Art Teacher

Application Deadline: 29 September 2026

Department: Education

Location: Balerno, Edinburgh

Compensation: £43,808 - £54,455 / year

Description

Harmeny Education Trust is a charitable organisation providing therapeutic care and education to children who have experienced early years trauma through abuse, neglect and family disruption, referred from all over Scotland. We currently work with children and young people aged 5-18, both on a day and all-year-round residential basis.

We currently have an opportunity for a part-time Art Teacher with recent and significant experience in teaching the Expressive Arts Curriculum to join our outstanding Education Team on a permanent, part-time basis. The successful candidate will teach across all year groups within the Broad General Education (BGE) and Senior Phase, including at qualification level

Along with a creative approach to learning and teaching, the successful applicant will demonstrate a sound working knowledge of the Curriculum for Excellence. Most importantly, we are looking for a teacher with an infectious enthusiasm for teaching and a strong drive and passion for supporting young people to achieve positive destinations.

The successful candidate will have the resilience required to work with children and young people who have social, emotional and behavioural needs, providing support in a nurturing, sensitive and caring manner.

Three school closure days are allocated each year to support the additional learning and development required within the specialist therapeutic learning environment promoted by Harmeny.

Applicants should be registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland.

A driving licence allowing the use of our vehicles is essential.

The successful candidate will be required to work 21 hours per week, Monday to Wednesday. The working pattern for this post is 8.30am to 4.30pm.

The successful candidate will be appointed on the Harmeny salary scale, at a point between 27 and 36 (£43,808 to £54,455) per annum, depending on qualifications and relevant experience.

Successful applicant will be required to join Disclosure Scotland’s Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme.

Harmeny is a values-led organisation and a good fit with our ethos is as important to us as having relevant experience.

Harmeny is situated in a beautiful 35-acre woodland estate, which includes residential and education accommodation, community garden, orchard, wildlife habitats and children’s play areas. Harmeny is located in Balerno on the outskirts of Edinburgh, at the foot of the Pentland Hills; we are easily accessible by bus and there is on-site parking available.

We offer benefits and opportunities that promote wellbeing, work-life balance and staff development. Benefits include:

• On-site wellbeing spaces and free massage therapy
• Free gym membership
• Cycle to work scheme
• Access to a wellbeing app and counselling
• Access to discounts on shopping and events.
• Access to a comprehensive induction package, and to a range of learning and development opportunities throughout their career with us.
  

More information on the benefits of working at Harmeny, plus a fuller job description and person specification can be found at www.harmeny.org.uk/jobs.

If you would like to find out more about this opportunity, please contact, Mandy Shiel, Head of Education, on 0131 449 3938.

To apply, please complete the application form via our recruitment section at www.harmeny.org.uk/jobs.

Closing date: Tuesday 29 September, 2026

Interview date: Thursday 8 October, 2026

Key Responsibilities

• Promote a positive ethos in the school consistent with Harmeny’s vision, purpose and core values.
• Implement management and Board decisions, consistent with Harmeny’s strategic and operational plans, as well as our policies and procedures.
• Plan, deliver and assess the children’s learning through the delivery of the Curriculum for Excellence within the Broad General Education and onto the Senior Phase. This will include teaching to a certificated level.
• Undertake the duties of a teacher as defined by the GTCS
• Write reports based on the children’s progress against their learning and resilience targets.
• Create and maintain a positive learning culture within the classroom.
• Encourage positive and appropriate behaviours, using effective strategies which recognise the complex behaviours of children at Harmeny.
• Where required, as a last resort, implement physical intervention techniques.
• Oversee and provide guidance to and direction to support staff within the classroom setting.
• Assist the Education Leadership Team with the development of the curriculum, according to the Curriculum for Excellence principles and guidelines.
• Participate in the wider life of the Harmeny community by attending events after school hours from time to time.
• Work in accordance with all Harmeny policies and procedures.
• Liaise with Education and Care colleagues, parents/carers and a range of other professionals to ensure coherent working and positive outcomes for children.
• Contribute to our multi-disciplinary approach to working with children and their families, including contributing to children’s meetings.
• Ensure that the highest possible standards of professional practice are maintained, in line with the General Teaching Council for Scotland Professional Code of Conduct.
• Contribute to the delivery of learning and development, as appropriate.
• Be responsible for the maintenance of Harmeny equipment and ensure that educational resources are maintained to an excellent standard.
• Attend supervision, annual performance review, training and other meetings, as required.
• Take responsibility for Continuing Professional Development in line with GTCS.
• Provide absence cover for colleagues.
• Undertake any other duties delegated by the Head of Education or other Senior Management Team member, which are consistent with the role of a Teacher.
  
  

Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Qualifications

• A professional qualification in education with GTCS recognition.
• Recent, relevant and significant experience in teaching within either a mainstream or specialist school setting.
• Experience of working with, and knowledge of, children with social, emotional and behavioural needs.
• Working knowledge of the Curriculum for Excellence through the Broad General Education and Senior Phase.
• Working knowledge of the Developing the Young Workforce policy and practice.
• Knowledge of child development, relevant legislation, policy and procedures.
• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding.
• Ability to provide guidance and direction to support staff.
• Good organisational and administrative skills and computer literacy.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
• Ability to safely drive children and staff to and from outings, activities and external meetings via minibus or fleet vehicle.

Desirable:

• Experience of working with vulnerable families.
• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary setting.

Personal Characteristics/ Competencies:

• Commitment to high standards of teaching practice.
• Willingness to work with and support children and young people with additional support needs through their educational journey.
• Commitment to the attainment and achievement of the children, their rights and participation of children and their families.
• Creative, dynamic and positive approach to working with children and staff in a variety of environments.
• Ability to handle competing priorities and a challenging workload.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of the team, with a flexible and solutions-focused mindset.
• Emotional intelligence and an understanding of the needs of others, with a commitment to reflective practice.
• Accountable for the performance of the organisation, their team and their own performance.
• Commitment to continuing professional development.
  
  

Benefits

• A salary of £43,808 - £54,455 depending on experience
• Pension scheme
• Policies and practices that promote a healthy work-life balance and wellbeing, including massage therapy, access to fitness equipment and a wellbeing space
• Access to professional development opportunities and comprehensive training programme.