IB Diploma Programme Visual Arts Teacher

About Liberty Woodland School Sixth Form

Liberty Woodland School is opening an exciting new Sixth Form in September 2027, extending our IB provision into post-16 education.

Our Sixth Form will combine strong academic outcomes with the development of independent, thoughtful and capable young adults. We aim to provide students with a highly personalised experience in which they are well known, appropriately challenged and prepared for university, apprenticeships and the wider world.

As a new and growing Sixth Form, we are seeking enthusiastic, knowledgeable and adaptable teachers who are excited by the opportunity to help establish and shape our IB Diploma Programme (DP) provision.

The Role

We are seeking an excellent part-time Visual Arts teacher to join our new Sixth Form from June 2027, with responsibility for delivering IB Diploma Programme Visual Arts.

The successful candidate will be a passionate and accomplished Art educator who can inspire students to develop as confident, independent and reflective artists.

They will support students in exploring a wide range of artistic practices, media, techniques and ideas while developing their ability to research, experiment, create, refine and critically evaluate their own work and the work of others.

The successful candidate will be expected to teach at Standard Level and/or Higher Level according to student choices and the needs of the Sixth Form.

The exact teaching allocation and part-time commitment will be determined by student numbers and the successful candidate's qualifications and experience.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who would enjoy helping to shape a new Sixth Form and establish its Visual Arts provision from the outset.

Key Responsibilities

Teaching and Learning

The successful candidate will:

• Plan and deliver high-quality, engaging Visual Arts lessons that meet the requirements of the IB Diploma Programme.

• Teach Visual Arts at Standard Level and/or Higher Level as required.

• Develop students' technical, conceptual, creative and critical skills.

• Encourage students to experiment confidently with a range of materials, processes, techniques and artistic approaches.

• Support students in developing an individual artistic voice and increasingly independent creative practice.

• Develop students' ability to research, analyse, interpret and evaluate art from different cultures, contexts, periods and traditions.

• Encourage students to make meaningful connections between their own artistic practice and the work of other artists.

• Create opportunities for sustained inquiry, experimentation, reflection and refinement.

• Encourage appropriate risk-taking, creativity and originality.

• Maintain high academic and creative expectations while providing appropriate support and challenge for individual students.

• Use assessment effectively to identify strengths, areas for development and appropriate next steps.

• Provide regular, constructive feedback that enables students to develop their work.

• Prepare students effectively for all DP Visual Arts assessment requirements.

IB Diploma Programme Visual Arts

The successful candidate will:

• Develop and maintain a detailed understanding of the requirements and assessment practices of IB Diploma Programme Visual Arts.

• Plan and teach in accordance with the current IB Visual Arts subject guide.

• Ensure that students experience an appropriate balance of art-making, research, investigation, experimentation, reflection and critical analysis.

• Support students in developing coherent bodies of work that demonstrate increasing independence and artistic intention.

• Encourage students to explore a broad range of artists, movements, cultures and artistic traditions.

• Develop students' understanding of how social, cultural, historical and personal contexts influence artistic practice.

• Encourage students to investigate connections between art, identity, culture, society and the wider world.

• Develop students' confidence in discussing and communicating their artistic intentions and decision-making.

• Ensure that students understand the expectations and assessment requirements of the course.

• Prepare students effectively for both internally and externally assessed elements of DP Visual Arts.

Portfolio, Exhibition and Assessment

The successful candidate will:

• Guide students through the development and documentation of their creative process in accordance with current IB Visual Arts requirements.

• Support students in maintaining high-quality evidence of research, experimentation, development and reflection.

• Help students develop coherent and purposeful bodies of artwork.

• Support students in selecting, refining and presenting work for assessment.

• Guide students in curating and presenting their work appropriately.

• Develop students' ability to articulate the intentions, processes and ideas behind their work.

• Support students in making thoughtful connections between their own work and the work of other artists.

• Provide appropriate guidance and feedback while maintaining IB expectations regarding student independence and academic integrity.

