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French Language Assistant

French Language Assistant

The King's School, Gloucester

Gloucestershire

Salary:
according to qualifications and experience
Job type:
Part Time, Permanent
Start date:
September 2020

Job overview

Role

The Headmaster is looking to appoint a native-level French speaker for 8 periods per week:

• To provide regular opportunities for students at KS3/4/5 to speak individually or in small groups with a native-level French speaker. 

• To support students in developing and practising languages skills necessary for the speaking examinations. 

The Department 

The MFL Department takes pride in their teaching, and the results are consistently very good. The Department follows the AQA GCSE French and Spanish specifications at KS4 and AQA French and Spanish specifications at A-level. Able linguists are encouraged to take two languages at GCSE, and most students are encouraged to take at least one MFL option, which means that numbers are healthy both at GCSE and again at A-level. The Department runs an annual Second Form residential trip to Normandy. There are plans for the running of further trips to France.

Successful candidates would find the Department a happy and very supportive one in which to work. It consists of three full-time members of staff who work closely with the external ‘language conversation assistant’.

Main Duties

The following duties shall be deemed to be included in the professional duties which a language assistant may be required to perform:

• Under direction of MFL teaching staff, to take responsibility for weekly speaking lessons with individual students and/or small groups, amounting to 8 periods per week. 

• To provide topic-related materials that will stimulate discussion. 

• To ensure that lessons follow the relevant examination topics.

• To ensure that lessons are conducted predominantly in French.

• To work with the teacher in the classroom to support individual students.

• To work on your own with small groups of pupils or in the forum of one to one tuition.

• To help prepare pupils for oral and written examinations.

• To contribute to a French project if necessary.

• To communicate effectively and regularly with the Head of Department to ensure the smooth running of the speaking sessions.

• To contribute to reports about student performance.

• Under direction of MFL teaching staff, to practise specific examination skills and conduct practice examinations with individual students.

Person profile

• Native-level speaker of French 

• Good command of English 

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to maintain excellent professional relationships with all staff and students

• Ability to engage students in discussion 

• Willingness and ability to work to examination criteria 

• Ability to work effectively and supportively as a member of the School team  

• Professional presentation and manner 

• Be able to work unsupervised using own initiative. 

• Familiarity with MFL examination topics and requirements 

• Experience of working with A-level students

• Have a flexible approach to working with students and staff

The Selection Process

Applications are to be made using the School’s application form, available from the School website.  Any queries regarding the application process should be directed to the Deputy Head (Staff) at j.collins@thekingsschool.co.uk 

Candidates will be invited to spend time at the School and to meet the Head and Deputy Heads as well as the members of the MFL Department.  

Attached documents

About The King's School, Gloucester

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+44 1452 337 337

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The King's School, Gloucester has a rich academic tradition as one of the seven famous Cathedral Schools established by Henry VIII in 1541. Now, it is a successful co-educational independent day school with around 700 pupils, aged three to eighteen, offering academic excellence, a celebrated range of extra-curricular activities and outstanding pastoral care.

King's is held in very high esteem amongst the local and wider community, winning Gloucestershire Independent School of the Year in 2020 and 2021, and being Highly Commended again in 2022. Following the 2022 ISI Inspection, King's was proud to be declared 'excellent in all areas'.

With small classes and inspiring teachers, The King's School offers a vibrant culture of endeavour and scholarship in the historic setting of Gloucester Cathedral. As a result, the school has a special sense of identity which encourages a moral framework and a powerful feeling of community.

The King's School aims to stimulate all pupils to the greatest possible academic, creative and extra-curricular achievement by encouraging the exploration of a wide range of cultural, intellectual and sporting activities. We offer a unique 'Keystones' approach which identifies and develops individual talents and personal qualities.


Aims and Aspirations

The life of the School at all levels is underpinned by our long term aims and aspirations, which represent the key principles on which King's is based.

  • The King's School is a co-educational Independent School offering a distinctive education that is firmly based on Christian principles. We welcome into our community boys and girls of all religious faiths and cultures to promote the qualities of tolerance, understanding, compassion and commitment and to encourage young people to think of others, both within and beyond the community of which they are members.
  • King's is by choice a medium-sized school with small classes from age 3 to 18, divided into two schools, Junior (ages 3 – 11) and Senior (ages 11 – 18). Since our Foundation in 1541 as a Cathedral School, we have educated the Choristers of Gloucester Cathedral, a role which is central to our ethos.
  • To the best of our ability and resources, the School aims to educate young people from a variety of backgrounds, enhancing this capability by the further development of scholarships and bursaries.
  • Through the expertise and dedication of our staff, through our facilities, close relationships with the Cathedral, excellent pastoral care and general ethos, we seek to stimulate all pupils to the greatest possible academic, creative and extra-curricular achievement by encouraging the exploration of a wide range of cultural, intellectual and sporting activities.
  • Pupils are encouraged to think for themselves and to appreciate the importance of self-discipline. All pupils are treated as individuals, though at the same time they are encouraged to contribute to group work, teamwork and the community as a whole.
  • The School is committed to a broad, balanced and well-knit curriculum which is relevant to the needs of its pupils. The curriculum offers scope for individual specialisation where appropriate and is constantly reviewed in the light of developments within the School, nationally and internationally. Innovation is encouraged.
  • Whether pupils are of high or average academic ability, the School aims to enable them to develop fully as individuals, to prepare them for responsible adult life and to encourage qualities of initiative and leadership.
  • Celebrating achievement is seen as a valued part of the School's success. Pupils' performances in academic life, sport, activities and the performing arts are all recognised in assemblies, in newsletters, on Speech Day, at Junior School Prizegiving and in many other ways.


Working at King's

King's places great importance on staff wellbeing and offers a number of benefits to support this, including:

  • A peer-run staff wellbeing programme that operates year-round
  • An on-site doctor available to staff for short consultations
  • A staff "wellbeing day" - an additional day off that can even be taken during term time!

As a school, it is our collective aim to develop all staff into reflective practitioners who are committed to the ethos and aspirations of the school, and to empower staff as they work towards their own objectives.

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