Director of Mathematics

The school is delighted to offer this opportunity to support raising standards at our school. We require an inspirational individual to lead our Mathematics department and contribute to whole school improvement. The post is an ideal opportunity for an aspiring senior leader. The successful candidate will lead a team of dedicated and strong teachers who believe that successful outcomes stem from learning and teaching that fosters engagement and challenge in the classroom. 

Structure

At present, mathematics teaching is carried out by 14 teachers. The Director of Mathematics is supported by the Second in Department, a Lead Practitioner, a KS5 Co-ordinator and a Y7 Transition Co-ordinator. The SLT link is via an Assistant Headteacher with responsibility for mathematics. Therefore, support is available at all levels to develop the Mathematics team.

The Mathematics team aims to ensure that every student is equipped with the mathematical skills necessary to take an active role in society when they leave the school.  

Individual strengths and experiences are shared in what is very much a team approach to planning and striving to raise standards.

Courses and Curriculum

The Key Stage 3 scheme of work has been reviewed to reflect recent developments to enable students to be fully prepared for the challenges of the new GCSE.  There is an on-going project to include a variety of learning and teaching styles and resources.  Mathematics lessons currently have a time allocation of 5 x 50 minute lessons in years 7 – 11.

In Key Stage 4 students continue to study mathematics in half-year bands, with the highest achieving students streamed into the higher groups.  To ensure students are fully prepared for the new GCSE curriculum students begin their GCSE course in year 10 with year 9 used as a transition year.  

In Key Stage 5 it is our aim to ensure that every student who wishes to study mathematics in the Sixth Form has an opportunity to do so.  Students that achieve a Grade 7 have the opportunity to study the new A-level Mathematics with a Grade 8 or 9 required to study Further Mathematics. We also offer the compulsory GCSE resit where required to ensure all Sixth Form students leave with a pass at GCSE. 

Focus - Raising Standards

The department is at an exciting stage in its development and continues to show a real desire to make further progress and for standards to be even higher, both at GCSE and at A level.  The department is developing strategies for enabling students to meet their potential throughout the school. This includes planning to increase the use of ICT and independent learning.

The successful candidate will:

• Lead the delivery of the Mathematics curriculum across the whole school
• Lead improvement in the subject, setting aspirational targets to raise attainment
• Grow the team, with high expectations focused on teaching and learning
• Be responsible for numeracy across the whole school

We offer you the opportunity to share our positive, professional, people centred and performance focused outlook by joining:

• a hard-working and progressive team of over 200 teaching and support staff
• a popular school with an adventurous approach to learning and life at the heart of all we do
• a member of Anthem Schools Trust.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer and we welcome applications from all sections of the community.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and require all staff and volunteers to share and demonstrate this commitment. The successful candidate will have to meet the requirements of the person specification and will be subject to the relevant pre-employment checks which will, where applicable, include a health check, an enhanced DBS check, the Children’s Barred List check and satisfactory references.