Photography Teacher | Sixth Form College | Northampton

The Opportunity

Northamptonshire is a county that prides itself on visual storytelling from its historic shoe-manufacturing heritage to its central role in the modern UK motorsport and creative industries. We are seeking a technically proficient and artistically visionary Photography Teacher to join a high-performing Sixth Form College. In this specialized post-16 environment you will transition students from hobbyist image-making to professional-standard visual practice preparing them for elite university courses and careers in a world increasingly driven by the lens.

The Department & Pre-Professional Culture

• You will work within a dedicated Visual Arts faculty that mirrors a professional creative studio where Photography is one of the most popular and high-achieving subjects.

• The college features a balance of traditional and modern facilities including a fully equipped chemical darkroom for analogue processes and high-spec Mac suites with the latest Adobe Creative Cloud software.

• You will join a team of practicing artists and photographers who treat the subject with academic and technical rigor fostering a culture of critique and constant iteration.

• The department benefits from strong links with the University of Northamptons School of Arts and local creative agencies providing students with access to guest lectures professional workshops and exhibition opportunities in the towns cultural quarter.

Core Responsibilities

1. A-Level Delivery: Teaching A-Level Photography (Art & Design) ensuring students master both the technical mechanics of the camera and the conceptual depth required for high-level personal investigations.

2. Technical Mastery: Leading workshops on manual exposure studio lighting (strobe and continuous) and advanced digital post-production workflows in Photoshop and Lightroom.

3. Analogue Exploration: Introducing students to film photography including SLR operations film developing and darkroom printing emphasizing the importance of slow photography in a digital age.

4. Portfolio Mentorship: Providing expert guidance to Year 13 students as they curate their personal portfolios for UCAS applications and degree-level interviews in Photography Fine Art or Media.

5. Contextual Analysis: Guiding students through the history of the medium from early Daguerreotypes to contemporary computational photography helping them articulate how social and cultural contexts shape visual language.

The Successful Candidate We are looking for a teacher who is as comfortable with a 35mm film camera as they are with a digital workstation. Requirements include:

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or QTLS with a strong degree in Photography Fine Art or a related visual discipline.

• Artistic Authority: Extensive knowledge of photographic genresincluding documentary fashion landscape and fine artwith the ability to mentor students across diverse creative pathways.

• Technical Proficiency: Expert-level skills in digital editing and studio lighting alongside a genuine passion for maintaining traditional darkroom practices.

• Inspirational Mentor: The ability to push students beyond the pretty picture encouraging them to use photography as a tool for research storytelling and social commentary.

Why Join Us

• A dedicated post-16 environment where you can engage in high-level artistic discourse with motivated young adults.

• Access to specialized professional development and regional networks of creative educators within the East Midlands.

• The opportunity to work in Northamptona town offering a unique blend of industrial heritage affordable living and central transport links to Londons major galleries.

• A professional adult learning environment that values independent research and technical excellence in the arts.

How to Apply

Please submit your current CV and a digital portfolio showcasing your own photographic work or recent student outcomes to begin the application process.