DCS Teacher of Religious Education

About the job

Summary

The DCS Vision is that we Educate the Child – Support the Family – Defend the Nation.

Defence Children Services (DCS) is a Defence delivery organisation, subordinated under Army Regional Command. HQ DCS is UK based at Trenchard Lines, Upavon and has forward deployed staff all over the world. DCS is responsible for the education and care of children of accompanied Service and Defence entitled personnel in MOD schools and settings; provides advice and guidance in respect of education for service families in the United Kingdom and the wider world.

The DCS Schools and Settings Service support the provision of high-quality care and education for Service children and entitled personnel in DCS schools and Settings across the world. The Service is led by the Chief Education Officer of DCS Schools and Settings. The 15 schools and 7 settings are situated in locations to support the effective deployment of accompanied Service and MOD personnel. Our schools and settings overseas mirror the English education system including inspections, assessments and examinations, and Queen Victoria School mirrors the Scottish system. This enables pupils to transition from our schools and early years settings to UK based schools and nurseries with the minimum amount of disruption. The forward deployed Headquarters’ teams provide support and assurance for our School and Settings based staff, providing expertise in all aspects of school improvement.

St John’s School is a small but vibrant 11-18 state secondary school serving the military community in British Forces Cyprus (BFC) as well as the local British, ex-pat community. We have wonderful facilities in excellent school buildings which overlook the Mediterranean Sea in Episkopi (Western Sovereign Base Area). Our aim is to ensure that students are happy and that learning is collaborative and engaging in every lesson. All staff and students embrace our core values of Excellence, Learning and Leadership, and we know that it is these qualities that will help them be resilient, successful, and responsible in their lives whilst living in Cyprus and beyond.

Specially recruited for overseas service appointees are not expected to return to the UK.

This is an established MoD post within Cyprus and any Cypriot National will not be eligible to apply as a UKBC.

This post is advertised at 30 hours per week.

Job description

DCS are seeking to appoint a suitably experienced Teacher of Religious Education. This is an exciting opportunity to join a team whose culture and activity are driven by the core belief that every child should achieve their potential and as part of DCS, you will join a welcoming and lively community.

The job purpose is:

• To be responsible for the learning and achievement of all students in your classes, ensuring equal opportunity for all.
• To raise standards of students’ attainment and progress within teaching groups and to supervise and support student progress in line with expectations of the school.
• To accurately supervise the progress and achievements of students within teaching groups and provide feedback to enable them to progress at least in line with expectations.
• To be accountable for student progress and development within teaching groups against targets set by the school.
• To provide support and intervention for students at risk of underachieving,
• To participate in collaborative planning and sharing good practice with other members of the faculty and other faculties where applicable.
• To contribute to the development of the curriculum area and subject specific resources.
• To treat pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and at all times observing accurate boundaries appropriate to a teacher’s professional position.
• To work proactively and effectively in partnership with learners, parents/carers, governors, other staff and external agencies in the best interests of pupils.
• To act within the statutory frameworks, which set out professional duties and responsibilities and in line with the duties outlined in the current School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document and Teacher Standards.
• To take ownership for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people within the school.

If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by Resourcing Team 1.

If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team at candidate@support.oleeo.co

Responsibilities

Culture and Ethos:

• Support the school’s aims, ethos and policies.
• Hold positive values and attitudes and adopt high standards of behaviour in your professional role.
• Demonstrate enthusiasm for your subject (s) which will engage all students in their learning and inspire student progress
• Develop and maintain an atmosphere of mutual respect with students in all classroom activities.
• Be able to prioritise, be efficient and meet deadlines.
• Lead by example, ‘walking the talk’ and modelling behaviours and attitudes expected of others.
• Undertake training and professional development and seek support as appropriate, reflecting on own practice and responding positively to constructive feedback.

Curriculum and Teaching:

• Maintain a detailed knowledge of the relevant aspects of the National Curriculum and keep up to date with national developments in the subject (s) you teach, regularly reviewing teaching practice and methodology.
• Contribute, within the faculty, and across the school where applicable, to the development of an engaging and challenging curriculum which meets the needs for all students.
• Contribute to the development of appropriate syllabi, resources, schemes of work, marking and assessment policies and teaching and learning strategies in the faculty area.
• Ensure literacy, numeracy and communication skills are reflected and promoted in lessons where appropriate.
• Ensure appropriate delivery of cross-curricular themes where relevant.
• Ensure homework and other related activities are developed appropriately.
• Plan differentiated lessons that consider individual student circumstances (including key groups: SEND, EAL, Vulnerable, G&T).
• Effective deployment of LSA/TA/Technicians and other support staff within lessons, as appropriate, to maximise student learning.
• Plan for progression across the age and ability range you teach, designing effective learning sequences within lessons and across series of lessons advised by secure subject/curriculum knowledge.
• Use assessment as part of your teaching to diagnose pupils’ needs, set realistic and challenging targets for improvement and plan future teaching.
• Have a creative and constructively critical approach towards innovation; being prepared to adapt practice where benefits and improvements are identified.
• Collaborate closely with examination boards, awarding bodies and other relevant external bodies as and when appropriate and within the remit of the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document’.
• Promote extra-curricular provision to support and enhance student learning within the faculty.

