Teacher of Science (with Chemistry)

Please visit our website at www.obanhigh.com

Oban High School seeks to embrace the rich heritage and culture of the area whilst promoting a progressive, inclusive and holistic approach to education. Our vision and values permeate every aspect of school life. The school has 19 partner primary schools and has one of the largest geographical catchment areas in Scotland, catering for pupils from remote rural and island areas and large numbers of urban pupils. The pupils from nine islands stay in the school hostel throughout the school terms. 

To ensure a fully inclusive pastoral support structure, we have merged our severe and complex needs facility with both behaviour and learning support departments and inter-linked these across a full time Guidance structure. Our Clan System is central to our vision and values and was highly praised by the HMIe. The core purpose of the clan system is to promote the concept of “family” and supporting each other; though competitive spirit also remains prominent as shown in our annual Highland Games and clan competitions throughout the year. Our pastoral support is also structured around the clans, with pupils coming together in assemblies and in tutor classes in clans. The assemblies are led by pupil Clan leaders, thus allowing them valuable leadership experience.

We seek to use every opportunity to provide wider opportunities for our pupils, in and out of lessons. We celebrate staff collegiality and embrace a talent management philosophy through a number of opportunities to develop staff leadership. All staff are expected to lead some aspect of whole school improvement and development.

In order to provide the necessary qualifications, skills and experiences to equip our youngsters for life and work after school, we deliberately provide one of the broadest curriculums in Scotland. It is a policy which ensures a very high level of positive destinations for our pupils.

We have a good and developing record in promoting and celebrating wider achievement as evidenced by the number of pupils that take part in a very wide range of activities in and beyond school, many of which are recognised by certification (e.g. Saltire, YASS, UKCC).

Our young people make an impressive contribution to the wider life of the school community and are encouraged to take on leadership roles throughout the school.  Leadership activities include involvement in the Senior Pupil Leadership Team (SPLT) in leading Clan Assemblies; leading the Pupil Council; running charity events; school events and representing the school at civic events both locally and nationally. The pupils were and continue to be co-authors of our curriculum. The SPLT lead groups of prefects on a weekly basis but also co-opt other pupils from across the school on an on-going basis.

Wider achievement is also a key element in the senior phase of our curriculum with an extensive range or vocational opportunities being provided through our well established “Pathways Programme”. This Programme, which Education Scotland uses as a model of good practice, is delivered in partnership with a wide variety of local businesses and partner Primary schools allowing senior pupils the opportunity to gain valuable experience on a weekly basis in a profession or industry that they wish to pursue after leaving school. We have three “Schools” within Oban High which provide a higher and more specialist level of education in particular fields as well as providing greater breadth and opportunity across both the junior and senior curriculum. We believe all three “Schools” have a positive impact on future career progression; talent development, attainment, attendance, confidence and discipline. Working in partnership with the Scottish Rugby Union, our School of Rugby curricular programme is centred on the development of the whole child. The sport lends itself to developing leadership, fitness, responsibility, discipline, respect and sportsmanship. It also provides an opportunity for our students to excel in the sport whilst providing a pathway to represent the school, community, region and their country. Our School of Traditional Music utilises the experience and skills of nationally and inter-nationally renowned musicians to mentor, support and nurture the talents of our pupils who have a passion for traditional Scottish music. It provides our youngsters with the opportunity to develop their talents, both in terms of their instrument and in concert performances, to the point where they can either choose a career as professional musicians directly after school.  

Working in partnership with Ballet West, our School of Dance gives pupils an opportunity to receive specialist dance tuition within the curriculum. The provision has had a positive impact on pupils' broader school life.  Pupils themselves have spoken about it improving their confidence and having great pride in being part of Oban High School. Feeling valued and building strong relationships with staff and peers has really helped our pupils develop a positive attitude to school in general.   Our annual dance show was incredibly well attended this year too, and was an excellent opportunity to showcase the pupils’ skill.

In addition to securing pupils a wide range of academic and vocational qualifications, we are also committed to providing effective and timely support to ensure that our pupils leave Oban High School with a positive destination. This is evidenced through our positive destination figures which have been consistently above the national and local authority averages by 2% in each of the last 4 years. We also have a successful record when it comes to ensuring pupils secure a university place with typically between 30-35% doing so. Although our figures for pupils moving onto further education is below the national average this can often be due to our rural nature and is offset by the extremely high employment rate we have with 35-40% of pupils going straight into work compared with the national average of around 20% for the last 4 years. 

A wide range of vocational work based learning is undertaken in Oban High School, which is provided by 95 different employers, giving pupils the opportunity to select placements which they find relevant. Work experience is also used to personalise the timetables of pupils who are experiencing significant problems in engaging with mainstream education.