• Participate in appropriate standardisation and moderation processes.

• Maintain accurate records of student progress and assessment.

IB Diploma Programme

The successful candidate will:

• Develop and maintain a strong understanding of the philosophy, requirements and assessment practices of the IB Diploma Programme.

• Embed relevant Approaches to Teaching and Approaches to Learning (ATL) within the Visual Arts curriculum.

• Promote the attributes of the IB Learner Profile.

• Encourage inquiry, creativity, communication, critical thinking, reflection and independent learning.

• Participate in standardisation, moderation and collaborative planning where appropriate.

• Contribute to interdisciplinary and cross-curricular opportunities across the Diploma Programme.

• Engage with relevant IB professional development and remain informed about changes to DP curriculum and assessment requirements.

• Make meaningful connections between Visual Arts and the DP Core, particularly Theory of Knowledge (TOK), CAS and the Extended Essay.

• Be willing to supervise Extended Essays within an appropriate area of expertise.

Previous IB Diploma Programme teaching experience is desirable but not essential. Appropriate professional development and IB training can be provided for teachers who are new to the Diploma Programme.

Curriculum and Visual Arts Provision

As a member of the founding Sixth Form teaching team, the successful candidate will play an important role in establishing and developing our Visual Arts provision. This may include:

• Developing schemes of work and curriculum maps for DP Visual Arts.

• Helping establish an inspiring, purposeful and appropriately resourced Sixth Form Art environment.

• Identifying and selecting appropriate art materials, equipment, resources and digital technologies.

• Ensuring students have access to an appropriate range of media and processes.

• Developing systems for the appropriate storage, organisation and display of student artwork.

• Ensuring appropriate health and safety procedures and risk assessments are followed when using materials, tools and equipment.

• Developing assessment calendars and approaches to tracking student progress.

• Establishing appropriate systems for documenting and retaining evidence of students' artistic processes and development.

• Contributing to decisions about future Creative Arts provision as the Sixth Form grows.

• Working collaboratively with Art colleagues across the school to support progression from MYP Arts into the Diploma Programme.

• Helping develop a strong culture of creativity, experimentation, artistic inquiry and intellectual challenge.

The successful candidate should therefore be comfortable working within a developing provision and willing to contribute ideas, expertise and initiative.

Exhibitions and the Wider Arts Community

The successful candidate will:

• Support students in planning, curating and presenting exhibitions of their work.

• Help establish opportunities for Sixth Form artwork to be displayed and celebrated within the school community.

• Develop students' understanding of how artwork is selected, curated and presented to an audience.

• Seek opportunities for students to experience art beyond the classroom through galleries, museums, exhibitions, workshops and visiting practitioners.

• Where appropriate, develop links with artists, galleries, universities, creative organisations and other external partners.

• Encourage students to engage with contemporary art and the wider creative industries.

• Contribute to the development of a visible and ambitious creative culture across Liberty Woodland School.

Student Support

The successful candidate will:

• Develop positive and professional relationships with Sixth Form students.

• Monitor academic and artistic progress and respond promptly where students require additional support or challenge.

• Encourage students to become increasingly responsible for managing their own creative practice and learning.

• Support students in developing effective organisation, time management and independent studio habits.

• Help students manage the demands of sustained creative projects and assessment deadlines.

• Encourage resilience and reflection, particularly when ideas, experiments or artistic processes do not initially produce the intended outcome.

• Support students in becoming confident when discussing, presenting and evaluating their work.

• Communicate effectively with parents and carers regarding student progress where appropriate.

• Work collaboratively with pastoral and academic colleagues to support students' wellbeing and achievement.

• Contribute to university, apprenticeship and careers preparation, particularly for students considering Art, Design, Architecture and other creative pathways.

Wider Contribution

As a member of a new Sixth Form team, the successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the wider development of our post-16 provision. This may include:

• Supporting Sixth Form information evenings, open days and recruitment events.

