Head of School of Histopathology

Job summary

Within NHS England, South East Region, the Thames Valley Local Office is responsible for the planning, development, education and training of the future and current healthcare and public health workforce across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

An opportunity has arisen for a Consultant with a strong interest in medical education and training to be the Head of School for Histopathology.

Applications are invited from current STC members, or from those within the specialty who can demonstrate relevant interest in education and training.

Main duties of the job

The Head of School will focus upon improvement of learner supervision, assessment and experience, engagement of faculty and ensuring effective educational outcomes, both now and in the future. The role is evolving and will also focus on whole workforce transformation and developing multi-professional links as well as innovative ways of curriculum delivery and workforce well-being strategies.

To support the Postgraduate Dean, Heads of Schools work across the spectrum of health and where relevant, social care, within the context of a team, so that the provision of education reflects changing service models. This will deliver an integrated workforce comprising individuals from a spectrum of professional and other backgrounds.

About us

NHS England has a wide range of statutory functions, responsibilities and regulatory powers. These are focused on supporting the wider NHS to deliver high quality care, as well as doing those things that are best done once for the whole NHS.

Our staff bring expertise across clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial specialisms -- enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.

In March 2025,the Government announced that NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care will increasingly merge functions, ultimately leading to NHS England being fully integrated into the department.

If you currently work within the NHS and if successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR).This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the process.

Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in our offices.

Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.

We cannot offer visa sponsorship for any vacancies.

Details

• Date posted: 22 July 2026
• Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
• Salary: Depending on experience In line with HoS sessional payments
• Contract: Secondment
• Duration: 3 years
• Working pattern: Part-time
• Reference number: 990-SE-EC4050-E
• Job locations: Premier House, Caversham Road, Reading, RG1 7EB, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

The fixed level of funding contribution for this role is £12,000 per annum, as an Educational Management Contribution (EMC). 2.25 EMC has been allocated for this role. The number of EMCs indicatively equates to the number of PAs for job planning; however, the level of funding for EMCs is fixed and may not equate to your individual personal salary with your employer in relation to your planned activities.

Prior to applying, please ensure you have discussed this role with your local Director of Medical Education to ensure that this work functions as a secondment with time freed up in your job plan to fulfil expectations. The financial contribution to the Trust is then to backfill any clinical time.

The Trust Director of Medical Education will be asked to provide a reference in support of your application.

You can find further details about the job, organisational structure, recruitment profile, expected outcomes and benefits information in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.

SecondmentsApplicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.