Raising Standards Leader - English
INFORMATION PACK FOR CANDIDATES
Dear Applicant
Thank you for your enquiry regarding the position of Raising Standards Leader - English at Oasis Academy Brislington.
I hope you find the information pack helpful. If you feel that that this is a post for which you would like to apply, please complete the Application Form – Section A to D (CVs are not accepted) and return it to Sue Brain, HR Officer, by either of the following ways:
Email:
Post: Oasis Academy Brislington
Hungerford Road
Brislington
Bristol
BS4 5EY
The closing deadline for applications is no later than 9.00am on 27 February 2015.
Please ensure you provide the name, address and status of two referees, one of whom should be your current direct Manager. Candidates should be aware we will seek references on shortlisted candidates for Academy based positions and may approach previous employers for information to verify particular experience or qualifications before interview.
Interviews will be held week commencing 2 March 2015. If you have not been invited to attend by Wednesday 4 March 2015 you should assume that your application has not been successful. Unfortunately, we will not be able to provide feedback on your application at this stage.
If you would like to know more about us before you apply please see our website www.oasisacademybrislington.org, or if you are not clear about any aspect of the application procedure, do not hesitate to contact us for clarification.
I wish you well and thank you once again for your interest in what we think will be a challenging and rewarding post.
Yours sincerely
Sue Brain
HR Officer
Explanatory Notes
Applications will only be accepted from candidates completing the enclosed Application Form. Please complete ALL Sections of the Application Form which are relevant to you as clearly and fully as possible (Sections A to D). CVs will not be accepted in place of a completed Application Form.
Safeguarding Children & Young People
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks
1. Candidates should be aware that all posts in Oasis Community Learning involve some degree of responsibility for safeguarding children and young people, although the extent of that responsibility will vary depending on the nature of the post. Please see the job description enclosed in this Application Pack for further details.
2. Accordingly this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore all convictions, cautions and bind-overs, including those regarded as “spent” must be declared.
3. If you are currently working with children, on either a paid or voluntary basis, your current employer will be asked about disciplinary offences, including those related to children or young people (whether the disciplinary sanction is current or time-expired), and whether you have been the subject of any child protection allegations or concerns and if so the outcome of any investigation or disciplinary proceedings. If you are not currently working with children, but have done in the past, that previous employer will be asked about these issues.
4. Where neither your current or previous employment has involved working with children, your current employer will be asked about your suitability to work with children, although it may where appropriate be answered not applicable if your duties have not brought you into contact with children or young people.
Interview Process
After the closing date, short listing will be conducted by a Panel, who will match your skills/ experience against the criteria in the Person Specification. You will be selected for interview entirely on the contents of your application form, so please read the Job Description and Person Specification carefully before you complete your form.
All candidates invited to interview must bring the following documents:
· Documentary evidence of right to work in the UK
· Documentary evidence of identity that will satisfy DBS requirements such as a current driving license including a photograph and/or a passport and/or a full birth certificate
· Documentary proof of current name and address (i.e. utility bill, financial statement etc.)
· Where appropriate any documentation evidencing a change of name
· Documents confirming any educational or professional qualifications that are necessary or relevant for the post.
Please note that originals of the above are necessary. Photocopies or certified copies are not sufficient.
We will seek references on shortlisted candidates for Academy based positions and may approach previous employers for information to verify particular experience or qualifications before interview. Any relevant issues arising from references will be taken up at interview.
For Academy based positions, in addition to candidates’ ability to perform the duties of the post, the interview will also explore issues relating to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, including:
· 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 challenging behaviours
· Attitudes to use of authority and maintaining discipline.
Conditional Offer: Pre-Employment Checks
Any offer to a successful candidate will be conditional upon: -
· Verification of right to work in the UK
· Receipt of at least two satisfactory references (if these have not already been received)
· Verification of identity and qualifications
· List 99 Check
· Satisfactory DBS Disclosure
· Verification of professional status such as GTC registration, QTS Status, NPQH (where required)
· Satisfactory completion of a Health Assessment
· Satisfactory completion of the probationary period.
