Head of Maths - Junior School

About the position  

The successful candidate will have a pivotal role in the curriculum leadership of Maths within the Junior school, supporting and working with the current team of Maths teachers from Nursery to Year 6 and teaching predominantly within Years 5 & 6. They would be able to lead Maths throughout the Junior School, including the coordination of internal and national Maths competitions such as the Junior Maths Challenge and Maths Week. 

It is expected that the candidate will enjoy contributing to the whole life of the school, that they are a form teacher, be involved in whole school initiatives, contribute to the activities  programme, and attend residential trips.  

Job Description  

Above all we seek a passionate Maths teacher who is going to give the children a lifelong love of the subject. The teacher has to be knowledgeable, approachable and engaging. The ideal candidate would certainly have experience of teaching across a range of year groups and would have curriculum leadership experience or be able to display a desire to take more of a leadership role. It is expected that the role includes being a form teacher, that an activity is run, and that a residential trip is attended once a year. 

Objectives  

• To implement and deliver an appropriately broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum for pupils; 
• To monitor and support the overall progress and development of pupils as a teacher/form tutor; 
• To promote high standards of behaviour through the effective teaching of individuals, groups and classes; 
• To enhance and steer the teaching of Maths throughout the Junior School; 
• To raise continuously standards of pupil achievement in Maths at all levels 

Strategic Planning:  

• To create and oversee the direction of Maths in the Junior School;   
• To lead and support the planning and teaching of Maths; 
• To coordinate and organise internal assessments, moderation, and external examinations for Maths and liaise with the Director of Studies and Deputy Head Academic to coordinate assessments and external examinations in Maths; 
• To promote Maths through whole-school activities to encourage students to gain experience and confidence in this core subject; 
• Ensure that staff are clear about the importance and role of the subject in contributing to pupils’ spiritual moral, cultural, mental and physical development, and in preparing pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life; 
• Use data effectively to identify pupils who are underachieving in the subject and, where necessary, create and implement effective plans of action to support those pupils; 
• Be aware of developments in the teaching of Maths which may benefit the children, such as the use of IT and to implement these and share best practice 
• Ensure that the headteacher, SLT members and governors are well informed about subject policies, plans and priorities, the success in meeting objectives and targets, and subject-related professional development plans; 
• Create an annual Maths development plan 
• To foster strong links with the HoD in the Senior School to ensure continuity of education and a smooth transition within Maths 

Teaching and Learning:  

• Teach Maths in Year 5 & 6 
• To guide the planning, resource creation and assessment overview in Maths for the whole of the Junior School 
• To monitor the teaching of Maths and to guide, as well as inspire, colleagues 
• To actively engage with whole school Teaching and Learning initiatives, such as those included in the INSET programme or the Professional Development Review;   
• To review Maths schemes of work so that they inspire the pupils and staff responsible for its delivery, as well as challenging the students  
• Plan, enact and monitor appropriate syllabuses, materials, schemes of work, which include clearly identified aims and objectives which are shared with the students  
• Respond appropriately to the abilities and aspirations of the pupils enabling them to take responsibility for their learning 
• Ensure the efficient administration of a programme of student feedback 

Promoting and Developing the Department  

• To take full responsibility for the development of Maths throughout the Junior School; 
• Prepare this curriculum, within the priorities determined by the SLT, an annual set of targets for the development of the subject; 
• Participate in an annual meeting with the appropriate member of the Senior Leadership of the School to review this development;  
• Liaise with/work alongside the Head of Maths in the Senior School; 
• To coordinate subject specific trips and/or visitors 
• To review and update the Departmental Handbook;   
• To run trips;  
• Attend Curriculum Lead meetings, occasional meetings with the Governors’ Education and Welfare Committee and the SLT as required.  

Leading and Managing Staff 

• Help staff to achieve constructive working relationships with students; 
• Establish clear expectations and constructive working relationships among staff involved with the subject, including through team working and mutual support; devolving responsibilities and delegating tasks, as appropriate; evaluating practice; and developing an acceptance of accountability. 
• Lead professional development of subject staff through example and support, and coordinate the provision of high-quality professional development by methods such as coaching, drawing on other sources of expertise as necessary; 
• Work with the LET team and any other staff with special educational needs expertise, to ensure that individual care plans are used to set subject specific targets and match work well to pupils’ needs; 

Person Specification   

Qualifications   

• The candidate should have attained QTS/NQT   
• The candidate will be expected to hold a good honours degree  

Competences and Qualities   

• We are looking for a teacher who is an enthusiast   
• The teacher should be kind, approachable and have a sense of humour   
• We look for staff who have high academic expectations and who instil high standards of behaviour   
• It is expected that the teacher will be extremely professional in that they are diligent, punctual and thorough   
• The teacher will be expected to encourage an atmosphere of mutual respect when dealing with children, staff and parents   
• The candidate has to be an excellent communicator – with children and adults alike   
• The candidate must be able to work as part of the school’s team   
• The candidate has to enjoy working with children, to be able to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children   

 Crosfields is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Applicants must undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.