Dunottar School - Teacher of Spanish (with French as an advantage)

Dunottar is a co-educational school for pupils aged 11-18 set in extensive grounds of 15 acres on the outskirts of Reigate. Under the Headship of Mark Tottman, the school is on a very exciting journey having won the prestigious Education Business Award for the ‘Outstanding Progress – UK Independent Schools’ category 2019. Dunottar is experiencing fast growth in pupil numbers and to accommodate this expansion, we have completed a £6.6 million capital development programme to build a new Sixth Form Centre and Assembly Hall/Performing Arts Centre. 

Dunottar is a great place to work, with a team of highly professional and committed teachers and support staff. We incorporate best practice from independent schools and academies right across the United Learning Group, whilst retaining our unique, friendly ethos in Reigate where pupils are nurtured to make significant personal progress at the same time as achieving excellent academic results. United Learning is an outstanding organisation which prides itself on providing a working and learning environment which encourages ‘the best in everyone’. You will join a network of staff belonging to over 90 other schools, with opportunities to engage with fellow professionals which far exceed what one school could achieve on its own. Personal development and career opportunities are excellent. They will also play an active role in the extensive and varied co-curricular program, both during the working week and some weekends. 

The Department

The Modern Foreign Languages Department is a forward thinking department which seeks to enthuse the pupils through outstanding and innovative teaching. Pupils study French and Spanish at Key Stage 3. At GCSE, pupils are able to take at least one language and follow the AQA courses in both French and Spanish. At A Level, the AQA course is followed.   

The MFL Department is supported by Foreign Language Assistants who work closely with the class teacher in facilitating learning and supporting the pupils with the language skill.

The MFL department runs a number of trips and enrichment opportunities including an established link with a partner schools in Angers, and a desire to be involved in these aspects of the life of the school is essential for the successful candidate. Every year the MFL Department host Languages Week, a diverse celebration of the cultural influences that make learning a new language so exciting. Outside of the classroom, they offer a thriving programme of clubs and activities to enhance pupils love and enjoyment of foreign languages, including Foreign Film Club, Language Leaders and Duolingo Club. The ideal candidate will also play an active role in the extensive and varied co-curricular program, both during the working week and some weekends.

The Role

We seek to appoint an outstanding teacher; one who has the vision, enthusiasm and energy to further develop the work of the department to take it into it’s next phase. The post offers an exciting challenge for someone with initiative and imagination, who can teach primarily Spanish including A Level, and French is an added bonus. This role will suit an Early Career Teacher or an experienced practitioner. The successful candidate must be prepared to give full commitment to the aims and ethos of the Modern Foreign Languages department and to Dunottar School. In return we can offer all the benefits of working in a thriving and collegiate school environment.  

Key Responsibilities

• Enable pupils to acquire new knowledge and to make good progress according to their ability to increase their understanding and develop their skills in the subject being taught.
• Display evidence of well-planned lessons, and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time.
• Show a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils, and that these have been taken into account when planning lessons.
• Display a high level of knowledge and understanding by the teacher of the subject matter being taught, and communicate this enthusiastically to students.
• Employ an excellent range of teaching strategies, high-quality resources and activities, thus enabling all students to fulfil their academic potential.
• Ensure that marking of pupils’ work is both regular and thorough and that full records are kept in line with the Assessment, Recording and Reporting Statement.
• Ensure that pupil assessment is used to inform lesson planning so pupils can make progress, and evaluate pupil performance both in terms of the school’s stated aims and national norms.
• Use effective strategies for managing behaviour and encouraging students to act responsibly.
• Have high expectations of students.
• Create a stimulating and positive learning environment.
• Keep abreast of current thinking and development in relevant subject area(s).
• Assist the Head of Department with the development of appropriate specifications, schemes of work and teaching styles.
• Share resources and training materials with colleagues.
• Work with other members of the department to ensure that all resources are well looked after and that departmental areas provide a stimulating environment for teaching.
• Contribute to departmental activities, e.g. enrichment work, clubs, societies and trips.
• Provide or contribute to oral and written assessments, reports and references relating to individual pupils.
• Attend Parents’ Evenings.
• Attend and contribute to relevant meetings when required.
• Be involved in a House, attend House meetings and support House events.
• Take part in one or more co-curricular activity.
• Attend and support assemblies and co-curricular events e.g. concerts, plays.
• Pastoral Care is the responsibility of all members of teaching staff at Dunottar, staff must:
• Contribute to the pastoral care and personal development of pupils.
• Report any pastoral concerns to the Head of Section or in serious circumstances the Deputy Head Pastoral.
• Be fully conversant with the Child Protection policy and report any concerns or allegations to the Senior Designated Person.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive and the post holder may perform other duties reasonably required by the Headmaster. The School reserves the right to make an appointment at any stage during the recruitment process.