SUBJECT LEADER of ENGLISH (Assistant Director of Standards) – TLR2b (Full-time)

The Position

Owing to internal promotion we are seeking to appoint for September 2013 or earlier, an inspiring and outstanding leader and teacher who working alongside the Senior Director of Standards will lead theEnglish Faculty to achieve even greater success. A particular expertise in and the ability to teach English across Key Stages 3 and 4 and up to A2is essential. The ability to teach Advanced Level English Language would be an advantage. The person appointed will need to be forward thinking and have high expectations of themselves and the students.

The person appointed will have:

  1. Good academic qualifications and outstanding classroom teaching skills;
  2. A clear vision for how to secure continuous improvement within a high performing team;
  3. The ability to promote a climate of high expectation;
  4. A commitment to and success in raising levels of student achievement;
  5. An understanding of monitoring, evaluating and reviewing;
  6. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
  7. The ability to develop and maintain appropriate and efficient systems and procedures;
  8. Excellent attendance.

There is a well-established induction programme for all new staff in line with our commitment to “Investors in People”. The School takes a pride in developing staff and there are many international opportunities as part of our LanguageCollege initiatives.

The School is forward looking, the students are highly motivated and the management is very supportive.

If you want to take up this challenge, we would love to hear from you.

If you would like to visit the School before you apply, please contact the Senior Director of Standards for English, Gillian Barrett, directly.

Department Description

The Faculty has nine full-time and two part-time teachers.

English is taught throughout Key Stages 3 and 4 and all students are entered for GCSE English and English Literature (WJEC). In 2012 the A*-C pass rate was 100% in English and English Literature. In English Language 89% achieved A/A* and in English Literature 69% achieved A/A*.

Drama is taught at Key Stage 3. It is also a highly popular GCSE choice with a 68% A*/A pass rate in 2012.

English Literature has always been a popular subject at Advanced level. There are 6 groups in the Sixth Form. In 2012, the pass rate was 89% students gaining A-C at AS and 100% A*-C at A2. We also offer English Language (100% A-C at AS, 84% A*-C at A2). Theatre Studies is also a popular option with 100% gaining A-C at AS and 86% gaining A*-C at A2. 18 Year 13 students attained A* at A2 level in the Faculty in 2012.

Media Studies is taught throughout Key Stage 5 and is one of the most popular subjects offered at Advanced Level. The department offers a fully enriched programme of study that continually enables students to exercise their academic and creative flair. In 2012, 97% of year 12 students achieved A-C grades and 100% of year 13 students achieved A*-C grades. A large number of students choose to develop their interest in the subject further by studying Media Studies, Film Studies or Television Production at university.

The Faculty provides a full, varied and exciting programme of extra-curricular activities. These include theatre visits; Reading Groups; Debating Society; Poetry Workshops; Prose Appreciation Workshop; the School Yearbook and a School Magazine. Book Week is celebrated each year with staff and students participating dressed as characters from literature.

The Subject Area

The English Faculty moved into a brand new building in September 2006. It has a suite of 16 classrooms, each with an interactive whiteboard. There is a designated Media Editing Suite and a shared IT facility. There is a purpose built Drama Studio with a lighting rig and curtaining. The studio is also equipped with specialist ICT equipment.

The School is committed to independent learning, encouraging students to think for themselves and take risks in order to develop into lifelong leaders. English teachers are encouraged to be imaginative and flexible in their teaching skills. The Faculty works as a supportive team, sharing skills and resources. Students see English as a lively and exciting place to be.

Thinking Schools

The Weald of Kent is committed to developing fully the independent thinking skills possessed by our students. We commenced in September 2011 our journey towards becoming officially accredited as a Thinking School. Our whole staff have been trained in the use of Hyerle’s Thinking Maps; Tony Ryan’s Thinkers’ Keysand Habits of Mind. Thunks are used throughout the school to stimulate our students’ thinking. We aim to develop our students’ ability to move from sharing what they know to how they know something. All staff throughout the school are expected to engage with our work as a Thinking School and use thinking methodologies in their lessons. This is an exciting time to join the Weald of Kent as we continue to develop our work as a Thinking School.

Staff Development

As an accredited ‘Investors in People’ school we are passionate about staff development and believe that every employee should have an individual development plan. Plans are tailored to help and support staff in new positions, existing posts and preparation for promotion. A whole range of developmental and capacity building training is available, supporting staff to develop their skills and professionalism. This includes:

  • A well-established, tailored, induction programme
  • Performance development programme
  • CPD days and CPD workshops
  • Relevant external courses and training
  • Thinking Schools Training
  • Mentoring-Coaching programme
  • Investment in Excellence (IiE)
  • Embedding Outstanding Teaching
  • Embedding Outstanding Leadership

If you would like to work in a forward-looking environment where students are well motivated and management is supportive – this could be the position for you!

The closing date for this position is Thursday 28 2013. If you are short-listed, references will be requested from Monday 15 April 2013and interviews are planned for week commencing 15 April 2013.

