Head of English

Love Learning. Make Magic.

This is a brilliant place to innovate, make and learn.  Elstree Screen Arts offers a unique education for students aged 14 to 19 specialising in the crafts, trades and technical disciplines that underpin the creative sector.  We provide core academic education alongside technical, vocational learning designed to develop learners to be creative, innovative and reflective.  We are also here to provide them with the necessary knowledge, skills and work experience to be employed in the film, TV and theatre industries, where there is currently a substantial skills shortage.

This is a creative college full of vitality and enthusiasm.  Our students are a credit to us and our campus is new and well resourced.  Our staff are passionate and industry credible.  ESA benefits from leading academic and industry partners.  We are a UK centre of Screen Excellence and a platinum artsmark school.

Our students are very engaged by the specialist education we provide here and the quality of student productions are often industry standard.  We have our own student led media production company who take on legitimate briefs for industry clients.  Our current showreel can be seen on our website - www.esaacademy.org.

Principal

Christopher Mitchell

Values and vision

The curriculum at ESA is tailored to provide students with a wealth of opportunities to combine academic study with creativity to gain high-quality skills that meet the expectations of the film, theatre and television industry.v

Students are expected to have a passion for the school’s specialism and be personally motivated and ready to work a longer college day. They will learn how to be professional and employable and how to learn flexibly as technology in media arts practice is evolving everyday in our industry. ESA aims to provide inspiring, creative and practical learning experiences where young people will have opportunities not available at many other mainstream secondary schools, including working with industry partners on professional production briefs.

The Area

We are located just down the road from Elstree Studios at the old MGM studio site in Borehamwood. We have a new campus and industry standard facilities. We are 22 minutes from St Pancras by train and served well by London Buses.

Borehamwood has a thriving boulevard shopping centre for all your shopping needs. The town itself has a variety of commercial and independent stores in addition to a new wave of coffee shops and restaurants on the high street. As an ESA Staff Member you will receive access to the UNiDAYS app with discounts at major high street brands and entertainment services such as Spotify. A short drive north of the college (at the end of Studio Way) is ‘The Mops and Brooms’ – a humble and cosy pub/restaurant that ESA staff favour on the last day of term.

Experienced Teachers

We offer you:

• Personalised professional learning package
• Subject support
• Leadership responsibilities

Personalised professional learning packages

We have in-house training for colleagues at different levels in their careers. We have calendared programmes for all staff to attend; safeguarding, specific teaching and learning and pastoral workshops.

Subject support

We have a team of advisers and associates who provide support and guidance for a range of subject and whole school priorities. These include changes to curriculum and assessment, BTEC support, safeguarding, new technologies.

In addition, there are consultants in English, Maths and Science who are provided by the Danes Educational Trust, who provide ongoing training within the school. Creativity and technology extends to the teaching staff as we support teachers to be confident in using cloud software and solutions, The google platform provides a great training ground and a common ICT language across the community.

Other leadership responsibilities

There are also many opportunities for teachers who take subject and other middle leadership responsibilities to undergo training to support their work as subject leaders and middle leaders. We are part of the Enfield Teaching School Alliance (ETSA) and benefit from support from the six schools who form part of this alliance.

Newly Qualified Teachers

Elstree Screen Arts Academy offers staff many benefits and opportunities in a unique setting. The opportunity to work with industry specialists, teach smaller classes and gain experience of teaching exam classes in your first year of teaching in a unique environment.

For our NQTs we offer an induction programme and a personalised professional learning package. All NQTs have a mentor and teaching and learning coach. They have a reduced timetable with protected time and administration support through the Herts for Learning NQT Manager.

After the Induction Year

Once teachers have passed their induction year, there are a range of courses each year to support teachers’ development in subject areas and whole school initiatives. We welcome teachers that will be committed to our overall vision for all children and young people to be happy, healthy and safe with a bright future.

Overseas Trained Teachers

• Hertsmere Overseas Qualified Teachers Guidelines

For an Overseas Trained Teacher (OTT) we can offer:

• management of work permit applications and extensions
• excellent induction programme and access to professional development programme and assessment for UK Qualified Teacher Status National pay rates plus London allowance sick pay and access to the pension scheme
• paid school holidays
• good transport links with easy access to main rail and international airports

Assessment Only (AO)

This is a self-funded option for experienced teachers, which enables successful candidates to be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status.

Overseas Trained Teachers, who do not qualify automatically under rules introduced in April 2012*, are advised to consider the OTTP** instead. Candidates with at least two years’ experience of whole class teaching are eligible for assessment for exemption from induction in addition to assessment for QTS. The AO is a route to QTS only.

However, Overseas Trained Teachers who have taught in this country for more than four years are eligible only for the AO route. Candidates who have withdrawn from, failed or been turned down for other QTS routes will not normally be considered for the AO route.

Once accepted candidates are expected to qualify in one term. They must pass the QTS Skills Tests in order to complete Stage 2 of the programme. This programme involves support and visits from a Tutor which aims to ensure that candidates are fully conversant with the teaching standards and requirements for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

*OTTs from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA
  Since 1 April 2012 qualified teachers from Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA can apply to the National College for Teaching and Leadership (previously the Teaching Agency) for qualified teacher status (QTS) without undertaking further training or assessment in England.

** The four year rule
  The four year rule applies to teachers who qualified in countries outside of the EEA and Switzerland except for teachers who qualified in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. OTTs are allowed to teach in state maintained schools and non-maintained special schools in England as unqualified teachers for four calendar years. However, they are not permitted to teach in pupil referral units (PRUs) until they have been awarded qualified teacher status (QTS). An OTT is allowed to work as an unqualified teacher and the four year period begins on the first day the individual taught in a state maintained school or a non-maintained special school in England and expires exactly four years later regardless of whether the OTT has taught throughout the four year period.

Please visit the rest of our website to learn more about our vision, our schools and the opportunities which exist to work within our trust.

Websites – www.daneseducationaltrust.org.uk

Current vacancies across Danes Educational Trust.

Chris Mitchell

Headteacher