AHLU is seeking experienced Art and Art History teachers to support the delivery of our innovative courses. As we expand our outreach and teaching provision, we are seeking to appoint and support a network of freelance teachers for ad-hoc and occasional teaching opportunities. Successful candidates will be provided with full resources, training, and support.
AHLU is currently offering Art History HPQ (Higher Project Qualification) courses over ten Sunday mornings (10.30am-1pm) at the Courtauld, Somerset House, and hybrid Art History A Level and EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) courses at the Courtauld and online on term-time Saturdays, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30-4pm).
We are aiming to establish a network of freelance teachers. Opportunities are likely to be sporadic throughout the year, in the initial period, on term-time weekends at the Courtauld, Somerset House, however with potential to expand with us in due course. Teachers are supported by a Lead Teaching and other teaching assistants, by our Education and Outreach Officer, and other experienced teaching and learning professionals.
The fee for delivering a single 2.5-hour session on a freelance basis is £200. This fee is inclusive of an estimated 2 hours of preparation time, using the resources and lesson plans we provide. AHLU is a London Living Wage Employer.
Person Specification:
- A teaching qualification in Art and/or Art History (i.e. PGCE with QTS), or school teaching experience commensurate with this standard of professional expertise.
- An undergraduate or post-graduate degree in Art and/or Art History.
- Experience of working in secondary schools, ideally with diverse students, with a range of abilities and learning styles in the state sector (applications from those with independent sector experience will be also considered).
- Demonstrable ability to deliver complex content in engaging and imaginative ways with excellent learning outcomes.
- Familiarity and ease with creating and using interactive lesson resources, ICT, and Google Classroom or similar; proficient in a wide-range of online teaching and learning platforms to enhance student learning, communication and collaboration.
- A commitment to increasing access to the arts, and Art History in particular, for the widest possible range of young people.
- Energetic, personable, with strong verbal and written communication skills.
- First-class attention to detail and responsiveness.
- A clear understanding of safeguarding procedures when working with minors.
How to Apply
Please apply by sending a CV (2 pages maximum) and a covering letter (1 page maximum) to info@arthistorylinkup.org as soon as possible, marked ‘Teacher Application’. The deadline for applications is 15th January 2026.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview by 30 January 2026. Interviews are expected to take place in February, with dates to be confirmed. Applicants who reach the next stage will be invited to an initial online 30-minute interview and, if they progress further, will subsequently be invited to a one-hour in-person interview at AHLU's offices (London, W1D 3DA). Whilst we will acknowledge all applications, we regret that we are unable to provide individual feedback to unsuccessful candidates at this stage.
For more information about AHLU, please visit our website: www.arthistorylinkup.org. Informal queries are welcome and should be sent to info@arthistorylinkup.org marked ‘Teacher Application’. We look forward to hearing from you.
Inclusion statement:
Art History Link-Up is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Our work at AHLU is dedicated to creating a fairer art and education sector. We are on a continuous journey to build an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive. We recognise that people from certain groups face systemic barriers. We are therefore particularly keen to receive applications from disabled, Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic, and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these groups are currently under-represented in the charity sector.
We provide reasonable adjustments and a fully accessible recruitment process for all disabled applicants who need them.
We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be completed on the successful applicant. Our policies are available on our website and upon request.
About AHLU
Fewer than 1% of state schools offer History of Art A level, yet the creative industries provided 2.4 million jobs and generated over £126 billion in 2022. We believe that art history education belongs not just to the privileged elite, but that every young person—anyone—should have a chance to enjoy, learn, and benefit from it.
AHLU is a registered charity offering free courses for state students since 2016. Prior to the pandemic our 'Art History for Everyone' free Saturday Art History A Level and EPQ courses were based at the Wallace Collection. We moved our classes online as a result of the pandemic with great success.
Since September 2022 AHLU has been offering hybrid courses at the Courtauld, Somerset House: https://www.arthistorylinkup.org/programmes
AHLU has taught art history to over 500 students from over 350 state schools across the UK. Our alumni are currently studying art history at Russell Group universities across the UK, including the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and the Courtauld, and entering careers in the arts.
Since 2022 we've been piloting, developing and expanding courses for younger secondary age students, in London and beyond. From 2024 onwards, we have been piloting Higher Project Qualification (HPQ) courses for 14-16-year-olds in schools and external enrichment programmes in partnership with the Courtauld, Waddesdon Manor, and schools and centres in and outside London. We are working with an external evaluation consultant to ensure we record best practice and outcomes in our work.
We are working with communications consultant, Nadine Thompson, to deliver our 'art history for everyone' communications strategy and media campaign as we move towards our tenth anniversary in September 2026.
We know we're making a difference. In stark contrast to sector norms, on average, over half our students are from minority ethnic or widening participation backgrounds. Our students are vocal about the difference AHLU has made to them - opening up the world of the visual arts, helping them get a place to study at university, or even direct career outcomes, for example arts apprentices, and offering support and guidance on future professional pathways.
Download the Open call here.
Art History is under threat
We believe art history should be for everyone, however fewer than 1% of state supported secondary schools offer Art History A Level. As a result, there is a lack of diversity in the arts sector and an increasing skills shortage. We are the only charity offering formal Art History teaching to school-aged students from all backgrounds. Your financial support will ensure that everyone has an opportunity to study art history: together we can transform the future of the arts.
