Photography teacher within the Visual Arts department.
Early Career Teachers with potential to be outstanding are encouraged to apply – we have an excellent training provision and professional development programme to enable you to get off to a flying start!
Both Art and Photography are popular subjects within the school and the successful candidate will have a great opportunity to enhance the quality of teaching and learning within the department. Study of the visual arts supports critical thinking, invention and exploration of students’ imaginations without boundaries or limitations. At The Dorcan Academy we aim to nurture creativity through exploring the work of historical and contemporary artists, other cultures and British values. Students are encouraged to take creative risks in order to fully express their vision and deliver personal, informed and meaningful outcomes on their path towards becoming visually literate global citizens.
All students are invited and encouraged to attend extra-curricular opportunities as well as engage in real-world experiences through trips to galleries and taking part in visiting artist workshops. Pupil Premium funding is used to equip eligible students with appropriate equipment.
We have been on a journey of improvement over the past seven years and in July 2022 were judged GOOD in all categories by Ofsted which is a major achievement. We are keen to continue to improve to be the best we can be. In our school students are ready to learn and ‘low level disruption is rare’. Ofsted were impressed with the excellent behaviour of our students both in lessons and around the school. We pride ourselves on being an ‘academy of opportunity’ for all with excellent relationships.
As a member of staff you will be highly valued and will be supported to flourish within the subject team as well as the academy as a whole.
Although our examination results are improving year on year, we still have a way to go to achieve our ambitious targets. Every member of staff receives bespoke support and development through our in-house coaching programme as well as additional professional development opportunities to promote further progress and career enhancement. We are committed to challenging, supporting and developing staff and students to ‘Aspire to Greatness’ so that we become the best that we can be. In a recent survey 98% of staff said they were proud to be a member of staff at The Dorcan Academy with 95% stating that they enjoy working here. 95% said that they support the vision of the academy.
Although we don’t boast a shiny new building, we do have excellent facilities, with a supportive, friendly school culture and ethos which is often commented upon by visitors.
We will offer you:
• A supportive and bespoke staff induction programme
• High quality professional development, including a first-class Early Careers programme if you are an Early Careers teacher (Years 2 – 4)
• Additional non-contact time if you are an Early careers teacher
• Unrivalled support from the leadership team
• Excellent specialist facilities and resources
• Committed staff who ‘go the extra mile’
• Motivated, enthusiastic students who are ready and eager to learn
The Dorcan Academy is an 11-16 academy situated on the eastern edge of Swindon with a comprehensive, challenging and enriching curriculum and a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities.
Our vision is to be an outstanding school of first choice at the heart of our local community.
We aim to do this through our:
1) Culture - An inclusive school where everyone is valued, cared for and nurtured in an extraordinary way.
2) Curriculum - Students acquire ‘powerful knowledge’ and skills that prepare them fully for the world work and their wellbeing, delivered through outstanding teaching
3) Character - Students stand out as model citizens, showing kindness, respect and doing their best
4) Community - All stakeholders use their unique gifts and talents to serve others and enable them to flourish
At The Dorcan Academy our ethos is underpinned by the five principles of: Belonging, Purpose, Aspiration, Perseverance and Achievement and seek to develop in our students the character virtues of Honesty, Integrity, Compassion, Courage, Generosity, Gratitude, Personal Responsibility, Resilience and Self-Discipline.
Closing date: Wednesday 2 July 2025 (12 noon)
Pay Scale: Main Pay Scale or Upper Pay Scale
Start Date: 1 September 2025
Permanent Contract available
(Please note that this advert may close early if a suitable candidate is found before the closing date)
The Dorcan Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
We particularly welcome applications from under represented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.