Head of Physics

Dunottar is a co-educational school for pupils aged 11-18 set in extensive grounds of 15 acres on the outskirts of Reigate. With a new Headmaster in September 2017, the school is on a very exciting journey.  The school is experiencing fast growth in pupil numbers and is currently in the process of a £6.6 million capital development programme to build a new Sixth Form Centre and a whole school Assembly Hall to accommodate future growth.  

Dunottar has a well-established Science department.  All science subjects are taught separately in Years 7-11.  From Year 9, pupils commence their Science GCSEs taking AQA science in Biology, Chemistry and Physics or Combined Science. At A level the AQA specification is followed. 

The Science department has good facilities with five spacious, well-equipped laboratories and two preparation rooms.  There is a weekly science club during lunchtimes and after school as well as other enrichment opportunities for pupils.  The successful candidate will be expected to make a contribution to these initiatives as well as to the co-curricular programme. 

We are seeking to appoint a high calibre and enthusiastic Head of Physics to join this successful and friendly department.  We are looking for someone with an ability to stimulate curiosity and interest in Physics (and Science more broadly) and who is prepared to give full commitment to the aims and ethos of the Science Department and to Dunottar School. A strong ability to collaborate with colleagues in raising the profile of Science within the School is essential.

The Role

Dunottar School values the highest level of professionalism in its staff.  It is expected that all staff will display a high level of knowledge and understanding of their subject area, and communicate this enthusiastically.  The successful candidate should have high expectations of the members of their department and the students being taught within the department.  The Head of Physics has a responsibility to ensure that pupils being taught within the department encounter a stimulating and positive learning environment. All staff should inspire confidence and trust. 

Managing Pupil Learning and Achievement

• Ensuring that lessons within your department are innovative, relevant and exciting through departmental preparation and planning and through short lesson observations at least twice every half term. 

• Keeping abreast of current thinking and development in the subject area. 

• Ensuring all members of the department are teaching to the schemes of work and the examination specifications. 

• Making sure that a framework is in place to assess pupils’ work regularly and thoroughly and use information from that assessment to plan teaching so that pupils can progress. 

Leading and Developing Colleagues

• Providing vision and leadership for the department. 

• Creating an effective team where members of your department feel supported and appropriately challenged. 

• Facilitating a regular exchange of ideas within your department e.g. reading groups, clubs, trips. 

• Ensuring that members of the department get an appropriate range of experience within the department. 

• Ensuring communication is good within the department and across departments. 

Organisational and Financial Awareness

• Submitting an annual departmental budget to the Headmaster. 

• Controlling departmental spending through the year to remain on budget. 

• Ensuring the department is effectively resourced. 

• Controlling the departmental INSET budget. 

Contribution to Pastoral, Extra-Curricular and School Objectives

• Ensuring the department offers an appropriate range of dynamic curriculum enrichment and extra-curricular activities for pupils. 

• Ensuring students are nurtured and supported by you and all members of your department. 

• Ensuring that all pupils feel valued and fully involved in the lessons you and your department deliver 

Professional Development and Training

• Ensuring that you remain up to date within your subject. 

• Monitoring and targeting the departmental INSET budget. 

• Acting as an appraiser, where appropriate and being aware of members of the department’s INSET targets and directing them where necessary. 

Administration

• Ensuring coursework management and moderation takes place. 

• Ensuring schemes of work are up to date and relevant. 

• Undertaking the annual subject review with the Headmaster. 

• Completing the departmental page of the School Development Plan. 

• Co-ordinating Internal Exams. 

• Co-ordinating support staff where necessary. 

Health and Safety

• Ensuring that Health and Safety requirements of the school are adhered to. 

• Co-ordinating the department to ensure that departmental areas provide a stimulating environment for teaching. 

• Signing off on risk assessments produced by members of the department. 

Resources

• Ensure teaching is enhanced through a range of relevant resources 

Key responsibilities

• Reviewing the Physics Department Handbook and schemes of work on a regular basis and keeping them up-to-date. 

• Reviewing and updating departmental worksheets. 

• Preparing the Department for inspection. 

• Promoting the use of ICT in Physics, and keeping abreast of relevant technological developments.  

• Keeping up-to-date with initiatives and developments in Physics. 

• Assisting in the interviewing and appointing of Physics teachers, and the induction of new teachers. 

• Collaborating with the Science Department and attend weekly Science Department meetings. 

• Developing links with external agencies such as Universities and Institutes of Higher Education. 

Person Specification

Qualifications

• A record of excellent academic achievement including a relevant honours degree

• PGCE/QTS 

Personal qualities

• High levels of personal and professional integrity

• Self-confidence, personal energy and dynamism

• Personal warmth, good rapport with pupils, colleagues and parents

• Excellent organisational skills

• Excellent oral and written English skills

• Appropriate levels of personal presentation

• Confident use of ICT

Teaching and Learning

• Enthusiasm for, and an excellent knowledge of the relevant curriculum

• Evidence of creative and innovative approaches to teaching and learning including the appropriate use of ICT

• Commitment to improving, monitoring and evaluating teaching and learning

• The ability to teach Physics to A level is essential and up to Oxbridge would be an advantage 

• An ability to make all pupils feel valued and involved in your lessons

Philosophy and Ethos 

• A commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people

• High expectations for pupil attainment, personal development and conduct

• Commitment to best practice in pastoral support and student welfare

• Commitment to helping with extra-curricular activities and curriculum enrichment

Closing date - Wednesday 24 April 2019

Interviews - Monday 29 April 2019