Teacher of Art
Sevenoaks School
Sevenoaks,Kent
- Expired
- Salary:
- Sevenoaks has its own salary scale
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- September 2018
- Apply by:
- 21 February 2018
Job overview
The School
Founded in 1432, Sevenoaks enjoys a global reputation as a centre of academic excellence and a flagship school for the International Baccalaureate. A co-educational day and boarding school, it offers a stimulating, intellectually demanding and balanced education for pupils from the age of 11 to 18.
Inspiring facilities, together with expert, enthusiastic and imaginative teaching, provide rich opportunities for students participating in lessons, and a wide variety of sports and the performing arts.
The school’s international make-up and outlook promote the principles of tolerance and open-mindedness. About 350 pupils board in the seven boarding houses, and students originate from some 40 countries worldwide.
In 2013 the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) awarded Sevenoaks School the rare accolade of ‘Exceptional’ for its students’ achievement. In the new style inspection in 2017 pupils’ achievement and personal development were judged excellent, the highest grades. Sevenoaks was also the highest performing fully co-educational school, and the one with the largest cohort, in The Sunday Times Parent Power’s top 50 fee-paying schools for the IB in 2015. In 2017 we were, for the second time in 10 years, awarded The Sunday Times Independent School of the Year for 2018.
This excellence is achieved by bright, motivated students, inspired by highly qualified and dedicated teachers in well-resourced classrooms. The school has over 150 teaching staff, well supported by a large number of ancillary staff. A professional pastoral team of specialist tutors, boarding house staff and year heads give care and guidance, promoting student happiness. The mutual respect shared by students and staff generates a harmonious and purposeful atmosphere.
Teaching at Sevenoaks School
We want all our pupils to enjoy their subjects, to be inspired by their teachers and to become independent, lifelong learners. We have an exceptionally lively, talented and committed staff body. Teachers are enthusiastic and well-qualified graduates. We welcome applications from experienced teachers and newly-qualified teachers but can also provide training including PGCE for those new to the profession. All new staff undertake a comprehensive induction programme. Sevenoaks is committed to supporting its staff with training and professional development tailored to staff needs and interests.
The Art Department
The Art Department is a busy, well-resourced and creative environment. The involvement of the students is excellent at all levels, as are the results, and we enjoy working with unusually enthusiastic and committed students. In Years 7 to 9 pupils follow our own schemes of work and participate in a dedicated club each week. In the Middle School, a Sevenoaks School Certificate has replaced GCSE, offering a varied and rich art education that encourages diversity, challenge and creative ambition. In the Sixth Form, students may opt for a Higher Level or Standard Level Visual Arts course and we aim to provide candidates with the creative tools to produce informed, personal and accomplished bodies of work. IB artists hold their end of year exhibition at the Oxo Bargehouse in central London. Examples of pupils’ work can be seen at www.sevenoaksschoolart.org
The department aims to foster an interest in art in all pupils. Projects are undertaken to place work about the campus; there is currently a series of sculptures in development for the grounds and pupils’ work is regularly exhibited. Photography and filmmaking clubs are offered and the department is looking to expand the range of similar specialist clubs. Regular trips are made to London galleries and a trip to Paris is scheduled for November. Two technicians support work in the studio. Facilities include two computer suites, a ceramics/sculpture studio, a printmaking area and a Sixth Form studio. Pupils have access to a large etching press, a large format A1 inkjet printer and a darkroom.
The Post
The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic and well-qualified graduate who will contribute to the development of Art at Sevenoaks School. Passionate about the visual arts, they will be ambitious for what young people can achieve and gain from participation. The Art Department is open well beyond timetabled lessons to support pupils’ creativity. It is expected that the successful applicant would contribute fully to this area and be able to offer a diversity of creative practice, although a particular interest in digital media and a desire to innovate would be an advantage. We welcome applications from teachers new to the profession as well as those with teaching experience. A commitment to excellent pastoral care and enriching co-curricular activities is also expected.
