LanguageCollege
“Learning and Achieving Together”
Curriculum Leader:
Ethics
Humanities
Introduction
Meadowhead places great importance upon its Humanities provision. From September 2010 History and Geography will be taught together at KS3 and RE and PSHE will be fully integrated into a new Ethics course.
At KS4 Geography and History will be offered as options at GCSE, and all students will take Ethics to include accredited courses.
From September 2010, Geography and History will be offered at A level, with the possibility of Post 16 courses being offered within the subject area of Ethics.
The Teaching Staff
The Faculty is led by Catherine Vincent (Assistant Head), and comprises twelve teaching staff. A number of faculty members have posts of responsibility for History, Geography, RE, and PSHE.
Academic success within a supportive environment is considered to be the basic work of the faculty. Staff are encouraged to work collaboratively in order to enable students to be successful in their outcomes.
There are regular formal meetings as timetabled in the school calendar. Staff also meet informally for workshop sessions designed primarily to encourage the sharing of ideas and the development of resources.
Accommodation and Resources
The Humanities Faculty has its own wing based on the upper floor. The teaching takes place in twelve fully equipped rooms, each having an interactive whiteboard. There is a faculty office managed by a full-time member of the support staff,David Lochner, the Faculty Assistant.
All resources are available on the VLE.
Extra-Curricular Activities
The faculty encourages a range and variety of trips and experiences for all students, and guest speakers and events are a common occurrence. E.g. Y7 Castleton fieldtrip, History trip to the Battlefieids, Y11 Geography revision weekend, Smartrisk presentations, emissions interactive activities and curriculum links with our partner school in Sri Lanka.
The Future
The faculty continue to focus on the development of the VLE and on encouraging the use of a wide range of teaching and learning styles.
The faculty is constantly reviewing performance and is always striving to ensure that students fulfil their potential in all aspects of Humanities. The development of Personalised Learning and e-Learning are a particular focus at the present time.
We are always looking for enthusiastic, innovative teachers who are committed to a collaborative, cooperative approach both within the faculty and the classroom.
The Curriculum –Ethics
As stated earlier, this is an entirely new development for September 2010 and is part of our curriculum review which places the child at the centre of their learning. Time allocation for this new course will be 2 hours per week in Y 7 – 11.
Within this curriculum area we will explore what it is to be human or put more simply:-
- What are the principles by which we should live?
- How do these principles become personally valid and meaningful?
- How should we act?
Subjects taught within the curriculum area of Ethics will include all aspects of PSHE, Citizenship, Health Education and Careers, Economic Awareness and Financial Capability, and all aspects of RE.
The successful candidate will play a key role in developing a fully integrated and meaningful Ethics course for Years 7-11 to include a range of accredited courses, which will lead to the development of Post 16 provision in this area in the future. They will be leading a strong team of teachers who are committed to developing this vision, and the post will offer the opportunity to for the successful candidate to put their own particular stamp and interpretation on this important area of a child's development.
Person Specification
Qualifications
- QTS (Qualified Teacher Status).
- Proven experience of teaching in at least one of the subject areas named above at secondary level.
- Evidence of potential or recent leadership and management experience.
- Evidence of regular and appropriate professional development.
- Proven exam /qualification success with students.
City of Sheffield
JOB DESCRIPTION
DEPARTMENT / Children and Young People's Directorate
DIVISION/SECTION / MeadowheadSchool
POST TITLE / Curriculum Leader - Ethics
GRADE / Main Pay Scale Plus TLR 1a
RESPONSIBLE TO / The Headteacher/Senior Leadership Team
RESPONSIBLE FOR / Staff within curriculum area
PURPOSE OF THE JOB / To undertake a sustained responsibility in the context of the school staffing structure for the purpose of ensuring continued delivery of high quality teaching and learning for which the teacher is accountable
EMPLOYMENT DUTIES / To be performed in accordance with the provisions of the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document and within the range of teachers' duties set out in that document
This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment
JOB DESCRIPTION
The job description should be read alongside the range of professional duties of teachers as set out in PartX11 of the Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document, sections 48 to 50. The post-holder will be expected to undertake duties in line with the professional standards for qualified teachers and uphold the professional code of the General Teaching Council for England.
