Penyrheol Comprehensive School

Penyrheol Comprehensive School

PenyrheolComprehensiveSchool was established in 1973. It is a mixed English-medium 11-16 ComprehensiveSchool that serves the communities of Gorseinon, Loughor, Penyrheol, Kingsbridge and GardenVillage. The school liaises closely with five partner primary schools to ensure smooth transition from one phase to the next. At sixteen the majority of pupils continue their education at GowerCollege with which the school has an excellent working relationship.

The school was last inspected in September 2013. The school was awarded ‘Good’ for its current performance and its capacity to improve. Inspectors commented: ‘The school’s performance at key stage 4 in those indicators that include English and mathematics has improved steadily over the last five years and is now much better than that for similar schools… Pupils make good progress in many lessons and gain new knowledge, understanding and subject skills effectively… Most pupils enjoy school and have positive attitudes to their work. In classes and around the school, most pupils behave very well. They feel safe in school and feel that the school deals well with any incidences of bullying… Most pupils participate in a wide variety of community and extra-curricular activities that contribute to well-developed social and life skills, such as working with others and problem solving. Pupils show respect, care and concern for the school and other pupils, and demonstrate the skills needed to progress to the next stage of learning.’

Examination results are not the only measure of a successful school. At Penyrheol pupils ‘behave responsibly and show respect for each other and their teachers. Their mutual respect is a distinctive feature of this school’. Pupils from Penyrheol do well both locally and nationally in areas as diverse as mountain biking and public speaking. They achieve individual and team honours in sporting activities; they can act, sing, dance and win competitions for their artistic talent. They also care for those less fortunate than themselves and regularly raise considerable sums of money for charity.

Penryheol is a genuine comprehensive school in that it has pupils of all abilities and backgrounds. It is very much a part of the community that it serves. The inspection report states that ‘there are strong relationships between the school, parents and the community’. There is a considerable amount of new housing being built in the locality, because the area is a pleasant one.

In September 2009 a new school building was opened at Penyrheol to replace the two-thirds of the school that was destroyed by fire in March 2006. The new building provides state-of-the-art facilities for all our specialist subjects and is an environment that promotes good teaching and learning.

Penyrheol seeks to be a happy, caring community in which all who work are valued, supported and treated with respect and tolerance. In so seeking, we hope everyone will be motivated to achieve their full potential and strive for the highest standards of teaching, learning and behaviour.

Ceisia Penyrheol fod yn gymuned hapus a gofalgar, lle caiff pawb sy’n gweithio ynddi eu gwerthfawrogi, eu cefnogi a’u trin â pharch a goddefgarwch. Yn hyn o beth, gobeithiwn y bydd pawb yn cyrraedd eu llawn botensial ac yn ymdrechu i gyrraedd y safonau uchaf o ddysgu, addysgu ac ymddygiad.

Modern Foreign Languages

Department

The MFL department is committed to developing the quality of teaching and learning within the curriculum. Pupils are taught in mixed ability groups in Year 7 and Year 8. In Year 9 pupils are set according to ability. In Key Stage 3 pupils are taught three hours per fortnight. In Key Stage 4 pupils have five hours of lessons per fortnight.

French is taught to all pupils in Key Stage 3. Spanish is introduced in Year 9 with pupils receiving one hour per fortnight. Pupils can opt to study French or Spanish at GCSE level. There would be scope for a new Head of Department to introduce a different second option depending upon expertise. As in many schools, the uptake at GCSE level is relatively small and a key challenge for the Head of Department will be to encourage more pupils to take GCSE language qualifications.

We follow the Tricolore course in French throughout the 5 years supplemented by a variety of additional resources. The Spanish coursebook is Mira. The emphasis is on purposeful enjoyment of languages through the communicative approach while developing a balance of all language skills.

The department has two classrooms, one with a separate office and also has a large storeroom. The department has excellent resources including 15 ipads.

FORM TUTOR

The primary responsibility is to provide a secure, caring base for pupils throughout their time at Penyrheol and to have an overview of their social and academic progress. In order to undertake this responsibility effectively the Form Tutor must encourage a positive, cooperative atmosphere within the Form and maintain an interest in each pupil’s experiences and achievements. The tone set in morning registration has a lasting impact and Form Tutors should ensure that pupils are settled and ready to work.

To keep an accurate daily register and monitor the attendance and punctuality of pupils in the Form.
To monitor the behaviour and uniform of pupils in the Form and liaise with the Head of Year if there are persistent problems.
To monitor the academic progress of pupils in the Form, undertaking a review meeting with each pupil on the Whole School Review Day and passing on relevant information to the Head of Year and Key Stage Manager.
To be alert to pupils’ problems and be prepared to counsel individuals (or seek appropriate help for them) if necessary.
To undertake appropriate mentoring activities with pupils.
To write an overview comment regarding each pupil’s social and academic progress on the annual Report to parents.
To liaise with parents where appropriate regarding pupils’ social and academic progress.
To deliver the PSE programme, including helping pupils to complete their Progress Files, and contributing to its development.
To participate in Year Team Meetings and Parents’ Evenings as required.
To check pupils’ Homework Diaries/Planners regularly and alert parents and the Head of Year if problems arise.
To assist and support the Head of Year in fostering a positive year group ethos by working collaboratively with colleagues and ensuring that tasks are completed promptly.
To take part in a daily act of collective worship or ‘thought for the day’ either in morning registration or in School and Year Group assemblies.
To issue communications and collect return slips as and when necessary.
Such other reasonable duties as requested by the Headteacher.

