Teacher of Chemistry
Birkenhead School
Oxton, Wirral
- Expired
- Salary:
- Competitive depending on experience and expertise.
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- September 2019
- Apply by:
- 28 January 2019
Job overview
Birkenhead School, founded in 1860, is an HMC independent day school providing education for boys and girls from the age of 3 months to 18 years, drawing from the whole of the Wirral and as far afield as Chester and North Wales. There are currently some 104 children in Early Years (57 in Nursery aged under 3 years old, 47 in our “Pre-Prep” aged 3 to 5 years old), 319 pupils in the School’s Prep (ages 5-11) and 424 pupils in Years 7 to Upper Sixth Form. Birkenhead School has been fully co-educational since September 2008, offering the choice of an independent education to all local children. Situated in the leafy suburb of Oxton, the School enjoys excellent facilities. The main campus has a ‘village green’ atmosphere, with classrooms and laboratories looking out over the cricket square.
We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and dynamic teacher with relevant experience to teach and tutor students across the full age and ability range, in order to ensure the highest possible standards of achievement, personal development and well-being. The post holder will continue to meet, maintain, and build upon Teachers Standards. This is a full time role reporting directly to the Head of Chemistry.
Applications from both NQTs and more experienced teachers are welcome.
The department consists of three teachers who teach Chemistry as a separate subject, from Year 9 upwards, and contribute to the general science teaching in Years 7 and 8. At GCSE, the majority of pupils are entered for the AQA GCSE separate sciences (Higher Tier) and 30-40% take the GCSE Combined Science (Higher Tier). We follow the AQA specification at A Level.
Last year, 55% of our GCSE Chemistry students achieved Grade 9 (90% Grade 8/9) and 33 % of A-level students scored A*, with 84% A*-B. Over the previous 5 years, 72% of our A-level students achieved A*/A and 97% of our GCSE students scored A*/A. Value-added scores and retention rates are the highest in the School. Class sizes are small, on average around 20 at Key Stage 4 (Combined Science sets are smaller) and 12 in the Sixth Form.
The department is well equipped, with three laboratories and two prep rooms supported by a full time Chemistry technician, who also coordinates the distribution of duties within the technician team. The current Head of Chemistry (Pete Lindberg) is also Head of Science and encourages a unified, consistent approach, with practical work at the heart of the learning process.
About Birkenhead School
Birkenhead School - one of the UK's top independent schools and Wirral's only selective, co-educational school.
As an HMC Independent School that welcomes children from Nursery to Sixth Form, we are aware of the considerable privilege in shaping the educational journey of children through their formative school years.
From Pre-Prep to Sixth Form, our focus is to know the individual, to develop their core values and to provide a breadth of academic and other opportunities so that we can nurture resilient, ambitious and responsible young men and women. Rightly or wrongly, a school will often be judged by its academic results. At Birkenhead School, we take a rigorous approach to academic study, achieving the highest grades, yet firmly believing that the path pupils take and the challenges they overcome are of equal importance. We strive to create a learning environment where teachers have the freedom to teach and where pupils learn because they are inspired and curious - not merely to achieve good grades. We aim to engender a mind-set to learn thoughout life.
With society placing ever increasing pressure on today's pupils, we educate in the broadest sense. The best learners and contributers to School life, and thus the leaders of tomorrow, are those pupils who are happiest. We continue to place great importance on traditional values such as honesty, integrity and a strong moral compass that leads to a healthy, cohesive and aspirational community.
We take great pride in each pupil feeling known and valued within our community. At Birkenhead School, we add further value at every step of this educational journey, driven by an extra-curricular programme whose scope and quality allows each individual to find their niche whether it lies in academia, sport, music, drama, service or leadership - to name but a few. For staff to be able to further our pupils' passions, while working within such an inspirational and beautiful school site, is one of the great privileges of teaching at Birkenhead School, and of an independent education.
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