Drama Teacher

We are seeking an outstanding teacher for this popular subject area on a fixed term (maternity cover) contract from 2nd November 2020 for the remainder of the academic year or upon the return of the permanent post holder.  The post would suit an experienced teacher or NQT. The ability to teach KS3, KS4 and KS5 would be an advantage.

Highcliffe is a thriving over-subscribed 11 to 18 Academy which seeks committed and motivated teachers to support this important curriculum area in the school.

Always popular, and usually over-subscribed, in the last two years our identity and success has attracted a rapidly growing number of admissions requests for Year 7. Although we have raised our PAN twice in three years, demand for places still exceeds availability and in 2019 we admitted 270 Year 7s compared to 216 5 years ago – we expect around 264/70 again in 2020. This is a result of our caring and aspirational ethos combined with our engaging curriculum and excellent extra-curricular opportunities, although our track record of exam success is surely another factor. Between 2017 and 2019 our P8 score increased by +0.36. Our students are lovely young people to work with who respond enthusiastically to good teaching and are keen to learn.

Highcliffe School is ideally situated minutes from Highcliffe and Avon beaches, Mudeford Quay and Christchurch Harbour.  A few minutes’ drive or cycle away are the beaches of Bournemouth while Poole Harbour, a mecca for watersports, is approximately 12 miles away.  As a result, sailing, kitesurfing, kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing and beach life are prominent parts of life in the area.  

Highcliffe is also on the doorstep of the New Forest, meaning that equestrian sports, cycling, walking and running are also prominent features of local life.  There is an extensive range of top-class pubs, cafes, clubs, theatres and cinemas throughout the area catering for people of all ages and tastes.  

We encourage potential applicants to explore in depth the School’s website which includes recent publications and a prospectus.  Potential applicants are also encouraged to read both the most recent Ofsted reports which are available via the school website or directly from www.ofsted.gov.uk and the published performance data available on the DfES performance tables site. www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance 

CURRICULUM AREA INFORMATION

Drama Department

At Key Stage 3 all students study Drama for one hour every cycle. In Year 7 and 8, all students follow a drama curriculum aimed at developing creativity, confidence and performance skills. They cover a range of topics where they learn about devising, the study of a script and genres of theatre. Through these units of work confidence is nurtured and students work both as team and independent workers to be creative learners. In year 8 students take a mini option within the expressive arts. If they opt for Drama they complete a foundation year which gives them an introduction to the GCSE and covers key skills preparing them for key stage four. 

In 10 year students begin their GCSE options and they can choose to study OCR GCSE Drama.  Within the OCR specification students undertake devising coursework in groups. They also study their set text ‘Blood Brothers’ in preparation for the written exam in year. In year 11 students then complete a scripted examination which is marked by an external examiner which is worth 30% of their grade. Trips are arranged to watch professional performance work. This is something that supports the learning of Drama but provides opportunity to learn how to analyse and evaluate live work in preparation for their written examination for both key stage four and five students.  In Key Stage 5, students follow  the BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate in  Performing Arts (2016) in year 13 and we launch OCR A-Level in Drama and Theatre in year 12 this year. This provides the chance for students to continue to build their knowledge within theatre. Within key stage five students take part in many studio performance evenings which showcases work that explores a range of practitioners, scripted and devised work.  Students who study Drama make excellent progress and achieve high results.

There are also opportunities to participate in various workshops with external practitioners. Students are encouraged to become involved in the full school musical production either in a performance role or by helping backstage in stage management, sound or lighting. We offer drama clubs for key stage three and have launched ‘High Definition Drama’ which is a group of key stage four and five students who have been working towards the ‘National Theatre Connections Plays’. Within this project students work alongside a professional director assigned from the National Theatre and have the opportunity to showcase their scripted performance work in a professional theatre. The Drama/ Performing Arts Curriculum area is very well-resourced with a dedicated Performance Hall, including a lighting rig. Drama also shares the use of the Dance studio for Key stage 4 lessons.