Lead Practitioner - Science

Do you ‘dare for greatness’? Come and join a team who are really making a difference…

At Ark Elvin Academy we are working hard to give all our pupils an excellent education and are looking for committed teachers and support staff to join us at this exciting stage in our school improvement journey. In 2017 we came out of special measures and now our team of enthusiastic, high expectations staff are doing what it takes to rapidly improve our school and deliver the outstanding education our community needs and deserves. 

We are committed to ensuring teachers can focus on teaching and have the opportunity to refine and develop their practice in the classroom and develop their leadership skills – we have twice as many training days as is standard and weekly professional development for all staff. 

In recruiting for the Lead Practitioner role we are seeking the following from applicants:

• A degree in Science and good A levels

• A genuine passion for teaching science and developing the curriculum to enable all pupils to achieve their potential in the disciplines

• A commitment to our school improvement process

• A growth mindset

• High standards of professionalism

• Courteousness

• Record of outstanding teaching

• The potential to be an exceptional leader.

You will become part of a close-knit professional community of enthusiastic colleagues who benefit from the training, guidance and support from both the Ark network, one of the country’s top performing school groups and our North London region of schools where we work closely with a number of outstanding schools; including Ark John Keats Academy, King Solomon Academy and Ark Academy.

We are a large non-selective secondary school in the London borough of Brent, with excellent transport links to central London. 

Last year we moved into our long awaited brand new school building with state of the art facilities. We know that with the right people we can use these to drive the success our pupils deserve

We encourage and welcome you to visit our school; to arrange a visit, please contact HR on a.amaning-ampong@arkelvinacademy.org or 020 8902 6362.  

To apply for the role, go to www.arkelvinacademy.org/vacancies

Closing date: 1 February 2019

Start date:  April /September 2019

Salary: Ark Lead Practitioner scale (LP1 - LP5)

Reports to: Head of Department 

Key responsibilities

• To plan, resource and deliver lessons and sequences of lessons to the highest standard, thereby ensuring meaningful learning takes place and pupils make rapid and sustained progress

• To coach and mentor developing teachers within the department

• To fully implement all academy routines and techniques for creating a culture of high expectations

• To contribute to the enrichment, extra-curricular and raising aspirations programmes

• To provide daily pastoral tutoring to a form group

• To contribute to the effective daily working of the academy.

Outcomes and Activities

Teaching and Learning

• With direction from the Head of Department and within the context of the academy’s curriculum and schemes of work, to plan and prepare effective teaching schemes and lessons

• To teach engaging and effective lessons that motivate, inspire and improve pupil attainment

• To use regular assessments to set targets for pupils, monitor pupil progress and respond accordingly to the results of such monitoring

• To produce/contribute to oral and written assessments, reports and references relating to individual and groups of pupils

• To develop plans and processes for the classroom with measurable results and evaluate those results to make improvements in pupil achievement

• To ensure that all pupils achieve at least expected progress and the majority of pupils make more than expected progress

• To maintain regular and productive communication with pupils, parents and carers, to report on progress, sanctions and rewards and all other communications

• To provide or contribute to oral and written assessments, reports and references relating to individual pupils and groups of pupils

• To direct and supervise support staff assigned to lessons and when required participate in related recruitment and selection activities

• To implement and adhere to the academies behaviour management policy, ensuring the health and well-being of pupils is maintained at all times

• To participate in preparing pupils for external examinations

Academy Culture

• To support the academy’s values and ethos by contributing to the development and implementation of policies, practices and procedures

• To help create a strong academy community, characterised by consistent, orderly behaviour and caring, respectful relationships

• To help develop a school/department culture and ethos that is utterly committed to achievement and good discipline

• To be alert and active on issues relating to pupil welfare and child protection

• To support and work in collaboration with colleagues and other professionals in and beyond the school, covering lessons and providing other support as required.

Other

• To undertake , and when required, deliver or be part of the appraisal system and relevant training and professional development

• To undertake, within reason, other various responsibilities as directed by the Head of Department or Principal

Person Specification: Lead Practitioner - Science

Qualification Criteria

• Qualified to teach and work in the UK

• Qualified to at least degree level in Science 

Experience

• Evidence of being an outstanding teacher of the subject.

Knowledge

• Up to date knowledge in the curriculum area

• An understanding of what an outstanding education looks like in the classroom

• An understanding of the strategies needed to establish consistently high expectations

Behaviours

Leadership

• Effective team worker

• High expectations for accountability and consistency

• Vision aligned with Ark’s high aspirations, high expectations of self and others

• Genuine passion and a belief in the potential of every pupil

• Motivation to continually improve standards and achieve excellence

• Effective listening skills that lead to a strong understanding of others

• Commitment to the safeguarding and welfare of all pupils.

Teaching and Learning

• Excellent classroom teacher with the ability to reflect on lessons and continually improve their own practice

• Effective and systematic behaviour management, with clear boundaries, sanctions, praise and rewards

• Thinks strategically about classroom practice and tailoring lessons to pupils' needs

• Understands and interprets complex pupil data to drive lesson planning and pupil attainment

• Good communication, planning and organisational skills

• Demonstrates resilience, motivation and commitment to driving up standards of achievement

• Acts as a role model to staff and pupils

• Commitment to regular and on-going professional development and training to establish outstanding classroom practice.

Other

• Commitment to equality of opportunity and the safeguarding and welfare of all pupils

• Willingness to undertake training