Lead, manage and develop a subject or curriculum area; or to lead and manage pupil development across the curriculum
- To provide strategic leadership for the development and management of curriculum area throughout the school
- To identify areas for development and improvement linked to the school improvement plan and national and local initiatives
- To develop and monitor schemes of work for curriculum area across the whole school and ensure successful implementation which meets curriculum requirements
- To have an overview of, and contribute to the planning and delivery of continuous professional development and training related to curriculum area
- To develop strategies for the use of curriculum area to promote new teaching methods and improve learning throughout the school and monitor effectiveness in raising standards of teaching and learning
- To monitor and evaluate pupil progress across the school in curriculum area
- To use ICT effectively in delivery of teaching and learning
Impact on the educational progress of pupils other than the teacher's assigned classes or groups of pupils
- To ensure the provision of an appropriately broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum for pupils in curriculum area
- To identify clear, appropriate targets for attainment and/or achievement across the curriculum area
- To monitor and evaluate pupil progress and achievement against targets
- To lead evaluation strategies to contribute to overall school self-evaluation
- To undertake lesson observations and provide constructive feedback and support as appropriate
- To implement school quality procedures and to ensure adherence across the school
Leading, developing and enhancing the teaching practice of other staff
- To ensure the establishment of common standards of practice across curriculum area and develop the effectiveness of teaching and learning styles
- To plan and implement strategies to improve teaching where needs are identified
- To provide induction, support and monitoring for new staff
- To act as a role model of good practice for other teachers, modelling effective strategies with them
- To act as a performance management team leader for identified teachers
- To ensure all staff in school are familiar with the aims and objectives of the Ethics curriculum area.
Line management responsibility for a significant number of people
- To be responsible for the day-to-day management of staff including disciplinary, capability and recruitment processes
- To monitor staff performance against school, pupil progress and personal targets
- To ensure the effective and efficient deployment of staff
- To ensure staff development needs are identified and appropriate programmes designed to meet these needs
Specific duties relating to:
Managing staff in the Curriculum area
- To be involved in appointments procedures
- To be involved in timetabling
- To be involved in job descriptions
- To co-ordinate work for absent staff
- To provide support for supply staff
- Communication
- Development Groups - representation of curriculum area
- Promoting good practice
- Liaison with other Subject Leaders within the curriculum area
Specific duties relating to:
Managing pupils within the curriculum area, to share responsibility for:
- Testing / Exams / Assessment
- Discipline
- Pastoral care
- Reporting to parents
- Parents Evenings / Open Evenings
- Rewarding Achievement
- Record of Achievement
- Improving exam results
Specific responsibilities:
- The teachers and teaching of subject area throughout the school
- Curriculum development
- Schemes of work
- NQTs / students - subject specific
- Promotion of Information Technology
- Administration
- Assisting with Curriculum Development Planning
- Ensuring that there is a wider understanding and appreciation of curriculum area throughout the school and to promote it in its wider context
- Managing subject capitation and liaise with Assistant Head with regard to timetabling, rooming, staffing and resources
- Using appropriate means of communication in order to disseminate information including the running of the school
- Setting work for absent colleagues
- Organising the setting, marking and standardisation of internal assessments and examinations
- Ensuring that the requirements of external examination boards are met in relation to syllabus content, standardisation, assessment and pupil entry procedures
- Taking line management responsibility for members of staff in conjunction with the Faculty Co-ordinator
Specific duties relating to:
Whole school issues
- Assist in implementing whole school policies
- Equal Opportunities
- Quality Assurance
- Promoting the curriculum area
- Maintenance of display and fabric in teaching areas
Generic
- To deputise for the Assistant Head in their absence, e.g. at meetings as and when appropriate.
- With the Assistant Head, to ensure the smooth and effective running of the curriculum area .To take on line-management responsibilities within the Faculty.
- To assist the Assistant Head in the administration of the curriculum area including timetabling, options (if appropriate), and assessment procedures.
- To assist the Assistant Head and take a lead in the areas of curriculum and staff development.
- To promote the curriculum area within the school and wider community.
- To carry out specific tasks as negotiated with the Head of CPD and Assistant Head.
The above duties are not exhaustive and the post-holder may be required to undertake tasks, roles and responsibilities as may be reasonably assigned to them by the Senior Management Team.
To be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
To take responsibility for the implementation of and compliance with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
This job description will be kept under review and may be amended via consultation with the individual, Governing Body and/or Senior Management Team as required. Trade union representation will be welcomed in such discussions.
March 2010
Completing your Application
Every individual has potential and is, therefore, capable of achievement. It is the school’s task to present the fullest possible range of opportunities so that each individual may discover just where their talents lie. It is inevitable, therefore, that the school opens those opportunities to all and makes no assumptions based on gender, nationality, race, ability, disability or creed.
Meadowhead Equal Opportunities Statement
As an applicant you should:
a)complete the enclosed application form for the attention of Ms J Rodgers, stating title of post
b)write a statement of interest which amplifies past experience, develops specific aspects of the job description, indicates your personal philosophy of education (briefly!) and generally illustrates your suitability for the particular post.
Closing date for receipt of applications: Monday 19 April 2010If you are being called for interview you should receive notification by: as soon as possible thereafter
Date of interview: to be confirmed
Interviews for main scale posts will usually be conducted by:
- the Head
- a member of the senior management team
- the person to whom the successful applicant will be directly responsible.
