Teacher of Science

Caistor Grammar School

A Selective Academy

Church St. Caistor 

Lincolnshire LN7 6QJ

Tel. 01472 851250  Fax. 01472 852248

Alistair Hopkins M.A. (Oxon), M.Ed. Headmaster

Dear Applicant,

Re: Teacher of Science, permanent contract, (0.58, M1-UPS3 £14,914-£24,130, actual)

Start: September 2021.

Thank you very much for considering making an application to Caistor Grammar School. We are a small school with an outstanding record of academic achievement and support for our students. We run an enviable extra-curricular programme, which makes a large contribution to the ethos of the School. We were ranked top of the league tables for schools in the East Midlands in 2019 for our combined GCSE and A level outcomes by The Sunday Times. We were top of the league tables in Lincolnshire for A level outcomes (68% A*-B) and second for GCSE outcomes (63.6% grades 9-7). Our Progress 8 score of 0.64 (2019) placed us in the top 10% of schools nationally. We live our motto ‘Ever to Excel’. We were named East Midlands Secondary State School of the Decade last November by The Sunday Times.

We are based in the heart of Caistor, a market town standing on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds. Lincoln is 24 miles to the south and Grimsby 12 miles to the east. To the north, over the Humber Bridge, Hull is about 30 minutes from here and major cities like Doncaster, Sheffield and Leeds can be reached easily within an hour and a half along the M180 motorway. Property prices are very reasonable compared to other parts of the country, while to the east you can enjoy the delights of the coast in resorts to suit everyone’s tastes.

The School is a special, unique place. All staff, teaching, administration and support, work hard to ensure that our students receive the best education possible. We number approximately 690 students, including 180 in the Sixth Form. We are also proud to be a single academy trust with a very supportive parental and governing body. We are keen to maintain our independence, while supporting other primary and secondary schools in our area.

The School was founded in 1631 and the original school room is still in use. Most of our work, however, is done in buildings which were substantially remodelled and extended in the very recent past. In 2005, our Manning Building was extensively re-modelled to provide improved accommodation for Modern Languages, PE and History. We also gained an all-weather pitch and a new sports pavilion. The School has a new Food Technology Room, new Music facilities and we have extended our science provision creating the Olympic Torch Building for the teaching of Physics in 2014. Our dining hall was expanded and remodelled recently, and we are looking to develop other parts of our site. 

We have been actively involved in several partnerships with other Lincolnshire Schools and local businesses. We are a selective school drawing our pupils from the upper 25% of the ability range. All our sixth formers are working for three or four A-levels and nearly all go on to either employment, apprenticeships and higher education, including Oxbridge and Russell Group universities. Our students are well motivated and, to quote our last inspection, ‘relish their learning.’ The atmosphere of the School is friendly, purposeful and inclusive.  Colleagues are encouraged to develop their own skills and abilities in a supportive environment.

The department

The Science Department at Caistor Grammar School consistently achieves very good results at GCSE and A Level. Science is a very highly regarded subject at Caistor, and students have high expectations. To support the excellent lessons, a rich programme of extra-curricular opportunities supports the students in the Sciences. Separate Sciences are taught from the start of Year 7; we believe this is vital to establish the identity of each of the three subjects as soon as the students arrive from primary school. We deliver an in-house scheme designed to give a practical rich experience and set the groundwork for the skills required to follow the GCSE course. All students follow the AQA course in Years 10 and 11, the vast majority completing the three separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Examination results are very good: in 2019, the percentage of grades 9 to 7 at GCSE were 58% Biology, 64% Chemistry, 67% Physics. At A’ Level the percentage of grades A* to B were 58% Biology (OCR), 61% Chemistry (OCR) and 61% Physics (AQA).

There are seven teachers in the department led by the Head of Science, a Head of Chemistry and Head of Physics. They are supported by two full-time technicians. The School has high academic standards and a variety of teaching strategies are implemented to support effective learning for all levels of ability. Students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning, and to develop good study skills.

Interested candidates are welcome to contact the current Head of Department to discuss the post in more detail at gavin.cooke@caistorgrammar.com . The ability to deliver a second Science to GCSE will be welcomed. We expect all staff to contribute to the extra-curricular life of the School.

The post

We require a teacher of Science for September 2021, teaching a 0.58 timetable, to join our school. The successful candidates will be required to teach KS3 sciences, and to offer a specialism at KS4. The ability to teach to A level is desirable.

How to apply

Please send the completed application form, together with an up to date CV and a letter of application by noon on Wednesday 19 May 2021, to Alistair Hopkins, Headmaster, Caistor Grammar School, Caistor, Lincoln LN7 6QJ or email to the Head’s PA deborah.craddock@caistorgrammar.com.

Interviews will be held week commencing 24 May.

I hope this information will encourage you to make an application. We look forward to hearing from you.

All good wishes,

Alistair Hopkins

Headmaster

May 2021