The Form Tutor registers and works with pupils for 20 minutes each morning. During 2 of these sessions there will be an assembly. The Form Tutor will deliver the PSE programme through the other registration periods and the termly PSE days. As far as possible, the Form Tutor remains with the same Form throughout Years 7 – 11.

LINE MANAGER: HEAD OF YEAR

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

The primary responsibility is to lead and manage the department and be accountable for the results achieved by the department. In order to undertake this responsibility effectively it will be necessary to work closely with colleagues and ensure that departmental aims, objectives, policies and schemes of work are in line with school aims, objectives and policies. Leadership and management at the departmental level have the most immediate impact on the learning experiences of pupils and it is, therefore, essential to continuous school improvement that they are carried out effectively.

To keep up to date with national and local subject developments and with wider educational issues and ensure that the department is kept informed of these.
To advise the Leadership Team on all aspects of teaching and learning in the subject regarding curriculum, staffing, timetabling, syllabuses, examinations, assessment, reporting and staff development.
To set high standards of teaching and learning and of professional conduct for other members of the department to follow.
To have oversight of the well-being, behaviour and academic progress of all pupils taught within the department. To support colleagues where necessary, for example by holding departmental detentions.
To give advice and guidance to members of the department when necessary.
To chair Department Meetings in which information is passed on, ideas are discussed, curriculum developments are debated and pupils’ work and progress are considered. To ensure that these meetings are minuted and a copy given to the Deputy Headteacher (Curriculum and Staffing).
To give additional support when necessary to PGCE students, NQTs, supply teachers and new members of staff.
To liaise with the Assistant Headteacher (Staff Development) to ensure that appropriate individual and department training is available.
To monitor the quality of teaching and learning within the department and ensure that school and departmental policies are followed with regard to the completion of Teacher Planners, the setting and marking of work (including homework) and reporting to parents.
To undertake lesson observations and set and review challenging objectives with members of the department as part of the school’s Performance Management process.
To advise the Headteacher with regard to staff performance, for example for threshold assessment or references.
To participate in the appointment of new staff.
To utilise data provided on departmental performance and the progress of individual pupils as a means of raising standards of teaching and learning.
To keep departmental documentation under review, including aims, objectives, policies and schemes of work.
To complete an annual Self-Evaluation with the department to identify the strengths of the department and areas for development.
To use the Self-Evaluation to produce an annual Department Development Plan that details the actions/personnel/timescales/costs required to bring about improvement and to monitor the implementation of this Plan.
To manage the budget allocation for the department, ensuring best value and fairness in the ordering and distribution of resources. To maintain an up to date inventory of departmental resources.
To allocate pupils to teaching groups and provide lists of groups and examination entries as required. To liaise with the Head of Year and/or Deputy Headteacher (Curriculum and Staffing) if movement between classes is necessary.
To develop cross-curricular links as appropriate and ensure that the department plays a full part in the development of literacy, numeracy, thinking skills, ICT skills and the teaching of pupils with SEN.
To attend and contribute to Heads of Department meetings, having consulted with members of the department on relevant matters.
To participate in other meetings/working parties when necessary.
To liaise with staff, Heads of Year, the SENCO and the Leadership Team when necessary.
To manage the deployment of LSAs allocated to the department in terms of pupil support and departmental administration.
To arrange work for classes in the case of an unexpected teacher absence and provide work for pupils who are not attending school.
To undertake the additional responsibilities specific to the department.
Such other reasonable duties as requested by the Headteacher.

To play the lead role in promoting and developing pupils’ linguistic skills across the curriculum.

Heads of Foundations subjects, Religious Education, Business Studies, Drama and Work-Related Education will teach 42 lessons out of 50 per fortnight. 3½ of the lessons where no teaching is required will be for leadership and management responsibilities and 4½ for planning, preparation and assessment.

Heads of Core subjects, the SENCO, Assessment Coordinator, 14-19 Manager and ICT Coordinator will teach 41 lessons out of 50 per fortnight. 4½ of the lessons where no teaching is required will be for leadership and management responsibilities and 4½ for planning, preparation and assessment.

LINE MANAGER: DEPUTY HEADTEACHER (CURRICULUM AND STAFFING)

Headteacher/Pennaeth Pontarddulais Road

Alan Tootill Gorseinon

SWANSEA

Tel: (01792) 533066 SA4 4FG

Fax: (01792) 533366

APPOINTMENT TIMETABLE

Head of Modern Foreign Languages

(MPS/UPS + TLR2b)

Closing date-Friday13th May, 2016

at 3.30 p.m.

Shortlisting-Wednesday 18thMay, 2016 at

2.00 p.m.

Interviews-Tuesday 24th May, 2016(a.m.)

The object of the appointment timetable is to inform applicants of the dates the school will be working to for the vacancy advertised. Applicants who have not been offered an interview by 19th Mayshould assume they have not been successful in this instance.

We would like to thank you for your interest in the school.

This post, due to its nature, duties and responsibilities, will be subject to a check by the Disclosure & Barring Service. The level of check will be an Enhanced level check.