Temporary Teacher of Chemistry

An able, well-qualified and inspiring teacher of Chemistry is required to join this very successful and innovative department for the academic year 2021-22 during a colleague’s leave of absence.  The successful candidate will be required to teach pupils throughout the school, from Year 7 to Year 13.  The department currently comprises eight full-time teachers who work in modern, well-resourced laboratories with good technical support.  The successful candidate may have the opportunity to contribute to the School’s significant outreach teaching in local Haringey schools.

Whilst desirable, prior teaching experience is not a necessity. We are looking for applicants who relish the opportunity to work with bright, ambitious and well-motivated pupils. Applicants must demonstrate an ability to relate to young people together with a genuine, academically well-grounded enthusiasm for the subject. Applicants should endeavour to inspire pupils to develop high standards of scholarship through innovative, clearly focused and responsive teaching, which goes the extra mile, and encourages pupils to do the same. The successful candidates will be able and willing to contribute to the pastoral and co-curricular life of the school, both aspects of which are valued at Highgate.

All pupils study Chemistry as a separate subject in Years 8 to Year 11, ultimately following the Edexcel IGCSE course. A General Science course is taught in Year 7, to which all three science departments contribute and which all members of the Science Faculty can be expected to teach. The majority of pupils will take IGCSEs in all three sciences. In 2019, 98.5% of pupils taking IGCSE Chemistry achieved 7-9 grades. In the Sixth Form, the OCR A specification is taught and Chemistry is a popular choice for students, typically with five classes per year group.  Standards of achievement in the Sixth Form are also high, with 79% of 47 students achieving A or A* grades last summer.  Several students apply to Oxford or Cambridge to read Chemistry or related courses each year. This year, four Highgate students received offers from Oxford to read Chemistry and one to read Natural Sciences at Cambridge. 

The department is located centrally within the school. There are four Chemistry laboratories (all with dedicated experimental areas), a departmental office and separate prep room.  Two experienced technicians work in the Chemistry Department.  The department organises visits to public lectures and invites guest speakers to the school, and there are a number of thriving academic societies sponsored by the department that meet on a regular basis, including weekly Year 12 Chemistry Extension classes. Around half of our Sixth Form students volunteer to enter the annual RSC Chemistry Olympiad Competition, where the majority will gain a medal. 

Working at Highgate

The School has in place DfE recognised arrangements for the Induction Year and the confirmation of NQT status and has considerable experience of and success in guiding entrants to the profession to qualified status. For all teachers new to Highgate, regardless of experience, there is a strong and supportive framework of induction to the School.

Teachers at Highgate enjoy a welcoming, comfortable and exceptionally well-resourced environment and are provided with significant assistance from a range of support staff.  Salaries are competitive for a reason: teachers are the School’s most valuable resource.  The School pays the employer’s contribution to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. Terms are shorter than in the maintained sector. Staff have free access to the School’s sports facilities, including a swimming pool and a fitness suite.

Highgate is strongly committed to inclusion and is an equal opportunities employer. We aim to create a welcoming, respectful and safe environment for all members of our community, from every ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability/disability, religion and background.  We know that more diverse teams are stronger teams, and that the more inclusive we are, the more our staff and pupils will feel a sense of belonging and will thrive. To enable us to make any reasonable adjustments, please let us know when you submit your application whether you have any special requirements.

Highgate is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service and overseas police check if necessary. Candidates from overseas must provide information about their past conduct, for example, by providing documents issued by overseas teaching authorities.

The Head of Chemistry, Ella Cameron (ella.cameron@highgateschool.org.uk)  or the Deputy Head (Academic) James Newton (james.newton@highgateschool.org.uk) will be happy to answer any questions.