· Where the successful candidate has worked or been resident overseas in the previous five years, such checks and confirmations as may be required in accordance with statutory guidance
For teaching posts
· Verification of successful completion of statutory induction period (applies to those who obtained QTS after 7 May 1999)
· Verification of medical fitness in accordance with DfES Circular 4/99 Physical and Mental Fitness to Teach of Teachers and Entrants to Initial Teacher Training
You should be aware that provision of false information is an offence and could result in your application being rejected or summary dismissal if you have been selected, as well as possible referral to the police and/or other relevant investigating bodies.
Job Description for
Raising Standards Leader – English
Post: Raising Standards Leader - English
Responsible to: Director of English
Salary Range: MPS/UPS + TLR1a
Location: Oasis Academy Brislington, Bristol
Disclosure Level: Enhanced
Job Purpose:
· To lead the English team in ensuring that all young people achieve their Personal Best in English, making at least expected levels of progress throughout their time at the Academy.
· To ensure high quality curriculum provision within the curriculum area of English.
· To carry out the professional duties of a qualified teacher in accordance with the current School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions document, the post holder, in consultation with the Director of English and the Principal shall take the following responsibilities.
Specific Responsibilities:
A. Strategic Direction and Development of English
· Establishing and maintaining policies and practices which promote high achievement through effective teaching and learning
· Creating an environment where students and staff develop and maintain positive attitudes towards teaching and learning
· Using data effectively to monitor and evaluate student progress; planning and implementing effective intervention to support all students to achieve highly
· Analysing national, local and Academy data, research and inspection findings to inform curriculum area policies and practices, expectations and teaching methodologies and to report regularly to the Director of English, Principal/Academy Council on progress and plans
· Contributing to the Academy Improvement Plan and establishing an effective subject Improvement Planning Cycle to meet Academy strategic priorities.
B.Teaching and Learning of English
· Ensuring appropriate, challenging and differentiated programmes of Study and Schemes of Work are in place for all English teaching groups and related courses
· Securing and sustaining effective teaching of the subject through structured monitoring and evaluation of all aspects of teaching and learning and active participation in the Academy’s monitoring evaluation and review (MER) cycle through lesson observations, feedback to teaching staff, work sampling, student interviews and written reports to the Principal and Leadership Team as necessary
· Ensuring teaching and learning objectives are clear to all members of the curriculum team
· Ensuring effective development of students’ literacy, numeracy and ICT skills within the subject
· Contributing to the teaching of Citizenship, Enterprise Education and Work Related Learning within the subject area
· Developing the curriculum to meet the needs of all students; introducing, planning and implementing new courses of study to meet 14-19 curriculum initiatives and KS3 developments
· Map progress of students regularly against prior attainment and local and national norms and identify students at risk of underachieving
C. Leading and Managing the Staff who teach English
· Line managing members of the English team and providing effective support, challenge, information and professional development for staff within the subject area as necessary
· Establishing clear expectations and high standards of professionalism and collaboration across the subject
· Taking an active role as a Raising Standards Leader within the Academy’s PM policy to develop the professional effectiveness of colleagues
· Providing structured support and assessment, where necessary, for NQT and ITT trainees to enable them to meet the relevant professional standards
· Working in collaboration with the SENCO and Raising Standards Leaders to ensure that Individual Education Plans are used to set subject specific targets, as required
D. Efficient and Effective Deployment of Staff and Resources within the English Team
· Using appropriate resources, in consultation with the Principal, for effective, efficient and safe teaching and learning within the subject area; accommodation, staff, time, courses, development opportunities, ICT equipment
· Creating an effective and stimulating learning environment for teaching and learning
· Deploying accommodation to effectively meet the teaching and learning needs of the subject
· Ensuring a safe working and learning environment through application of appropriate risk assessments
E. Teaching Commitment
· The post holder will be expected to teach in line with the Academy’s generic teacher’s job specification. Designated non contact time for leadership and management responsibilities will be made available.
