WYCOMBE ABBEY SCHOOL
TEACHER OF MATHEMATICS
for September 2014
Wycombe Abbey School
High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire
HP11 1PE
Tel: 01494 520381
Fax: 01494 473836
www.wycombeabbey.com
Registered Office as above Registered in England Company No. 47031
Registered Charity No. 310638
We are seeking an enthusiastic and well-qualified graduate to teach Mathematics throughout the school. Applications are equally welcome from new or experienced teachers. We offer a statutory induction programme for NQTs and can also support teachers who wish to undertake the Graduate Teacher Programme.
The Mathematics Department
The Mathematics Department is a strong department and currently comprises 11 members of teaching staff and in addition three teachers who take 1:1 tutorials. It has an excellent academic record at IGCSE, A Level and university entrance. The majority of lessons are taught in dedicated Mathematics classrooms, which are well equipped.
Girls in the UIII to UIV (Years 7 to 9) have four 35-minute Mathematics periods per week, with five periods per week in the Fifth Form (Years 10 and 11). Girls are divisioned by ability during their first term of UIII, although there is transfer between divisions at any appropriate time.
In the Fifth Form pupils follow the Edexcel IGCSE specification (4400).
Mathematics is the most popular subject at A Level, where pupils follow the Edexcel modular specifications in Pure, Mechanics and Statistics. The possible options are as follows:
· Students taking a single A Level take C1, C2 and S1 in the LVI and C3, C4 and M1 in the UVI. There are eight periods per week for this option.
· Accelerated groups who have taken C1 in Year 11 take C2 and S1 in LVI, and C3, C4 and M1 in UVI. These students have eight periods per week.
· Students wishing to take A Level Mathematics and A Level Further Mathematics study C1 (if required), C2, C3, C4, M1 and S1 in LVI. In UVI they complete FP1, FP2, FP3, M2, M3 or D1, S2 and S3 in sixteen periods per week.
We are very keen to give the students a variety of different extra-curricular activities and aim to have at least one activity in place for each year group. The majority of students take part in the Maths Challenges and in recent years we have entered teams for the Group Maths Challenges. We regularly take students to lectures such as ‘Maths in Action’ and the Coulter McDowell’s lecture. The Sixth Form have enjoyed watching the play ‘Love is in the air’ which required them to solve maths problems to save the world! For younger students, we invited in the Cambridge Millennium Project to give a very interesting talk on Probability. Last year, we joined the Science and Design and Technology Departments in putting on a STEM day for which we have invited Matt Parker. We have also started the Maths House Competition which has been highly successful.
Aims and Objectives
The Mathematics Department aims to:
· develop, maintain and stimulate students’ curiosity, interest and enjoyment in Mathematics;
· develop students’ familiarity with appropriate mathematical concepts, principles methods and vocabulary;
· develop students’ understanding of Mathematics in its widest context, and to see how it relates to them outside school and throughout their lives;
· encourage students to develop personal qualities such as politeness, perseverance, initiative, empathy, self-confidence and independence;
· enable independent and group work for all students;
· enable all students to have equal access to Mathematics and to experience success in their work;
· allow students to develop transferable skills and informed opinions about Mathematics, and to be able to support them by reasoned arguments.
About the School
Wycombe Abbey was founded in 1896 by Dame Frances Dove as a boarding school for girls. Its beautiful 160-acre site is close to the centre of High Wycombe and includes woods, gardens and a lake. The school aims to: pursue the ideal of academic excellence; develop each pupil’s talents in creative, physical and social skills; encourage an understanding of the needs of others; and foster an awareness of God. The core values of mutual respect, encouragement and trust were identified by the girls and staff and our boarding ethos aims to provide the opportunity for pupils to maximise their potential in a myriad of ways.
Of the 560 pupils, ranging in age from 11 to 18, 169 are in the Sixth Form. Approximately half of our pupils live within 50 miles of the school; about 20% are from overseas. The pupils study a full range of academic subjects and achieve outstanding results in public examinations which are a reflection of the hard work of both girls and staff. In 2013 the girls achieved 77% A* at GCSE/IGCSE and 41% A* at A Level. All Upper VI pupils gain entry to high-ranking universities in the UK, the USA and elsewhere. The school has a great deal of success with entry to Oxford and Cambridge, with 30% to 40% gaining places in most years. UCL, Durham, Bristol, Edinburgh and St Andrews are amongst other popular destinations. In recent years a sizeable proportion of the year group has made applications to US universities and pupils have gained places at a variety of prestigious institutions, including MIT, Princeton, Brown, Columbia, Stanford and UPenn. More information on our academic results can be found here and university destinations can be found here.
Wycombe Abbey is a full boarding school. We do not offer weekly boarding or flexi-boarding, and day boarding places are limited to a total of 30 throughout the school. Boarding accommodation is organised into 11 houses. Approximately 60 pupils enter Upper III (Year 7) and join Junior House for their first year. The nine mixed-age senior houses, for pupils in Lower IV to Lower VI (Years 8 to 12), are geographically split into three areas around the school site. Up to 30 girls join in Upper IV (Year 9) and go straight into their senior house, as do the small number of girls joining in Lower VI. Clarence House provides a study-bedroom complex run on university hall of residence lines for all Upper VI pupils. Click here for more information of boarding at Wycombe.
Wycombe offers a tremendous range of co-curricular and enrichment activities, which foster initiative and self-reliance, as well as developing interests which may last a lifetime. A strong Sports Department offers more than 30 sports, including lacrosse, netball, tennis, athletics, gymnastics and ballet. Our Music Department teaches more than 600 individual lessons per week and offers a wide variety of ensemble opportunities, from the prestigious First Orchestra and Chapel Choir through to quartets and small groups. The Drama Department offers several production opportunities annually, in addition to a house play competition and LAMDA lessons. Beyond this, there are many active societies (e.g. Politics, Law, Amnesty International, Medical, Debating), numerous trips and lectures, and opportunities such as Model United Nations, Young Enterprise, Duke of Edinburgh Award, to name just a few.
