Teacher of Geography/History & Tutor

Downland School is a co-educational maintained community special school, for pupils aged between 10 and 16. All pupils have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP). For the majority, the primary identified need is Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) and behavioural difficulties. Additionally, pupils have a range of other special educational needs such as Autism, Attention Deficit Difficulties AD(H)D, Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN), conduct disorders and attachment profiles.  

We offer 90 placements for pupils referred from the local authority and primarily our pupils come from Wiltshire. However, we also educate young people from other nearby regional authorities. The school is situated on the southern edge of Devizes in beautiful countryside and opened in 1971 as a residential provision for boys. In 2014 the residential side of the school was closed and in 2017 we welcomed girls to our school.

We are an inclusive, friendly and happy school and are proud of the achievements and progress that all of our pupils make. The staff work as a cohesive multidisciplinary team, working collaboratively to ensure our pupils overcome their individual barriers to engagement and learning. We provide care, guidance, stability, consistency and the highest quality of education and support. Our aim is to secure accelerated learning and prepare all of our pupils for life beyond Downland.

We promote the highest standards of educational achievement at all levels and deliver a broad and balanced education experience. Our curriculum is carefully planned, sequenced and personalised according to need.

Our mission statement is ‘Aspire, Achieve and Thrive’.

We are now looking to appoint a dynamic and ambitious teacher of history and geography. This is an exciting opportunity to join our enthusiastic, committed and professional team and to teach pupils from year 6 to year 11.

You will have a passion for your subject, be an outstanding teacher and have the ability to teach pupils with SEND. You will fully participate in developing the curriculum including initiatives to secure outstanding teaching and learning. You will have a strong commitment to the wider pastoral role and wish to make a significant positive impact on our young people’s lives, securing the very best outcomes.

Can you raise aspirations and rise to the challenge?

Key areas of work will include:

· Teaching the history and geography curricula to drive up the quality of outcomes at Downland School

·P ositively contributing to the quality of teaching and learning within the department

· Supporting the implementation of our whole school Literacy strategy

· Actively promoting innovation and creativity with a SEN focus across the department, subject and the wider school

· Focusing strongly on raising levels of progress and attainment through accurate assessment of data which is used across the school, using a range of evaluation methods which align with the school’s self-evaluation processes

· Focusing on developing the needs of the whole child

· Teaching mixed ability class groups of pupils with complex SEND

· Participating fully in all aspects of pastoral care and wider school life

Enthusiasm and commitment to working with and raising achievement for pupils with SEND is paramount to us; you will be expected to actively demonstrate the school’s core values and embrace ‘The Downland Way’.