My Department head is very condescending - anything I can do about it apart from leaving the new job?
Department chairs should solicit feedback from students and they should insist that teaching practices be based on evidence.  That's normal.  But it sounds like this department chair is using these mechanisms to be a bully.  That's bad.  

My advice would be:


Document everything.
Consult your university's omsbudsperson.  
Study up on your institutions procedures.  There may be something that keeps the department chair accountable, such as an election.  We do not know your institutions specific regulations.
Develop good relationships with the dean and other faculty in your department.  The chair often has little power on their own.
Look for a new job.
Keep in mind that department chairs often have no training for the job and may not like being chair.  Do not be surprised if they are bad at their job.