Teacher of History and Modern Studies - Part-time 0.5 Maternity Cover from January 2026

If you are a committed, dynamic and inspirational teacher of History and Modern Studies seeking to join a successful and supportive department aspiring to new heights in a popular and high-performing school, this could be just the job for you.

The School

The Glasgow Academy is an ambitious, warm, welcoming, thriving and forward-thinking fully co-educational HMC independent day school of around 1700 pupils aged 3-18. It is highly popular, growing in a planned way over the last 14 years. It consists of the Senior School, of around 800 pupils of 11-18 years of age, and a Preparatory School (which has three sites all of which has a Nursery/Kindergarten). Recruitment at the school is very strong at every age group.

We have a long tradition of fostering academic excellence and we are proud of our pupils’ achievements. Results in external examinations are consistently among the best in the country. We have an open and inclusive entry policy and present pupils for a significantly greater number of Higher examinations than many other schools. In 2024/2025 our pass rate at National 5 A-C rate was 98% with the A pass rate at 81%. and at Higher was 97% with 75% of entries awarded A grades. In S6, the pass rate was 91% for Advanced Higher with 53% of entries awarded grade A.

Beyond academic achievement we want all of our pupils to thrive and contribute to a rapidly developing modern world and to do that we must ensure they leave The Academy with a socially conscious, innovative and global outlook. Our aim is that we provide our pupils with rich learning experiences that best prepare them for life after The Academy and also places value on the importance of sustainable education for future generations. Through further development of our local, national and global partnerships our aim is that we have a greater impact on lives within and out with The Academy community.

The school's latest £15 million new building won Best Building in Scotland, the UK's richest architectural prize. The school has invested around £27 million in its facilities over the last decade or so and continues to invest heavily and strategically.

The Department

The Academy History and Modern Studies department has a long tradition of excellent attainment and achievement, and of connecting with and inspiring children. Uptake of the subjects is high. The History and Modern Studies department enjoys spacious and well-equipped accommodation, with a departmental base and five classrooms in close proximity. All classrooms have interactive whiteboards. The department consists of a Head of Department and five other teachers. They work closely together in a mutually supportive way to ensure continuously improving best practice. The department is well resourced, highly successful and much respected: pupil numbers are healthy and the department is both popular and well regarded. SQA results are consistently excellent. Both History and Modern Studies are available for study from S1 to S6. At the end of S1 pupils choose whether to study Modern Studies in their second year. There are currently two classes in the second year. The school follows the Scottish Curriculum. The department has run and runs a range of successful trips. Last year there was a Politics trip to London as well as a History trip to Berlin. We have also visited the First World War Battlefields and New York and Washington in the past. Further information is available on our website at www.theglasgowacademy.org.uk and applicants may wish to consult the course descriptions for History and Modern Studies. Please look under: Academic, Senior School, History and Modern Studies.

The Candidate

Ideally we are seeking someone who could teach both History and Modern Studies in the Glasgow Academy Senior School, but we will consider applications from those qualified to teach only History.

You will hold an excellent honours degree and be passionate about History/Modern Studies. As a lively, enthusiastic and inspirational individual, you will be gifted at inspiring academic excellence. You will have the ability to articulate your enthusiasm in a way appropriate for differing ages and abilities. You will have a can do, will do attitude and use it to instil high standards and high expectations in children. You will care deeply about children's success and be skilled at motivating children to work to their full potential, teaching them the belief that intelligence is not fixed and that abilities can be developed considerably through sensibly focused endeavour. Strong commitment, and the highest standards and communication and teambuilding skills, are central to this post. You will relish playing a role as a tutor in the House pastoral care system and will have the opportunity to contribute to the wider co-curricular life of the school. Above all, you will work very hard and effectively for the children in your care and for your department. The creation of successful independent learners and informed and responsible citizens is central to education, and History/Modern Studies are uniquely placed to achieve this.

You should hold a relevant degree and be qualified to teach History/Modern Studies at PGDE/PGCE level.

You will:

· Be aware of current issues in the teaching of both History/Modern Studies

· Contribute significantly to the successful learning and teaching of pupils in History/Modern Studies

· Employ a range of teaching strategies constituting best practice in order to achieve the above

· Employ a range of techniques for assessing pupils, particularly formative assessment

· Liaise with the Head of Department, undertaking responsibilities and tasks delegated by him

· Participate and help in any subject-specific co-curricular activities organised by the department

· Play a role in the pastoral and wider life of The Academy as a tutor and contributor to co-curricular activity

The Appointment

The appointment is for January 2026 and is a part- time (0.5) maternity cover contract

The Academy Salary Scale, which is currently over 6.7% above the national scale, runs in six unequal increments, with placing according to experience. A very competitive defined contribution pension scheme is also available.

All teachers at The Academy must be registered with the General Teaching Council Scotland.

The Glasgow Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and all appointments are subject to membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme.

The Glasgow Academy is committed to providing equality of opportunity and ensuring that no job applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender and transgender status, race and ethnicity, religion and belief, marriage or civil partnership status or sexual orientation.

The Glasgow Academy is a War Memorial School with a long history of employing ex-serving personnel, reservists and spouses of serving personnel. We look favourably on applications from those mentioned above; we understand the extra burdens placed on these individuals and as an organisation are fully committed to supporting them and their families.

It is a legal requirement that all employees must demonstrate that they are entitled to live and work in the UK. You will be required to produce documentary proof e.g. passport and work permit, where applicable, to demonstrate your eligibility to work if selected for interview.

www.theglasgowacademy.org.uk

How to Apply

Applications should be made using the official application form and must be submitted by email to recruitment@tga.org.uk by 4pm on Thursday 4 December. Interviews (which will include teaching a sample lesson) are currently planned to take place during week commencing 8th December.

Candidates should include details of their particular interests and what contributions they feel they can make to the wider life of the school.