Classics Teacher - maternity leave

St Helen’s is an academically selective independent girls’ day school of more than 1100 students aged 3-18, set in beautiful green space in Northwood, North West London. 

We require a Classics Teacher to cover a period of maternity leave from September 2022, in line with timetable necessities. This post is suitable for an ECT as well as more experienced teachers.  Full-time and Part time applications will be considered. 

Please apply as soon as possible as shortlisting/interviews will progress up until the closing date. Should a suitable candidate be appointed, we reserve the right to close the advert early.

The Classics Department currently comprises the Head of Classics, and four other full and part-time Classics specialists.  The ethos of the department is twofold: to teach classical languages, challenging pupils to go beyond the specification, and to inculcate an appreciation of the culture of the ancient Greeks and Romans and their influence on society today.

Latin is a compulsory subject in years 7 & 8, in which the Roman civilisation background is also taught.  In year 9, most pupils opt to study either Latin or Gratin, i.e. Latin with some Ancient Greek. The rest choose Classical Civilisation, in which the current focus is Homer’s Odyssey and Women in Athens.

Latin is a popular option at GCSE for which we usually have two classes, while we also offer Classical Civilisation and Classical Greek, albeit the latter is likely to be an after-school option on a reduced timetable.

 These three subjects are all options in the sixth form, with any teaching of Greek then coming back into the mainstream timetable.

The Classics Department offers a lunchtime Classics Club as well as a Greek Society.  We are active in running trips over the year, including annual trips to Butser Farm for year 7s and an annual trip to see the Classics Play at UCL.  We also hope to resume residential trips abroad as soon as is practical.  Our most recent ones were to the Bay of Naples area and to Sicily.

The Classics Department at St Helen’s is a diverse, experienced and successful department.

The successful candidate will have the following qualifications, experience and personal attributes

THE PERSON

• A good honours degree in a relevant or associated subject  

• A love of teaching and learning and a commitment to further professional development 

• Be able to work well with others and develop the curriculum through collaborative planning 

• Excellent classroom practice 

• Detailed understanding of current developments in the secondary curriculum and assessment 

• Be able to lead learning in the classroom, develop each child and demonstrate passion for the subject 

Desirable:

• A teaching qualification such as PGCE or equivalent

• Evidence of further professional development

• Knowledge and experience of how to blend digital and traditional learning in the classroom

The successful candidate will:

• be an exceptional classroom practitioner and inspiring teacher

• possess outstanding interpersonal and communication skills

• have excellent time management and organisational skills

• be creative, imaginative and energetic

• be able to motivate others

The teacher should have knowledge and understanding of:

• effective learning and teaching styles

• theory and practice of providing effectively for the individual needs of all children (e.g. classroom organisation, planning, and teaching strategies which remove barriers to learning and which stretch and challenge able, gifted and talented pupils)

• monitoring, assessment, recording and reporting of pupils’ progress

• how assessment supports effective learning

• the need for high quality pastoral support to complement the academic experience of pupils aged 11-18

• the Legislation concerning Equality, Health & Safety, Individual Needs and Safeguarding / Child Protection

OTHER DUTIES

• carry out such duties that may be reasonably required by the Head of Classics

• contribute to the school’s programme of extra-curricular activities

• maintain high professional standards of attendance, punctuality, appearance, conduct and positive, courteous relations with pupils, parents and colleagues

• engage actively in the performance review process

• follow responsibilities as defined in the Health & Safety Policy

• promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people with whom s/he comes into contact and adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s Child Protection Policy

• Support and promote and School’s ethos, aims and objectives.

Closing date: 8.00am, Friday 20th May 2022.