Attached documents
About Sevenoaks School
Founded in 1432, Sevenoaks enjoys a global reputation as a centre of academic excellence and a flagship school for the International Baccalaureate. A co-educational day and boarding school, it offers a stimulating, intellectually demanding and balanced education for over 1200 students from ages 11 to 18.
Sevenoaks is one of the world’s leading IB schools, having taught the International Baccalaureate for over 40 years. For nearly 20 years, all Sixth Form students have taken the full IB Diploma with consistently outstanding academic results which are testament to the school’s experience and commitment to the programme.
In 2023, the average Diploma score was 39.0 points, about eight points above the world average. The Higher Education department supported applications of 246 students to universities in the UK, USA, Canada, Europe and Hong Kong with an outstanding 93 per cent progressing to their firm choice university. The majority attend Oxbridge, London universities, or other Russell Group universities such as Bristol or Durham. We also support about 20 per cent of our students in applying to international universities with increasing numbers going to North America, specifically Ivy League and top universities in the United States.
The school is situated in the Kent market town of Sevenoaks and has a prime position at the top of the high street. The 100-acre site, which includes several listed buildings and attractive gardens, is beautifully landscaped and adjoins the medieval deer park of Knole. London is only a 30-minute train ride away. Gatwick airport is only 30 minutes by car, and there are good transport links to other London airports and the Channel Tunnel.
Sevenoaks students have access to a fantastic range of facilities on campus for co-curricular pursuits, including sport, music, drama and art, at least 70 clubs and societies, a wide range of study trips and exchanges, and a well-established community service programme. Recent developments on campus include a superb sports centre, and a state-of-the-art performing arts centre, and a world-class Science and Technology Centre and a Global Study Centre for the Sixth Form. An additional boarding house for boys, a contemporary building with light, modern facilities, opened in 2019, and a new girls’ boarding house is expected to open in 2024.
With seven distinctive and comfortable boarding houses, our boarding community is fun, friendly, and busy. Boarding provides an excellent transition from home to independence and maturity; the Sixth Form boarding houses enable boys and girls to enjoy the benefits of boarding at an important stage in their school careers, and to prepare for life at university.
Accolades
In 2018 Sevenoaks School was, for the second time in 10 years, awarded The Sunday Times Independent School of the Year. In the same year, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) awarded Sevenoaks School the highest grade – ‘Excellent’ – in both categories which formed the basis of the inspection: ‘Pupils’ Achievement’ and ‘Pupils’ Personal Development’.
Teaching at Sevenoaks:
Teaching here is immensely rewarding: we work in high-performing teams towards a shared endeavour. Everyone appointed to teach at Sevenoaks School is expected to engage actively in all aspects of our broad and well-rounded education.
We want all our pupils to enjoy their subjects, to be inspired by their teachers and to become independent, lifelong learners. Teachers are enthusiastic and well-qualified graduates. We have an exceptionally lively, talented and committed staff body. We welcome applications from experienced teachers and newly-qualified teachers, but can also provide training including PGCE for those joining the profession at whatever stage. All new staff undertake a comprehensive induction programme. Sevenoaks is committed to supporting its staff with training and professional development tailored to staff needs and interests.
All teachers are involved in proactive pastoral care. All teachers participate in the co-curriculum and, as our outreach activities expand, contribute to our work with local pupils and schools. Teachers at Sevenoaks are innovative and forward-thinking many are involved in the Institutes of Teaching and Learning, Higher Education and Professional Insight, and Service and Partnerships, shaping further development and initiatives for students and staff alike.
What people say about us:
‘Tough for any university not to be an anti-climax after Sevenoaks.’ Good Schools Guide.
The International Baccalaureate
All new staff undertake a comprehensive induction programme. No previous experience of teaching the International Baccalaureate, which we have taught since 1978, is necessary; gaining experience of teaching the IB, an internationally recognised qualification which we believe offers outstanding preparation for university and beyond, is stimulating and undoubtedly a valuable career asset. Information about the IB can be found on the website www.ibo.org.
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