Teacher of Chemistry and Biology

An exciting opportunity has arisen at St Mary’s and we wish to appoint a Teacher of Chemistry and Biology. 

This role is part-time (0.5 contract, hours to be agreed). The ability to teach ICT at Key Stage 3 would be an advantage, however this is not a requirement. The candidate must be an outstanding, driven, focused, motivated and inspirational individual who can lead the pupils to achieve far beyond their own expectations. 

The successful candidate will have a genuine passion for Chemistry and Biology and a desire to develop this in others..  They must be eager to advance their own teaching skills as well as being keen to share ideas with their colleagues within this dedicated team.  A willingness to contribute more widely to the co-curricular life of the school is expected.

About St Mary's:

St Mary’s Shaftesbury is a Roman Catholic independent girls’ school which sits in a stunning 55-acre site in beautiful country on the Wiltshire/Dorset border.  We welcome pupils aged 9 to 18 and half of our girls are full boarders, with a good balance of local and international pupils. Based on recent A level results, St Mary’s was recently placed in the top 35 girls boarding schools in the UK. We pride ourselves on our exceptionally high standards and strive for excellence throughout the school, a practice which was recently rewarded with the achievement of ‘Outstanding in all Areas’ in a school inspection.

St Mary’s is non-selective which brings a fantastic balance of diversity to the school. Being a smaller school, we pride ourselves on our unique family atmosphere and strong nurturing ethos. St Mary’s makes a commitment to each child on joining the school to ensure they reach their full potential.  We focus on the individual progress of all our pupils ensuring they perform to the very best of their ability. By valuing the academic progress of our pupils equally, a culture of enthusiasm for all learning is engendered. 

We demand academic rigour, but we also help our girls to focus on individual growth, and self-discovery.  Their spiritual development is supported through a strong moral code which they will take forward into their adult lives. 

Originally a convent school under the direction of the Congregation of Jesus (formerly the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary), the school is now independent and is owned and managed by a Charitable Trust.  Lay staff have replaced religious staff and the Trust has purchased the freehold of the property.  The ethos of the school, upon which Governors place great importance, remains in the tradition of the CJ, founded by Mary Ward.  The aim is to educate Catholic girls, and those of other faiths, in an environment which nurtures Christian values and prepares them for any walk of life. 

St Mary’s School was founded in 1945 and is situated near Shaftesbury on the Wiltshire/Dorset border in a small country estate.  In recent years, developments have included a purpose-built music school, an indoor swimming pool, new staff housing and an extended Upper-Sixth House.  Later additions include a new academic facility, housing the Humanities Faculty and Learning Support with a large Conference Room and a new purpose-built Art complex which opened in 2014.  The Governors continue to support a clear vision of development for the future.   St Mary’s enjoys a reputation for all round excellence, pastoral care and traditional values.  Almost all of the Sixth Form continue to higher education. 

Working at St Mary’s:

At St Mary’s our staff work in an environment which is dedicated in its holistic approach to the development of our pupils to achieve beyond all expectations. It is our responsibility to know every single one of our pupils, in the classroom, on the sports pitch and through broad co-curricular opportunities, and know how we can help them be the best that they can be. We are extremely proud to live by this ethos at St Mary’s and believe that all our pupils should be individually known and individually nurtured. 

Our Mission Statement is:

St Mary’s is a Roman Catholic Girls’ School, Boarding and Day, founded on the principles of Mary Ward.  Her vision and our mission is to educate each individual to the highest standards through fostering traditional values in the spirit of the Gospel.  We are concerned with all that a girl is and could become.

Working Hours:

This is a part-time position.  The expected contract is 0.5 but will be confirmed at interview.  The lessons will be timetabled over three days.  The standard school day is 0820 – 1645, however we do expect our staff to have a flexible approach to working hours. We have a variety of events that take place outside of the normal timetable as well as evening and weekend events that staff are  expected to attend when necessary.

Salary and Benefits:

• An excellent package is available depending on experience.

• Annual leave

• Pension

• Sports Centre Membership

• Meals provided during work hours

Application Process:

An application is available to download from: www.stmshaftesbury.uk . Applications should either be submitted through our career website (address above) or sent to Jo Blair (hr@stmshaftesbury.uk), HR Manager, St Mary’s School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 9LP.  

In your application, please make it clear whether you would be able to teach ICT to Key Stage 3. 

Closing Date: 12 Noon Tuesday, 21st July 2020

Interview dates are: flexible 

Early applications will be welcome – the interview process may be staged and some interviews held in advance of the closing date if there is a large number of applicants for the role as the school reserves the right to interview and appoint prior to the deadline.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and a criminal record check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).