Due to postal and administrative costs only short listed candidates will be contacted further.
Job Description Assistant Director of Standards TLR2b

Purpose

The Assistant Director of Standards is committed to delivering the school’s vision and the high ambitions for the school’s future. Their proactive support leads to sustained improvements and raised standards across the organization. The Assistant Director of Standards models and actively implements “Development and Standards” policy. They are accountable for specific identified and agreed operational functions and ensure that the systems they introduce are understood and embedded in the every-day work of the Faculty and the subject areas that form part of the area’s work. They support the Senior/ Director of Standards to implement routine, rigorous and robust self- evaluation strategies. In addition, they challenge underperformance and remove barriers to inclusion and achievement. The Assistant Director of Standards is an outstanding teacher and tutor who also consistently models Professional Standards. They actively seek out best practice and inspire others also to continue to improve. The Assistant Director of Standards promotes community cohesion and actively supports the activities of the school community and the wider community it serves.

Areas of Responsibility and Key Tasks

General

The Assistant Director of Standards TLR2b role and responsibilities will be reviewed annually but will be linked to a key identified responsibility. They will seek opportunities to take on aspects of a more senior position in preparation for future promotions. Therefore, to support the colleagues’s on-going professional development they will be encouraged to be involved in a broad range of strategic and operational activities.

The Assistant Director of Standards will support by:

  • taking on any specific task/ responsibility to enhance the work of the Faculty.
  • creating and maintaining positive and supportive relationships with all students, staff, parents, the PTA, Governors and all other stakeholders.
  • engaging with appropriate training opportunities to promote professional effectiveness in their role.

Strategic Responsibilities

The Assistant Director of Standards will support and:

  • secure the commitment of others to the vision, ethos, ambitions for the school’s future and policies of the school in order to accrue high levels of performance from the personnel and teams for which they have both direct accountability.
  • carry out routine, rigorous and robustly self–evaluation in order to contribute to the creation, implementation and monitoring of the school strategic plan.
  • facilitate opportunities for all staff to contribute to achieving the school’s priorities and targets.

Teaching, Tutoring and Learning

The Assistant Director of Standards will support by:

  • determining, organizing and implementing “developmental” and “standards” policy in line with ECM principles.
  • establishing a learning environment that extends students’ academic, personal, learning and thinking skills in order to increase their independence and prepare them to take their place as responsible adults.
  • ensuring classroom practice is always engaging and challenging and that student behavior is well managed and safe.
  • monitoring the quality of learning, tutoring and teaching.
  • analyzing performance data to inform improvement strategies.
  • promoting opportunities to share and develop best practice.

Leading and Managing Staff

The Assistant Director of Standards will support by:

  • fostering positive working relationships across the school community.
  • leading groups of staff linked to their specified responsibility in development and self-evaluating activities.
  • actively promoting rigorous and developmental performance management processes.
  • informing the Headteacher and Governors of future development needs that will help to realize the school’s vision.

Effective Deployment of Staff and Resources

The Assistant Director of Standards will support:

  • the effective and efficient deployment of staff and support those staff in carrying out their duties.
  • through advising on priorities for expenditure and in monitoring the effectiveness of spending and usage of resources to ensure value for money.

Specific Strategic & Operational Responsibilities including related policies.

Strategic Responsibilities 2013-2014:

  • Provide strategic direction for a range of specified responsibilities.
  • Maintain a clear view of how subject and faculty targets contribute to achieving the school’s targets for academic, attendance and personal development.
  • Contribute to the creation of short, medium and long term plans to deliver the above and meet school priorities and targets.
  • Maintain an overview of students’ progress and identify appropriate intervention strategies.
  • Make recommendations to shape “development” and “standards” policy- making in line with ECM principles.

Operational Responsibilities 2013-2014:

  1. Lead and be accountable for the day to day management and development of the specified responsibilities.
  2. Monitoring of progress of students across the faculty in addition to those linked to the direct areas of responsibility.
  3. Assist with the organization and delivery of key events and moments planned for the relevant year groups.
  4. Take responsibility for Reporting and Assessment of the specified areas and take a proactive role in the organization and delivery of the reporting and assessment process including consultation and information evenings for the relevant year groups.
  5. Contribute to Curriculum and Specialism development and take a proactive role in the decisions and delivery of curricula and ‘beyond the classroom’ based activities including ACT Day.
  6. Develop links with all parents and carers of students in the school and ensuring parents are well informed about the curriculum and academic, attendance and personal targets for their children.

Assistant Direct Line Management Responsibilities for the strategic direction, work and policies of:

  1. Identified subject staff

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Name of Post Holder: TBC

Level: TLR 2b

Salary:MPS/UPS

Reports to:Senior Director of Standards for English

The post holder will carry out the duties of a teacher as set out in the Pay and Conditions document and any amendments in future years contained within future Pay and Conditions documents. This includes any duties as may reasonably be directed by the Headteacher.

The above role profile may be reviewed and/or amended at any time but before this happens you will be given appropriate opportunities to discuss any proposed amendments. It will be reviewed as part of the annual performance management process.

Signed and dated: ……………………………………………………………………(Teacher)

Signed and dated: ………………………………………………………………(Headteacher)