For posts of additional responsibility and certainly those at TLR 1b or higher, there will be at least one representative from the Governors’ appointments panel.
Applicants who are not called for interview are thanked for the time, thought and effort that they have put into their application. Due to high costs involved the school is unable to acknowledge this via individual replies.
Introduction from the Headteacher
I would like to take this opportunity of offering you a warm welcome to MeadowheadSchool & LanguageCollege. At Meadowhead we see the education of young people as a partnership between teacher, parent and pupil in which each of the ‘partners’ is clear about the contribution that is expected of them. Therefore, we feel it important in the appointment of new staff, that we recruit teachers who share our philosophy.
We believe that learning is at the heart of the school, facilitated by excellent teaching.
Our expectations at Meadowhead are clear and easily understood. We demand a high standard of performance in every aspect of school life: in behaviour and attitude, in effort and attendance, in achievement and commitment and in determination to make the most of individual ability. We care about achievement, whether it is academic, creative or sporting. Above all, however, our concern is to ensure that we provide the right conditions and opportunities for our pupils to do their best!
MeadowheadSchool is a very good school with many outstanding features. That description is not simply one of our making. Four Ofsted Inspection reports described us as such with two consecutive Secretaries of State and the Chief Inspector in his national summary supporting that view.
As a specialistSchool in MFL we have been acknowledged and commended as a Centre of Excellence. We have twice been awarded International Status.
Our new school building opened in January 2007. This fantastic opportunity heralds a new chapter in our history. We introduced a new curriculum model and a new pattern to the school day. We are excited by the opportunities our single-site state of the art new home provides and we expect to go from strength to strength. As a community we are all committed to providing our best educational experience we can offer.
We became a TrustSchool in September 2009 and we have since forged ahead with our innovative plans to provide Post 16 education on our site. We have developed an excellent relationship with SheffieldCollege, the Local Authority and our Business Partners.
This is an exciting time in education and we are all excited by the prospect of new challenges and successful working partnerships, all for the benefit of children.
Could I, in closing, thank you for your interest in the teaching post that was recently advertised. I look forward to reading your application.
Catherine James
Headteacher
MeadowheadSchool & LanguageCollege
It is our intention to create and maintain the kind of atmosphere in which young people will feel secure enough to develop their abilities, happy enough to take on new challenges and sufficiently stimulated to achieve their full potential. That working atmosphere is built upon high standards and expectations. The school aims to maintain high standards of order, care and teaching and has high expectations of all members of the school community.
Meadowhead Statement of Aims
Meadowhead is a popular and successful school which serves, amongst others, the communities of Batemoor, Beauchief, Bradway, Greenhill, Jordanthorpe, Lowedges, Norton and Woodseats on the southern edge of the city of Sheffield.
For some years, the school, which was created out of the amalgamation of Rowlinson and Jordanthorpe schools in 1988, has been over-subscribed and currently has 1684 pupils on roll. It has long been an 11-16 mixed comprehensive school, but from September 2010 we will provide Post 16 courses on our site.
The New Building
In January 2007, under PFI initiative, we moved into a purpose built, single site school designed to meet the needs of the 21st century. All curriculum areas have specialist accommodation in their own wings with well-equipped rooms and offices grouped together. There is a large central courtyard at the heart of the new building with the specialist teaching wings leading off from this. The ICT infrastructure facilitates the increased use and development of ICT throughout the school and all classrooms have interactive whiteboards and multi-media technology.
There are eight curriculum areas:
- The Modern Foreign Language area has additional facilities related to our LanguageCollege specialism, including two fully equipped language laboratories.
- Maths, English, Humanities and Science all have fully suited ICT rooms. The Science wing will have eleven science laboratories and lecture room.
- In the Art, Design & Technology area there will be facilities for Food Technology, Art, Textiles, 3-D Art including two kilns, photo editing suite, Design & Technology workshops and PECT.
- In Physical Education there is a full size sports hall, two activity rooms, fitness suite, extensive playing fields including floodlit Astroturf facilities and multipurpose activity areas.
- Performing Arts will have music rooms, practice rooms, recording studio, and drama studios linked to the main hall, which has a fixed stage for performances.
- There is a specially designed Learning Support Centre encompassing learning, behaviour and mentoring. Support takes place in 1:1 and small group situations as well as within the classroom and the support units. There will also be a Learning Resource Centre which will include a library and careers suite.
Curriculum Structure
All subjects are attached to specific curriculum areas led by a Curriculum Leader, with other posts of responsibility to support this. Each curriculum area has either a technician and/or an assistant to support their administration and/or technical work. All staff are attached to a year group led by a Pastoral Leader; the majority of teachers are Learning Managers.