Head of Psychology (maternity cover)

Ryde School seeks to appoint a Head of Psychology to provide maternity cover in the Senior School’s successful and popular Psychology Department, teaching A Level and IB Psychology to Lower and Upper Sixth pupils. All teaching staff at the School are expected to be outstanding practitioners in the classroom and to contribute to the busy co-curricular life in the School. The successful candidate will be able to take up the post in November 2026 until October half term 2027. This is a full-time post covering maternity leave from November 2026 until October half-term 2027 in our well-established and popular Psychology Department which enjoys a strong record of success. The subject is taught at A Level and IB, at both Standard and Higher Level, with around 50 pupils taking it across both the Lower and Upper Sixth. The department follows the AQA specification at A Level, achieving consistently excellent results with 79% A*-B over the last three years. During this time, IB outcomes have also been excellent with 89% of grades at 7-5. Psychology-related topics are popular for study in the Extended Project Qualification, which is offered as part of our A Level Plus pathway, and in the IB Extended Essay, undertaken by IB Diploma pupils. Consequently, psychology and psychology-related degrees at leading UK universities are popular choices for many pupils each year. The role would suit an experienced practitioner who could contribute effectively to this highly successful and flourishing department in a busy school. They will be an outstanding classroom teacher with excellent subject knowledge and the ability to communicate their passion for psychology and related academic disciplines, fostering a stimulating and supportive learning environment. The successful candidate will have a track record of achieving excellent outcomes for their pupils at A Level and/or IB. Although desirable, prior experience of teaching IB Psychology is not a prerequisite for this position. Outside