F. Safeguarding Children
Oasis Community Learning is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced CRB checks.
The person undertaking this role is expected to work within the policies, ethos and aims of the Academy and to carry out such other duties as may reasonably be assigned by the Principal. The postholder will be expected to have an agreed flexible working pattern to ensure that all relevant functions are fulfilled through direct dialogue with employees, contractors and community members.
The above responsibilities are subject to the general duties and responsibilities contained in the Statement of Conditions of Employment.
The duties of the post may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the post or level of responsibility entailed.
All teachers take an active role in the Academy’s pastoral care of students and the post holder will be expected to fulfil the role of form tutor.
Raising Standards Leader – English
Personal Specification
Our Purpose
Oasis Academies exist to provide a rich and balanced educational environment which caters for the whole person - academically, vocationally, socially, morally, spiritually, physically, emotionally and environmentally. Our task is to serve our students as well as to provide a learning hub for the entire community. In this way we will raise aspirations, unlock potential and work to achieve excellence through encouraging a ‘can do’ culture which nurtures confident and competent people.
Oasis Community Learning Ethos
Our ethos is an expression of our character, it is a statement of who we are and therefore has to be the lens through which we assess all we do. Oasis is a Christian organisation, our values can be summarised in five statements:
· A passion to include everyone
· A desire to treat everyone equally, respecting differences
· A commitment to healthy and open relationships
· A deep sense of hope that things can change and be transformed
· A sense of perseverance to keep going for the long haul
Essential
/ DesirableQualifications / · Qualified Teacher Status
· A degree in English / · Masters Degree
Professional Development / · Evidence of a commitment to own professional development / · Recent relevant in-service training in English/Management and Leadership
Experience / · Evidence of impact of teaching on student outcomes at GCSE level
· A keen interest in developing the teaching of English
· Currently holding a position of responsibility in English or evidence of contributing to elements of leadership & management within English
· Evidence of high achievement in teaching across the Key Stages
· The development of Schemes of Work across the Key Stages
· Working effectively as a Form Tutor/ Learning Mentor
· Effective use of Assessment for Learning to engage students as partners in their learning / · Evidence of impact of teaching on student outcomes at AS and A2 level
· Experience of delivering GCSE English
· Professional development/ mentoring of colleagues
· Currently holding a position of responsibility
· Developing numeracy across the curriculum
· Experience of leading a development within a team
· Development of partnerships with other schools, business and the community
Knowledge / · Use of assessment and attainment information to improve practice and raise standards
· Use of strategies to promote good student relationships and high attainment in an inclusive environment
· Vision for the teaching of English
· Secure knowledge of Programmes of Study for English at KS3/4
· An understanding of Health and Safety regulations affecting the curriculum area / · Strategies to enhance teaching and learning of ICT within English
· An understanding of education within a Multicultural/Multi-faith city
· An understanding of Emotional Literacy developments to support learning and teaching
· An understanding of KS2 and/or post 16 English curriculum
Skills / · An enthusiastic and effective leader and manager.
· Excellent communication and presentation skills
· Competent user of ICT.
· Competent co-ordinator and motivator
· Ability to plan and resource effective interventions to meet curricular objectives / · Ability to use and promote a wide range of teaching methodologies
Commitments / · Active participation in Academy developments
· Commitment to leading extra-curricular activities/ educational visits / out-of-hours learning
· To innovative curriculum development and partnership with other schools and the wider community including business and industry links
· Actively supports the Academy’s aims Commitment to ITT / · Commitment to the value and promotion of vocational and work related learning
Personal
/· Passion for teaching
· Energy, enthusiasm and flexibility· Good health and attendance record
· Sense of humour and a positive outlook on life
· Ability to work under pressure and determination to succeed