• Contributing to exhibitions, trips, workshops, visiting artists and other enrichment opportunities.

• Supporting students with portfolios for university, foundation course and other creative applications where appropriate.

• Contributing to the wider creative life of Liberty Woodland School.

• Participating in relevant staff meetings, professional development and collaborative planning.

• Contributing to the development of Sixth Form policies, procedures and academic expectations.

• Supporting the continued development of the IB ethos across Liberty Woodland School.

• Playing an active role in establishing the culture and identity of our new Sixth Form.

Safeguarding

Liberty Woodland School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Maintain the highest standards of professional conduct and safeguarding practice.

• Follow the school's safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures.

• Complete all required safeguarding training.

• Report concerns promptly in accordance with school procedures.

• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with students.

• Ensure appropriate health and safety procedures are followed within the Art environment.

The successful applicant will be subject to the school's safer recruitment procedures, including appropriate references, identity and qualification checks and an enhanced DBS check.

Person Specification

Essential

The successful candidate will:

• Have strong subject knowledge in Art, Visual Arts or a related discipline.

• Have the qualifications and/or experience necessary to teach Art at post-16 level.

• Demonstrate the potential to deliver high-quality IB Diploma Programme Visual Arts teaching.

• Have strong practical skills and experience across an appropriate range of artistic media and processes.

• Understand the importance of experimentation, research, reflection and refinement within the creative process.

• Be able to develop students' ability to analyse and evaluate their own work and the work of others.

• Be able to support students in developing an individual artistic voice and increasingly independent practice.

• Have high expectations for student achievement and personal development.

• Be able to develop positive and respectful relationships with young people.

• Understand the importance of inquiry, creativity, critical thinking and independent learning within post-16 education.

• Be able to assess student work accurately and use assessment to improve learning.

• Demonstrate excellent communication, organisation and interpersonal skills.

• Be willing to contribute to curriculum development within a new Sixth Form.

• Be able to work collaboratively while also demonstrating initiative and independence.

• Be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people.

• Be committed to ongoing professional learning and development.

Desirable

It would be advantageous for candidates to have:

• Previous experience teaching the IB Diploma Programme.

• Previous experience teaching IB DP Visual Arts.

• Experience teaching Art at Key Stage 5 or an equivalent post-16 qualification.

• Experience teaching at both Standard Level and Higher Level.

• Experience supporting students in producing portfolios and sustained bodies of creative work.

• Experience organising or curating student exhibitions.

• Experience supporting students with Art School, Foundation, university or creative-course portfolios.

• Experience using digital media and technologies alongside traditional artistic practices.

• Experience supervising Extended Essays or similar independent research projects.

• Experience with TOK, CAS or other elements of the DP Core.

• Experience contributing to the establishment or development of a new Sixth Form or academic programme.

• IB-recognised professional development or a willingness to undertake appropriate IB training.

The Person We Are Looking For

We are particularly interested in teachers who are excited by the opportunity to help build something new.

The successful candidate will be passionate about Art and able to inspire students to become confident, curious and independent artists. They will recognise that excellent Visual Arts education is not simply about producing technically accomplished final pieces, but about encouraging students to investigate, experiment, take creative risks, reflect and develop their own artistic voice.

They will be excited by the opportunity to establish a strong Visual Arts culture within our new Sixth Form and will be willing to contribute to the development of the physical environment, resources, exhibitions and wider creative opportunities available to students.

They will be academically and creatively ambitious for students while recognising that excellent Sixth Form education involves much more than assessment outcomes. They will value relationships, independence, curiosity, creativity and the development of young people who can think critically, communicate confidently and take responsibility for their learning.

The successful candidate will be flexible and comfortable working within a growing Sixth Form where teaching hours may develop in response to student numbers and subject choices.

This part-time position, commencing in June 2027, provides an opportunity to join Liberty Woodland School at an important stage in its development and to play a significant role in establishing a distinctive, ambitious and forward-thinking Sixth Form.

Please complete an application form and send to [email protected]