The Opportunity

Southampton is a premier maritime city with a legendary history of marine engineering, aerospace design, and global trade—famed as the home of the Spitfire and a modern hub for oceanography and advanced manufacturing. We are seeking an innovative, hands-on Design & Technology (DT) Teacher to join a forward-thinking voluntary aided school. This role is an exceptional opportunity to inspire students to bridge the gap between creative imagination and physical reality, utilizing the city’s rich industrial and maritime engineering heritage to cultivate the next generation of architects, designers, and engineers.

The School As a voluntary aided school, we benefit from a distinctive character and close ties to our founding community trust, while remaining fully integrated into the state education system. Our school is renowned for its inclusive, values-driven culture, which couples a strong moral framework with high academic and practical expectations. Behaviour across the school is structured and respectful, supported by a dedicated pastoral team, ensuring that workshops and classrooms remain safe, focused, and highly productive spaces for creative exploration.

The Department & Technical Workshop Culture

• You will join a highly collaborative and well-resourced Design & Technology faculty that features dedicated workshops for woodwork, metalwork, CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Manufacturing), and electronics.

• The department is supported by a full-time, highly skilled DT technician who manages material preparation, machine maintenance, and strict health and safety protocols.

• Our curriculum prioritizes the iterative design process, teaching students to critique, refine, and physically build prototypes using both traditional hand tools and modern manufacturing machinery.

• We maintain excellent links with local engineering firms and maritime design hubs, providing students with insight into live industry briefs and modern manufacturing careers.

Core Responsibilities

1. Exemplary Practical Instruction: Delivering high-challenge Design & Technology lessons across Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 (GCSE), guiding students safely through material properties, structural mechanics, and graphic communication.

2. CAD/CAM Mastery: Teaching students to utilize modern design software and translate digital models into tangible products using 3D printers, laser cutters, and traditional machinery.

3. Safe Workshop Practice: Maintaining absolute adherence to health and safety standards (DATA guidelines), establishing flawless workshop routines, and managing tool storage with precision.

4. Iterative Portfolio Guidance: Supporting GCSE students through their Non-Exam Assessment (NEA) portfolios, helping them document their design journeys from initial brief to final functional evaluation.

5. STEM Integration: Collaborating with Science and Maths faculties to highlight the practical application of STEM principles within sustainable design and modern engineering.

The Successful Candidate We are looking for a practical, creative specialist who is passionate about material manipulation, structural logic, and sustainable manufacturing solutions. Your profile should include:

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a degree or strong technical background in Design & Technology, Product Design, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline.

• Technical Competence: Confident, certified capability to operate and teach standard workshop machinery (wood lathe, band saw, pillar drill) alongside modern CAD/CAM software.

• Structured Classroom Control: The ability to maintain calm, highly disciplined workshop environments where safety routines are instinctively followed by all students.

• Inspiring Pedagogy: A talent for breaking down complex construction techniques and design theories into accessible, engaging steps for a diverse range of learners.

Why Join Our Faculty?

• The opportunity to teach in a school with a unique community identity, excellent facilities, and a deep parental commitment to student success.

• Structured professional development, including updated health and safety certifications, CAD software training, and distinct pathways into departmental leadership.

• The exceptional lifestyle benefits of Southampton—a vibrant waterfront city offering a brilliant mix of urban culture, affordable living, historic maritime charm, and immediate access to the New Forest and coastal sailing waters.

• A supportive, close-knit staff team with centralized behavioural systems and collaborative planning frameworks designed to maximize workshop impact while respecting your personal time.

How to Apply

Please submit your current CV to begin the application process.