Temporary Part-Time Teacher of English (one-year fixed term post) Job Description

Transcription

1 Temporary Part-Time Teacher of English (one-year fixed term post) Job Description Bristol Grammar School: a company limited by guarantee, company number: Registered Office: University Road, Bristol, BS8 1SR Registered Charity Number:

2 Appointment of a Part-Time (0. 475) Teacher of English (one-year fixed-term post) Information for Applicants Applications are invited for the one-year fixed-term part-time (0.475) post of Teacher of English at Bristol Grammar School from 1 September 2015 to 31 August Bristol Grammar School is an independent co-educational day school. The Headmaster is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses Conference. The School is a large and friendly community. There are some 950 boys and girls in the Senior School (11-18) and 340 in the Junior and Infant Schools (4-11). There is a flourishing Sixth Form of 300. Most students come from primary and preparatory schools within and around Bristol, about two fifths of the annual intake coming from our own Junior School. The School has approximately 260 employees being a mix of teaching and support staff. At BGS our ambition is to be exceptional in every facet of our provision. To that end every academic department focuses on providing an exceptional learning experience for every student. The School bases its provision on the National Curriculum and aims to go well beyond it. Setting is used in some subjects. There is no streaming. In Year 7 all students follow a curriculum which includes English, Mathematics, Science, French, Spanish, History, Geography, Technology, I.T., Latin, Religious Studies, Art, Music, and Physical Education. In Year 8 students follow the same curriculum but may choose to study one of Russian or German in place of French or Spanish; they also follow courses in separate sciences. In Year 9 students choose a personalised curriculum in addition to the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and are offered a very wide selection of curriculum subjects which they may choose to continue to GCSE. These subjects include Greek, Business Studies, Computing, Physical Education (Sports Studies), Dance, Food and Nutrition and Theatre Studies; at the end of their fifth year all students take some 11 GCSEs drawn from the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, a Modern Foreign Language and a Humanity subject, together with a selection of other subjects, chosen from a carefully balanced range of options. The Sixth Form provides a flexible range of AS/A2 options chosen from English Literature, English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Modern Languages, Latin, Greek, Classical Civilisation, History, Geography, Economics, Business Studies, Computer Studies, Art, Music, R.S., Technology, Dance, Sports Studies, Psychology and Theatre Studies. In addition all students are required to follow a course of wider activities, and attend a richly diverse programme of weekly lectures by visiting speakers. Students from the Sixth Form proceed to a wide range of faculties at leading universities in the United Kingdom, including a good number to Oxford and Cambridge, and increasing interest in universities in the United States and Europe. All teachers are issued with a laptop and an ipad to aid their teaching. The School has a Scholarship scheme and also a Bursary Scheme which is able to offer financial assistance towards the fees of able students whose parents have limited means. The schemes are kept under regular review by the Governors and we are looking all the time for ways to extend them. The School enjoys a local and national reputation for its academic achievements and the demand for places is strongly competitive from boys and girls. Games and co-curricular activities flourish and are an integral part of education at BGS. Major dramatic and musical events are put on regularly and the vigorous House system provides valuable extra opportunities for an enormous range of sporting, social and cultural activities, as well as for individual pastoral support. Regular exchanges are arranged with France, Germany and Russia. Visits abroad of all kinds are arranged every year. The School benefits from some fine Victorian buildings adjacent to the University of Bristol in the heart of the city. In recent years an extensive development plan has included the opening of an Infant School, refurbishment of the Sixth Form Centre, partly refurbished science laboratories, redevelopment of the music and art schools and new food technology facilities. Further major developments in previous years have included a theatre and language centre, a large sports hall, and a purpose-built technology centre. In September 2005 all departments moved to their own

