About the School - Manuel Marañon:
1415 students | 56 nationalities | 6 sites | 1 school

Hastings School, founded in 1971, serves students aged 2-18, from a diverse community and is nestled in the heart of Madrid, Spain. We are a prestigious, premium international school, within the Cognita family of schools. Our holistic educational approach delivers outstanding academic results. Whilst in the last two years our graduates leave to attend many of the best universities around the world including; University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, UCL, Duke University, University of Edinburgh, King's College London, KU Leuven, LSE, University of St Andrews & Delft University of Technology to but name a few.

We want students of all ages to enjoy their educational journey at Hastings starting from their first day at school. We want them to fulfil their academic potential and develop the knowledge, understanding, skills and attributes they will need in the future.

We utilize a series of learning habits as part of our learner power approach. These habits are Collaboration, Creativity, Curiosity, Empathy, Reflection, Resilience, Responsibility and Thinking.

At Hastings, as part of the Cognita group of schools, we explicitly design our approach to education to help students develop these attributes and emerge ready to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

This is a remarkable time to join a remarkable school.

The school now has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Head of Biology to join our fantastic team.

About Cognita:
Cognita is a global leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, we are a growing community of 90 schools in 21 countries - in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East - serving more than 100,000 students. Each of our schools are proudly unique, however our collective purpose is to create an environment where everyone can, "Thrive in a rapidly evolving world".

At Cognita, we know every student is unique. We nurture their distinct personalities and strengths. We support them academically, socially, and emotionally, wherever they are in the world, wherever they’re starting from. And each and every one of our schools is unique too.

We protect what’s special about them, while offering them rich knowledge, opportunities, and best practices. And they get to be part of something bigger. We open their classrooms to the collective wisdom of 90 over 100 schools in 21 countries, ensuring every child gets an education that’s, quite literally, world class.

It’s an individual approach that empowers every school, teacher and student to focus on what they do best and thrive.

About the Role:
As Head of Biology, you will lead a dynamic department and inspire both students and colleagues to develop a genuine passion for the subject. You will deliver outstanding teaching, setting high expectations and using data and assessment to drive student progress and achievement. Alongside your classroom responsibilities, you will lead the planning and development of the Biology curriculum, line manage team members, and foster a collaborative, high-performing culture. You will play a key role in promoting excellence in science education, supporting students with university pathways, and contributing to the wider life of the school through pastoral care and extracurricular activities.

This is a permanent, full-time role, with a start date of 31/08/2026.

Who We Are Looking For:
You are an experienced and qualified Biology teacher with the ability to teach up to A Level and ideally IBDP. You bring strong organisational skills, a passion for teaching, and a commitment to raising academic standards for all students. You thrive in a collaborative environment, lead with initiative, and manage change effectively. You have a clear understanding of outstanding teaching, learning and assessment practices, alongside a genuine enthusiasm for working with young people. A strong commitment to safeguarding and student wellbeing is essential, as is your ability to inspire, motivate, and develop others within your team.

How to Apply:
Complete this application before the closing date: Sunday 16th August 2026.

Early applications are encouraged, we reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to closing date for the right applicant.

Cognita Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practice and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity and treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of background.