Student Behaviour and Welfare:

• Have high expectations of behaviour, promoting self-control and independence of learners.
• Collaborate closely with the Head of Faculty and relevant Pastoral Leader regarding progress of students in teaching groups.
• Act as a tutor and take an active part in the house system.
• Contribute to PSHE as required.
• Ensure behaviour management is applied consistently, and in line with school policy, so that effective learning can take place.
• Promote rewards and strategies for students making good/improved progress.
• Support colleagues in the consistent implementation of whole school policies, rules and procedures.
• Contribute to the overall progress and attainment of students via appropriate extra-curricular provision, be it academic, sporting or creative.
• Work within duty teams to ensure effective supervision of students before and after school and at break times.
• Contribute to the supervision of students at lesson changeover by: dismissing students in an orderly fashion at the end of the lesson; taking responsibility for the area immediately outside of your teaching area and welcoming students promptly into lessons.
• Manage effectively the transition of students to and from your phase and within it.
• Make sure the school works effectively with parents, carers and professionals to identify additional needs and provide support and adaptation where appropriate.

Organisational Effectiveness:

• Have the highest expectations of young people including a commitment to ensuring they develop their ‘excellence, learning and leadership’ and can achieve their full potential and to establishing a fair, respectful, trusting, supportive and constructive relationships with them.
• Maintain records of student attainment and ensure that the school information system (Bromcom) is up to date with relevant data.
• Have a commitment to collaboration and co-operative working.
• Communicate effectively and positively with students and parents.
• Attend parent consultation afternoons, parent tutor meetings, open evenings and other school events.
• Communicate positively and professionally at these events, reflecting school policy and ethos.
• Work with (and contribute to) the Faculty Improvement Plan.
• Engage actively in the performance management process.
• Ensure appropriate lesson plans are in place for each lesson which consider the needs of absence cover arrangements.
• Cover for absent colleagues within the remit of the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions document.
• Be aware of employee responsibilities for Health and Safety of you and others and work in a safe and secure manner with due care towards the health and safety of oneself, other staff and students.
• Participate in staff programmes for training, in particular safeguarding and Health and Safety.
• Commit to the safeguarding, happiness and welfare of all students at the school.
• Manage the available resources of space and equipment efficiently and within limits, guidelines and procedures laid down.
• Be responsible for aspects of requisitioning, organising and maintaining equipment, stock, and keeping appropriate records.
• Maintain a stimulating, safe and tidy teaching area.
• Attend and contribute to designated school meetings as published in the School Calendar.

Licences

Driving Licence

Qualifications

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and Induction Certificate.

Evidence of qualification will be required at interview.

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Set high expectations which inspire, motivate and challenge pupils. Please see attached Teachers' Standards.
• Promote good progress and outcomes by pupils.
• Demonstrate good subject and curriculum knowledge.
• Plan and teach well structured lessons.
• Adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all pupils.
• Make accurate and productive use of assessment.
• Manage behaviour effectively to ensure a good and safe learning environment.
• Fulfil wider professional responsibilities.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• Superannuation is in accordance with the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
• A paid annual return flight to the UK is also provided for each family member after first having completed 12 months in post.
• Accommodation is free for the first five years of your MOD employment overseas with subsidised utilities. Thereafter, rent and utilities are payable.

This post offers full relocation allowances subject to availability. Cost of Living Overseas Allowances is payable based on personal circumstances and marital status.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Discover My Benefits

Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD.

https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/

Things you need to know

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.

The interview will be evidence based on the essential knowledge, skills and experience outlined in the job advert and the Technical Skills. You will be expected to show evidence of outstanding teaching and complete a subject/classroom-based task.

The sift will take place within five working days of the post closing. The interview will take place week commencing 10th January 2022.

DCS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all the children and young people in our care and expect all applicants to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices and hold ourselves to a high standard of effective recruiting practices with specific attention to child protection.

This is an established MoD post within Cyprus and any Cypriot National will not be eligible to apply as a UKBC

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey?is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact: Emma Bryson, Headteacher, St John's School Email: emma.bryson@modschools.org

Telephone : 00357 2596 8021 

Recruitment team Email : DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam1@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please see attached further information document