3 designated teaching and office areas. A new sports pavilion has been recently completed and further major developments at the heart of the School are planned to be built in the near future. The city is a congenial place in which to live, with first class cultural, social and shopping amenities. The rail and motorway networks provide quick and easy access to all parts of the country and near to hand are the delightful coastlines and countryside of Wales and the South West. Mission of the School Life-changing learning, friendships, and adventure. We aim high at Bristol Grammar School and are proud to do so; inspiring a love of learning, fostering intellectual independence and promoting self-confidence and a sense of adventure amongst our young. We set our sights on academic excellence and involve our students in progressive, responsible and engaging debate in everything we do. Our purpose is to provide an exceptional education for all our students, developing in them a spirit of enquiry and independence of thought through high-quality teaching, warm pastoral care and broad-ranging intellectual, physical and cultural opportunities. We wish to encourage a mature sense of responsibility from an early age, forming wellrounded young people able to use their talents and leadership potential in the service of others, here and in their future lives. Above all, we are committed to supporting our students so that every one of them may achieve their goals and leave BGS as confident, compassionate and ambitious young adults. Aims of the School For every student to: achieve their full academic potential through a rich, stimulating and progressive learning experience be prepared and motivated to contribute positively and compassionately to the world through the cultivation of our School spirit flourish culturally, intellectually, morally, physically and spiritually in a happy and nurturing environment through a wide range of far-reaching opportunities.

4 Job Role Specification The English department at Bristol Grammar School is animated, friendly, supportive and highly successful. It consists of six full-time and two part-time teachers. The department has its own office, libraries and resource centres, including a bank of 28 departmental laptops for use with students; it also has a generously funded book budget. Colleagues take advantage of the flexible structure of the syllabuses to introduce new texts and approaches, and the Head of English is always keen to support such innovations. The department achieves outstanding results at GCSE, and at A Level where English Literature is among the most popular choices with our Sixth Formers. Individual teachers are given considerable freedom (within a carefully devised framework) to choose their own texts and materials, to use their individual talents and to develop their own style and methods of teaching. The syllabuses followed by the department are (currently) at IGCSE, those of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE); at AS and A2, WJEC English Literature and (as a separate qualification) English Language. We also offer AS/A2 in Creative Writing (AQA). We will be introducing the Cambridge Pre-U, a new linear A Level in English Language (Edexcel) and new GCSEs in English Language and English Literature (OCR) in September There is a healthy interest among our students in English as a Degree Level subject, and students from BGS regularly achieve places to pursue language and literature based courses at Oxford, Cambridge and other Russell Group universities. A lively enthusiasm for literature informs much of the English teaching at Bristol Grammar School, and pupils are encouraged from their earliest days with us to develop and explore, with suitable guidance, their own tastes in reading. The School possesses an exceptionally well-stocked and meticulously organised library, which plays a large part in attracting pupils to the habit of reading. In addition, the department is currently developing its own in-house, College-style English libraries. Much stress is also placed on creative writing and on the ability of pupils to express themselves fluently, accurately and imaginatively in a variety of styles. Editors from Penguin and Puffin books adjudicate two annual short story competitions. There is also a creative writing society, and the department seeks to find ways of publishing the best poetry and prose written by students each year. We aim to encourage children to see English as more than just a school subject by arranging numerous wellsupported theatre trips, cultural visits, visiting lecturers and, more recently, an annual literary field trip to London. We shadow the T S Eliot Prize, and the Booker Prize, each year, and members of the department contribute to extracurricular activities designed to promote appreciation of film, the visual arts and music. There is also a vibrant culture of public speaking and debating within the School. The School makes constant use of its small, but well equipped, 150-seat theatre, and there are numerous opportunities to collaborate with the Drama department, and with Heads of House, in theatrical productions. All new appointments are expected to play a full part in the life and activities of the School. In return they can expect exhilarating and enjoyable teaching as part of a respected and happy English department. This job description is not necessarily a comprehensive definition of the post. It will normally be reviewed once a year, but it may be subject to modification or amendment at any time after consultation with the holder of the post. In addition to being an energetic and enthusiastic teacher, the person appointed will also be expected to make a significant contribution to school co-curricular programme involving games and/or activities which can include almost anything of interest to both staff and students. Applicants should indicate their areas of interest and expertise.

