Head of Department - Science

Interested in subject leadership? Rare career pathway with potential for excellent teachers

Career Opportunity

Ambitious, forward-thinking, flexible and self motivated? If you can combine these attributes with excellent teaching skills, this is the unique time to join the pioneering teaching staff at Coombe Wood School. In this newly created role, a Head of Department with expertise in delivering Science (Biology useful) will have the opportunity to build this year’s groundwork and shape the curriculum structure and methodology ready for delivery of the three-year GCSE courses starting in September 2020. The school opened last September with 180 Y7 students,  is oversubscribed for 2019 with every indication of strong growth thereafter. 

Currently this role would suit either an aspirant middle leader looking to develop their skills for a year before guiding our inaugural 3-year GCSE course, or equally an opportunity for an experience middle leader to develop their skills and build a department in their own style and methodology. * It is anticipated that the TLR category will change when CGSE and A level involvement increases, dependent upon performance.

The role offers scope for innovation and creativity to overcome unexpected challenges, break fresh ground and to encourage and promote excellent teaching skills among our enthusiastic, hardworking and dedicated staff. There is a strong team spirit which has contributed to a supportive learning environment for both staff and students.

Career progression is actively encouraged and taken seriously across the Trust. By becoming part of our team at Coombe Wood School, your career will benefit from joining a future-focused group of schools, with  the advantages of natural advancement and professional development opportunities within the school and potentially in Folio Education Trust: http://www.folio-education.co.uk/. This is a local collaboration of schools offering access to high calibre CPD which contributes to the recognised quality of learning within our schools. 

The future includes opening our Sixth Form and moving into the permanent state-of–the-art £35M building. Eventually the School will grow into an 8-form entry school (NOR 1680) including 480 in the Sixth Form; an increasing number of pastoral and curriculum responsibilities will be on offer.

Curriculum

Initially, a key priority will be the collaborative and exciting task of designing the GCSE curriculum content, with creative input into meeting and delivering the themes of the three main educational strands: Sport and Health Related Fitness, Creative and Performing Arts, Academic Studies.

Coombe Wood School is being designed to feature sport as a specialism plus an emphasis on the creative and performing arts, both specialisms will fully integrate with the academic strands. This approach centres on delivering a narrower range of sports to promote a deeper understanding of core skills alongside a focus on Health Related Fitness. 

Location

This is a new secondary fully-inclusive co-educational school, serving the communities of South and Central Croydon, established to meet an urgent rising local demand. Initially housed in temporary accommodation, the site for the ‘new build’ school is opposite Lloyd Park in South Croydon, with an excellent Tramlink service to and from East Croydon station (just 5 minutes’ journey-time away) and a short walk from several bus routes. Our state-of-the-art school will include enhanced sports facilities, comprising a competition-sized sports hall, a full-size 3G artificial floodlit surface and aspirations to include a closed circuit cycle track (CRC) and 8-lane floodlit athletics track. 

Advantages include:

· Network of expertise and support within Folio 

· Chance to join an innovative and supportive ground-breaking team 

· Opportunity of career progression with natural expansion of the school

· Catchment includes many aspirational, supportive families 

· Sporting partnerships that will support educational and vocational ambitions as well as community benefits

· Outstanding brand new facilities in the near future

· Free use of sports amenities for staff and their families

Application procedure

Please download the candidate pack and application form or visit http://www.cws-croydon.co.uk/Career-Opportunities 

For a confidential discussion please contact our HR Lead Mrs J Baker: 07891 671 226.

Please email your completed applications to careers@cws-croydon.co.uk in compliance with safer recruitment guidelines CVs will not be accepted.

Closing Date:  10am Monday 14th January 2019

Interviews:  22nd & 23rd January 

Folio Education Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The recruitment process will include an enhanced DBS check, medical screening, confirmation of right to work in the UK and all other pre-employment checks in line with safer recruitment requirements.

The Candidate Privacy Notice (“Privacy Notice”) is published on our web site www.folio-education.co.uk

School is 1 mile S.E.