Computer Science Teacher

Computer Science Teacher

Didcot Girls’ School & Didcot Sixth Form

Role commences: 1st September 2022 or 1st January 2023

Salary/allowances: MPS/UPS scale point. Suitable for Early Careers Teacher. 

Thank you for your interest in this exciting post. Application forms, other recruitment material and a copy of the school’s prospectus are available on the school website under the ‘Join Us’ tab. 

Didcot Girls’ School is a dynamic school. In December 2015, the school was judged to be Outstanding. As Ofsted recognised, we invest in all of our staff: ‘Staff have exceptional opportunities for professional development. Staff feel valued and really like working in the school. Morale is very high.'(Ofsted). 

We are a values-driven school, committed to high quality teaching and learning and respectful relationships within an inclusive learning community. Developing stimulating and student-centred teaching and learning is at the centre of our school development work. We work hard to ensure that all girls’ education enables our students to develop confidence, leadership skills and high levels of aspiration. 

Summer 2019 GCSE results were superb with 83% of all students achieving 4+ in English and Maths, and 64% doing the same at 5+. Our Attainment 8 figure was significantly above national average at 54.3 and our provisional Progress 8 of +0.71 places us the top 3% of schools nationally. Results at A level in the mixed sixth form shared with our partner school, St Birinus School, are also extremely strong.

DGS Computer Science Department 

The Computer Science department is already well established within the school and has consistently achieved excellent examination outcomes. In 2019, for the last external exams over 90% of GCSE students achieved a 9-4 grade, which was 26% above the National Average. In 2021, these grades were maintained with 75% of students achieving a grade 9-6. The A-Level Computer Science results are strong, with a positive VA (Value Added) score of 0.39.

The department is a team of four, which is led by the Director of Computer Science and supported by KS3 coordinator, ensuring that our focus is on providing a Computing curriculum which is ambitious, coherent, and inclusive of all learners.

The departments aim to provide purposeful lessons which builds upon their prior learning, allowing students to develop their skills and knowledge across Computer Science, Digital Literacy, and IT. We want to encourage students to become independent learners by solving problems and developing their own programs, which will allow them to consider taking the subject further in their studies.

The department builds their KS3 lessons using the NCCE Teach Computing curriculum, which has been written in a way that each lesson is sequenced so that it builds on the learning from the previous lesson, and where appropriate, activities are scaffolded so that all pupils can succeed and thrive. 

We offer a fully resourced curriculum, with a collaborative department who continue to develop strategies and resources to ensure that the needs of all learners are met. 

We are now looking to expand the department so that we can continue to offer a rich experience within the subject, as well as offering whole school enrichment projects. We are very fortunate to have connections with Oxford and Buckingham Universities, the Computing at Schools network (CAS), and we also have links with Microsoft and a range of international technological and engineering companies at Harwell Campus.

Computer Science is taught in Years 7 and 8 an hour a week, which fully embeds the three NC Computing strands from Digital Literacy, Computer Science, and IT. Our students follow a three-year KS4 programme, with GCSE Computer Science a popular choice; with two Computer Science classes being taught throughout each year for Years 9 - 11. We also offer an increasingly popular A-Level in Computer Science with our current Year 12 class being a 50/50 gender split. Both GCSE and A-Level courses follow the OCR specification. 

The department is fast-paced, outward-facing and at the forefront of the school’s work on developing outstanding teaching, learning, planning and assessment strategies that support even greater success for students.

If you share our growth mindset approach to both learning and life then we would love to hear from you!

The Post

This is a key post in a dynamic and strong department. We are looking for someone with a genuine and infectious passion for their subject, who will enthuse and engage the students they teach; someone with high expectations for all students whatever their prior attainment.

The post is suitable for candidates who can teach KS3 Computer Science, GCSE Computer Science and elements of the A-Level Computer Science specification.

We welcome applications from experienced teachers as well as those new to the profession and currently in training. 

Didcot Girls’ School is an accredited teaching school with a significant track record for successful fast-track career progression, leadership development and excellent CPD. There is the possibility of leadership responsibility on appointment for the right candidate. The school is also part of Ridgeway Education Trust, a growing multi-academy trust, which provides the opportunity for school improvement and leadership work across schools in the future. 

For further information about the department, please email Nathan Rees, Head of Computer Science at nrees@didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk 

Application Process

Please download and complete an application form from the school website (under ‘Join us’) and send it with a response to the following task to Frances Adley at fadley@didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk: 

• A response of no more than 2 sides of A4 (11 point) explaining what excellent teaching, learning and curriculum looks like in Computer Science.

The deadline for applications is 9am on Monday 7th February. However, suitable candidates may be interviewed before the closing date and the school reserves the right to withdraw the position if an early appointment is made.

Please be aware that you will be required to bring your original degree certificate, proof of residence and your Disclosure and Barring Service or CRB certificate, if applicable, to your interview.  

I thank you for your interest in this exciting post and wish you well with your application.  

Georgina Littler

Headteacher

Didcot Girls’ School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.