5 Candidate Specification It is expected that the temporary part-time Teacher of English will possess the following attributes: L = assessed through evidence from application form, references and letter of application I = assessed at interview E / D = Essential / Desirable A highly skilled and competent teacher who is energetic and totally committed to the ethos of the School and department Have experience of teaching KS3, KS4, KS5 and of preparing students for Oxbridge entrance L D Be a graduate in English Literature or a closely related discipline L E Offer a specialist background in English Literature L E Have skill and enthusiasm when it comes to introducing students in Years 7-9 to challenging literary texts and ideas Enjoy taking an inter-disciplinary approach to the teaching of English Be committed to encouraging independence in terms of thinking and reading among students An enthusiastic and approachable nature I E The ability to develop good working relationships with all members of the School community L E A sense of humour and an optimistic, resilient style when faced with pressure I E A well organised and resourceful approach to their work and have the ability to meet deadlines Be able to create a challenging and effective learning environment for all students Plan a sequence of engaging lessons that builds on previous learning, with clear objectives and that encourages student progress and a sense of adventure Ensure that a range of teaching strategies are used that enables all learners to be highly motivated, enthusiastic and respond positively to challenge and high expectations Use assessment data to challenge and motivate students of all abilities and inform future planning and targets An up-to-date knowledge of teaching and training initiatives that can be used to enhance learning. Commitment to the ethos and holistic education provided by BGS and to the maintenance of BGS as a leading independent school Be able to communicate well with children and young people and in particular be prepared to demonstrate: Motivation to work with children and young people Ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children and young people Emotional resilience in working with any challenging behaviour Professional attitudes to use of authority and maintaining discipline Understanding of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people I E L D L E

6 Particular duties of all teachers at BGS include: enthusing students with a love of learning inspiring students to believe that they can set and achieve ambitious learning goals keeping up-to-date with developments of the subject particularly having regard to matters relevant to the secondary school curriculum keeping up-to-date with new pedagogical approaches and being willing to implement changes to learning and teaching to promote student progress planning lessons carefully and ensuring that resources are available maintaining good classroom discipline having regard to the behaviour policy of the School regularly marking work in accordance with the marking policy of the Department providing assessment information and written reports as required by the assessment and reporting schedule observing School policy on health and safety requirements and being aware of any subject specific health and safety requirement and ensuring that they are implemented appropriately at all times in the first year at BGS, attending the induction programme meetings taking part in the appraisal procedures acting as a Form Tutor unless other duties preclude this acting as a House Tutor and supporting the Head of House in as wide a variety of House activities as possible taking note of the special educational and health needs of individual students, following advice from the Assistant Head: Director of Studies for Learning Needs, Heads of House, Heads of Year, Director of Studies or School Nurse referring concerns about the performance of students to the relevant Form Tutor contributing to discussions of individual students or giving written advice on request from Form Tutors, Heads of Department, Heads of Year, Directors of Studies or Heads of House developing and maintaining good relationships with parents and the local community making a substantive and sustained contribution to the co-curricular programme of the School attending Charter Day Service, Open Day, Prize Giving and other major School events showing awareness of the School s Child Protection procedures and keeping these in mind at all times conforming to the Code of Conduct for Staff. All teachers at BGS commit themselves to contribute fully to the life of the School in and outside the classroom.

7 Working hours and conditions Normal working hours will be those necessary to carry out the duties of the post as temporary part-time Teacher of English. Salary Pension Lunch Education Sports Facilities Library Car Parking The salary will be determined by the BGS Teachers Scale The School is part of the Teachers Superannuation Scheme and all teachers are automatically included in the Scheme. School lunch is provided during term time. At present the School s policy is to allow all members of staff to educate their children at the school at concessionary rates, subjects to their children meeting the academic entry requirements and subject to a place being available. Free use of school sports facilities. Free use of the school Library. No car parking is provided during term time. How to apply Application forms, to which may be added a personal curriculum vitae if desired, should be accompanied by a brief covering letter addressed to the Headmaster, Mr R I MacKinnon, and should be sent to Mrs Nicola Brand, HR Administrator, Bristol Grammar School, University Road, Bristol, BS8 1SR, nbrand@bgs.bristol.sch.uk The closing date for applications is Tuesday, 9 June 2015 at 9am. Interviews are currently planned for Friday, 12 June 2015 Bristol Grammar School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. In accordance with our Child Protection Policy we are unable to process applications without a fully completed application form. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act All convictions, cautions and bind-overs, including those regarded as spent must be declared when applying. The applicant may post such a declaration in an envelope marked Private & confidential for the Headmaster which will only be opened should the candidate be shortlisted. The successful applicant must obtain List 99 clearance and DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance at enhanced level.