Director of Science

Reports to: Vice Principal

Start date:   April 2022

Contract:       Permanent 

Salary:               Ark Upper Pay Scale: AUPR1- AUPR5

The Role

• To take a lead role in the creation of a transformational school community by developing and leading an exciting science curriculum which enables the highest level of pupil progress and attainment.

• To lead and manage teaching and support staff working in the science department 

• To be part of a middle leadership team that are sharply focused on improving standards at the academy

Key responsibilities

• Lead the development of all subject teachers and support staff in the science department 

• Develop and maintain an outstanding quality of teaching and learning

• Further develop the curriculum at KS3 and KS4 

• Ensure rigorous monitoring and assessment across the science department to enable students to achieve challenging targets 

Outcomes and Activities

Leadership of the science department 

• Develop and review the science curriculum so that detailed schemes of work secure consistency and rigour and enable all students to enjoy and achieve at the highest possible level

• Establish a clear departmental plan and monitor and evaluate its delivery and effectiveness.

• Teach and model the delivery of rigorous and engaging lessons that motivate, inspire and improve pupil attainment

• Support the professional development of subject teachers and their training as appropriate

• Ensure the most appropriate mentoring, coaching and monitoring is in place to supervise and support beginner teachers and NQTs

• Establish strategies and systems to effectively develop, monitor and self-evaluate the department

• Manage the development of science resources effectively and efficiently

• Equip members of the department with effective strategies to ensure that all students are assessment proficient and can master the skills necessary for securing strong outcomes 

• Organise appropriate intervention and enrichment opportunities to help accelerate progress and raise student attainment

Curriculum setting and assessment

• Ensure all staff have medium and long term plans to teach rigorous and rewarding lessons

• Ensure that the curriculum in science is appropriate yet stretching for all

• Implement regular and robust assessments that provide valid measures of student achievement

• Embed effective moderation of assessment practices to ensure reliability and validity

• Ensure all pupil data is understood and analysed by each member of your team so that it can be used to inform planning and intervention for sub-groups and individual students

Accountability 

• When required, participate in recruitment, selection and induction activities

• Take responsibility for the line management, performance management and appraisal of staff in the department in line with Academy policy 

• Manage the departmental budget and resources effectively and efficiently

Academy Culture 

• Contribute to the development of an Academy culture and ethos that is utterly committed to high achievement and exemplary behaviour

• Live the values of the academy by modelling caring and respectful behaviour

• Support the academy’s vision by contributing to the development and implementation of policies practices and procedures

• Work alongside other middle leaders to help create a strong community of learners, characterised by everyone seeking advice on how to improve and develop

• Support, work in collaboration and share best practice with colleagues and other professionals in and beyond the Academy

Other department related issues

• Offer enrichment opportunities that stretch and challenge 

• Work closely with the SEN department so that low attaining students are supported in making rapid and sustained progress 

Other

• Undertake other various responsibilities as directed by members of the SLT or Principal.

• Undertake the other main professional duties of a teacher as set out in the ARK schools pay and conditions of service document

Person Specification: Director of Science

Qualification Criteria 

• Qualified to degree level and above 

• Qualified to teach and work in the UK.

Experience

• Experience of raising attainment in a complex urban environment

• Experience of establishing a high achieving department within a large and complex school environment

• Experience of leading, coaching and managing staff and securing accountability 

• Experience of delivering consistently outstanding lessons to students at all key stages 

• Experience of implementing behaviour management strategies consistently and effectively across a department 

• Experience of supporting students of all ages and abilities to make excellent progress and achieve impressive examination outcomes

• Experience of having designed, implemented and evaluated effective, imaginative and stimulating Schemes of Work

• Experience of leading successful enrichment and extracurricular activities which inspire and motivate learners.

Behaviours, skills and qualities 

Leadership

• Effective leader, team builder and coach

• Resilience, motivation and commitment to driving up standards of achievement and enabling 

• Positive role model to staff and students

• Vision aligned with EGA and ARK’s aspirations and high expectations of self and others

• Genuine passion and a belief in the potential of every student

• Motivation to continually improve standards and achieve excellence

• Commitment to the safeguarding and welfare of all pupils.

• Excellent communication, planning and organisational skills 

Leading the Curriculum

• Able to lead the development and review of an appropriate curriculum and schemes of work in the Science department 

• Effective coordination, delivery and monitoring of  the assessment cycle 

• Active monitoring of student progress 

• High expectations for accountability and consistency

Leading Teaching and Learning

• Passionate about the teaching of science

• Outstanding classroom practitioner and subject mentor

• Ability to reflect on teaching and learning to continually improve the practice of self and others

• Thinks strategically about developing classroom practice and tailoring lessons to student needs 

• Uses and interprets complex student data to inform planning and raise student attainment  

• Creates a positive learning environment within the department 

• Commitment to regular and on-going professional development and training to establish outstanding classroom practice.

• Establish exemplary behaviour across a department

Personal Characteristics

• Able to listen and empathise

• Able to influence and motivate others

• Excellent written communication skills

• Sustains energy, optimism and motivation in the face of pressure and setbacks

• Stays calm in difficult situations and maintains clarity of vision

• Makes decisions based on facts

• Open to change and new ideas