Owing to its geographical position, the school is able to share a wide variety of activities with other schools, including Eton, Harrow and Radley – girls participate in joint choral events, debates, plays, university seminars and the like. The boys join the girls for dinners and dances, and the school hosts an annual Management Conference for our Lower LVI pupils with boys from the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe.
Teaching at Wycombe
The pupils at Wycombe are highly motivated with a strong work ethic. They are inquisitive, creative and eager to learn. Both pupils and teachers benefit from the small classes (typically no larger than 20 in Upper III to Upper V and no larger than 12 in the Sixth Form), as well as well-resourced classrooms, libraries, laboratories and other facilities.
There is a wide range of ages and experience amongst the 115 teaching staff. Each year a number of newly qualified, and in some cases unqualified recent graduates, join the Staff Room. Wycombe offers statutory induction for Newly Qualified Teachers and also offers the Graduate Teacher Programme to those without a PGCE. There is proactive support for all new members of staff, who are guided through their first year at Wycombe by a variety of people, with the line manager and an individually-appointed mentor taking the lead.
The school prides itself on the many opportunities for continuing professional development. The school organises regular whole staff in-service training and has a generous budget for training outside of school. In addition, academic departments commit to sharing good practice. There are opportunities to take part in peer observation, peer coaching, learning reviews and working parties.
A Wycombe teacher typically teaches 30 35-minute periods per week. In addition, he/she is attached to a boarding house and is responsible for a tutor group of 6-10 pupils from the house. Teachers give freely of their time outside timetabled lessons with many committing to co-curricular activities and helping individual pupils with their academic progress. Teachers are also expected to commit a small number of hours per term to other (supervisory) duties, such as taking departmental detentions and accompanying house outings.
As a boarding school, Wycombe has lessons on a Saturday morning. There is time off during the week in lieu of Saturday teaching. Teachers are expected to be in school by 8.15am on weekdays and 8.45am on a Saturday. The teaching day finishes at 5.15pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 4.15pm on Wednesday and 11.50am on Saturday.
For further information on the academic life of the school click here.
For the girls’ perspective on the school click here to view a pupil-made video prospectus.
Person Specification
Wycombe Abbey provides a modern and innovative education within a traditional boarding setting, and we therefore seek to employ teachers who will bring outstanding talent, intellect, enthusiasm and innovation to our classrooms.
The successful applicant is likely to possess:
· A good degree in the relevant subject(s);
· A teaching qualification (e.g. PGCE);
· The ability to teach throughout the school, up to A Level and Oxbridge entry;
· The motivation to enhance teaching and learning at Wycombe Abbey by sharing good practice and active participation in continuing professional development;
· A clear and innovative vision with the ability to bring the subject alive in the classroom;
· A willingness to contribute to the wider objectives of the department (e.g. through the sharing of teaching materials, the writing of schemes of work, attendance at departmental enrichment events);
· The highest level of communication skills for dealing with pupils, parents and staff;
· A proven ability to build a positive and collaborative rapport with pupils and staff alike;
· A willingness to be involved in the wider life of the school through commitment to the co-curricular programme and/or boarding;
· An appreciation of the aims and ethos of Wycombe Abbey.
Living in High Wycombe
High Wycombe is located to the west of London, close to Junction 4 of the M40. London is within easy reach, with the fast train from High Wycombe station to London Marylebone taking 24 minutes. The town centre, five minutes walk from the school, benefits from the recently-built Eden Shopping Centre, which includes a range of high street shops, restaurants and a multiplex cinema. The town also has a large John Lewis department store and a very busy, professional theatre, the Wycombe Swan, which often hosts touring productions from London and elsewhere. Oxford, Wembley Stadium, and Heathrow and other London airports are also easily accessible from High Wycombe. The combination of picturesque villages, lively historic towns and rural scenes make the Wycombe district a great place to explore; while many people enjoy walks and visiting cosy country pubs in the nearby Chilterns or along the River Thames, as well as shopping in surrounding towns, such as Marlow, Beaconsfield, Amersham and Henley-on-Thames. There is a good number of National Trust properties in the area, including Hughenden Manor, West Wycombe Park and the Hell Fire Caves, Dorneywood Garden and Cliveden.
Benefits of Working at Wycombe Abbey
There is an active Staff Room Association, which provides a forum for discussion of matters of concern and interest to the teaching staff, and organises social events. A Staff Council, chaired by the Bursar, benefits from representation of all areas of the school community.
The school offers membership of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. Meals and refreshments are provided free of charge during the working day. In addition, the facilities in the Davies Sports Centre (swimming pool, squash courts, fitness suite, etc.) are available for staff use. Accommodation may be available.
Wycombe Abbey has its own pay scale which currently ranges from £28,840 per annum for a newly qualified teacher with a good Honours degree to £43,940 for someone with several years’ experience, including experience at Wycombe Abbey.
Application Process
Please submit a completed application form, which you will find on our website (www.wycombeabbey.com), as soon as possible, together with a covering letter outlining the experience and personal qualities which you believe qualify you for this position and email it to Mrs Sally Coombe, Headmistress’s PA: .
The closing date for applications is midday on Wednesday, 22 January 2014
Interviews will take place on Wednesday, 29 January 2014.
All staff share responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of the pupils and must adhere to, and comply with, the school’s Child Protection Policy at all times.
The appointment is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring check.