Faculty Lead for Social Science

We are currently looking to appoint a Faculty Lead for Social Science to join our happy and successful school.

At Harris Academy Ockendon you will join a dedicated team of teachers and staff supporting our vibrant students. If you are looking for an opportunity to grow, inspire and develop, this may be the role for you.

About Us

A lovely secondary school where the students say, “Good Morning”, and actually mean it. Check out our school via our video https://tinyurl.com/HAOC-Video

“I am passionate about three things:

1. Leading staff to become happy, successful, highly trained professionals who stay in the game and don't burn out or lose their way.
2. Creating a fulfilling secondary experience for students where they can grow to become well-rounded, ambitious and successful young adults ready to put a ding in the universe.
3. My life outside work.

Being great at number 1 and number 2 should not mean we can't do number 3!”

- George McMillan, Executive Principal and National Leader of Education.

We are an 11-18 academy with a thriving Sixth Form and a lovely building. It is a school where we are as passionate about developing our staff as we are about developing our students.

Our location just outside the M25 means we attract staff not only from Essex but from London. Indeed, over half our staff live in Kent/Surrey/South East and Central London. Some of our team even travel from West London because they like the school so much.

Our role here is to help students and staff dream bigger than they ever thought possible, and to make that dream come true through our culture of “work hard, be kind, take responsibility” which beats at the heart of our school.

The Executive Principal is George McMillan. Originally from Glasgow, he graduated from the University of Aberdeen with an MA (hons) degree in English Literature and a burning desire to teach. After teaching in Edinburgh, then moving to senior management in Chafford (Essex), George took over Harris Academy Greenwich in 2011 and led its transformation to hitting the top 15% of schools in the country for progress 7 years in a row. Harris Greenwich is one of only a handful of schools in London to retain its Outstanding status (2014 then 2022) under the new Ofsted framework, and the World Class School status twice in a row.

The Principal is Ms Jo Rainey. Originally from Belfast, she graduated from the University of Ulster with a first class degree in History and Geography. Over the past 21 years, she has taught history and led in schools across London and Essex with most of her senior leadership career being spent in Hackney. Jo has been Principal at Ockendon since 2018. She is highly respected for her strong sense of integrity, her passion for student life chances, and loyalty to the school.

The Harris Federation is a highly successful group of schools who serve many of the most deprived areas of London and Essex. We are collaborative, enterprising and share a passion for turning lives around, yet each school is autonomous and free to set its own vision and strategy for how it does that.

Each Harris school feels completely different in terms of culture and ethos. Perhaps this is the school you've been looking for.

Main Areas of Responsibility

As Faculty Director, your responsibilities will include:

• To ensure the delivery of an appropriate, comprehensive, high quality curriculum that has high expectations of achievement for all students;
• To ensure curriculum coverage is appropriate for all students, including those of high ability and those with special educational or linguistic needs;
• To make suitable adjustments to the curriculum and lessons to ensure all students learn the intended curriculum
• To ensure effective development of students' literacy, numeracy and information technology skills through the subject;
• To strive constantly to produce lessons that enable students to make outstanding progress through the curriculum, ensuring that every pupil makes progress in every lesson, achieving the teaching standards set out in June 2013;
• To plan effectively for every lesson, in accordance with Harris Ockendon 6 Principles of Teaching;
• To establish a partnership with parents to involve them in their child's learning of the subject, as well as providing information about curriculum attainment, progress and targets;
• To fulfil the role of a Form Tutor and teaching of the PRE or Guided Reading curriculum as required;
• To create an effective and stimulating environment for the teaching and learning of the subject;
• To be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people;
• To work with colleagues to set and achieve departmental targets;
• To engage with, and participate in, any relevant whole Academy or department CPD;
• To engage with, and participate in, the Academy's Performance Management process.

Qualifications & Experience

The successful candidate will:

• Enjoy working with teenagers and helping them succeed
• Believe in our shared values: work hard, be kind, take responsibility
• Hold QTS (or equivalent) and a relevant undergraduate degree
• Have successful teaching experience at secondary level
• Understand the theory and practice of effective teaching and learning
• Understand the importance of high expectations and equality of access for all students
• Have knowledge of National Curriculum requirements at KS3 and KS4 in particular
• Be able to work as part of a team and to develop and maintain positive relationships with all staff
• Be able to create a motivating and safe learning environment for all students
• Be able to communicate positively with parents, carers and other external agencies where necessary
• Have good written and spoken communication skills
• Be able to lead and manage your own work effectively
• Have excellent time management skills
• Be able to motivate students and raise their aspirations through a range of strategies

Professional Development & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance for teachers on MPS/UPS, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan including access to a virtual GP, electric car scheme, and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.