Mathematics Mentor and Teacher Trainee

This post represents an exciting opportunity for a well-qualified mathematician to gain experience of sixth form education and work with some very able, highly motivated, inspiring young people. The school has well-established and rich links with the faculty of Natural, Mathematical and Engineering Sciences at King’s College London.

The post provides a formal training opportunity and thus a hands-on entry to the teaching profession: the successful candidate will be enrolled on the Schools Direct Programme (via Lambeth Training Schools Alliance and the University of Roehampton) and complete their teacher training over the course of the 2022-23 academic year. The programme is scheduled to consist of:

• Weekly full day sessions hosted by Roehampton University
• Regular mentor meetings and observations with an experience King’s Maths School teacher
• A 6-week placement at a school teaching Key Stage 3&4 classes

The Mathematics Mentor will teach an A-Level class covering content from the Mathematics and Further Mathematics syllabuses, supported by an experienced teacher at the school. They will also work with smaller groups on our challenge and extension curriculum, which encompasses:

• Weekly problem-solving sessions in year 12 taught in small groups (approximately 8-9 students) that focus on mathematical thinking, collaboration, and introducing students through problems to some key extra-curricular material (e.g. elementary number theory).
• Fortnightly afternoons in year 12 spent exposing students to different sorts of “challenge” problems, ranging from UKMT multiple choice questions to university entrance examination questions drawn from MAT, STEP and other related examinations.
• A weekly afternoon of university application preparation for year 13 students focusing on preparation for entrance examinations and interviews.
• A range of optional courses taken in year 13 from a programme called “Curriculum X”; courses are designed to extend, develop deeper understanding, as well as to support students to make the transition from school to university level mathematics successfully and smoothly.
• Optional sessions where students can work on Olympiad and similar problems.
• A range of encouraged but optional competitions for individuals and teams (e.g. STMC, Mathsbombe, the Singapore International Mathematics Challenge).

King’s Maths School also runs various outreach activities that the Maths Mentor will support in running. The purpose of these activities is to widen participation in mathematics and develop the mathematical interest and talent of young people from disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds who have an inclination towards the subject. The outreach activities include:

• Weekly GCSE+ Maths classes for years 9 and 10, these run after school on a Monday and Thursday until 6.30pm. The Maths Mentor will support in sessions and there is the option for them to deliver these sessions collaboratively or independently as well.
• MESME Maths Circles: mentoring high attaining students from years 7-9 in groups of 6.
• Admissions support for students applying to KCLMS from underrepresented backgrounds. This includes providing feedback on specimen questions ahead of our admissions test and offering practice interviews.

We are looking for a well-qualified mathematician with a fascination for the subject and some experience in helping others develop their understanding and skill in mathematics to be involved with some or all of the above curriculum activity. The post is open to both those graduating from their studies and those with more experience.

The post will commence from 30 August 2022 and is for a fixed term training contract lasting 1 year.