Drama Teacher

This is your chance to join one of the most pioneering schools in the country. We do not see drama as an add on or a luxury but central to the culture and lifeblood of the whole school. From the moment we turned assemblies into participative workshops in the round, School 21 has used drama techniques and insights to help shape the well-being and growth of every child. In combination with our unique oracy curriculum and approaches, drama has a special place at School 21, and experiential learning has become the crucial counterpart to stretching pupils’ cognition. This is your chance to join a department of skilled practitioners and take the teaching of drama to the next level.

School 21 is an all-through school and your role will offer the opportunity to teach in the middle school as well as the secondary school. The successful candidate will have a track record of guiding creative processes and achieving beautiful work. The candidate would have a strong subject knowledge and well developed skills in text, genre and ensemble work as well as using drama to develop the well-being and self-reflection of students.

We believe the teaching of drama should support students to think independently and to develop their own creative confidence as a means to making a difference to the world. Creating beautiful and expressive work is a key feature of School 21 as a whole and therefore we are looking for a highly collaborative individual who is passionate about spreading the use of creative arts approaches across the curriculum.

As a department, we are keen to build cross curricular links with other subjects and develop projects that involve external partnerships. At School 21, drama has partnered with history on several occasions to create, for example, a Brechtian drama about the Cold War, and immersive drama pieces about the Russian and French revolutions. A drama and science collaboration resulted in a powerful piece of verbatim theatre on genetics. Drama is a popular subject within the secondary school and as a result, we are looking for a confident teacher who can add to a distinctive and bold vision for the department going forward.

School 21 is a very special and different kind of place to work in. We empower staff to find their voice and their creativity. We offer collaboration and learning across ages and subjects.

All staff have more planning time than most schools and a tailored programme of professional development which results in extraordinary outcomes for the students. We offer multiple routes to progression through subjects and pedagogies. We believe strongly in developing the full potential of all staff.

We believe the teaching of drama should make regular and sustained connections to the real world, with students learning to take part in field research, and link their learning to topical events. Within the secondary school, we will expect you to collaborate across traditional subject disciplines to design projects that encourage deep understanding and require students to grapple with authentic problems to create high quality products for real audiences.

Since we opened in 2012 we have put learning and teaching at the heart of everything we do. We have developed a unique approach to oracy including setting up a charity, Voice 21 (https://www.voice21.org/) which is already working with several hundred schools. We have also pioneered real world, interdisciplinary learning in collaboration with a network of extraordinary organisations: creative, artistic, high tech, professional.

At School 21, we believe that the purpose of education is to develop the whole child: head (academics), heart (character and well-being) and hand (generating ideas, problem solving, creating extraordinary authentic outcomes).

School 21 has established a strong track record - an outstanding ofsted, excellent GCSE results and a growing reputation, for example being the first and only international case study chosen by US educators, Edutopia https://www.edutopia.org/school/school-21.

There was strong recognition in the Ofsted for the ethos and approach of the school:

"Pupils across the school make exceptional progress."
"Pupils have excellent attitudes to learning, impeccable manners and show respect for everyone.”
“Staff morale is exceptionally high. Teachers at the early stages of their career value the ‘fantastic’ professional development and opportunities to learn from each other. Those with more experience said that they have become much better teachers since joining the school.”
"Through project-based learning "pupils achieve remarkable standards of work and demonstrated knowledge and skills at levels beyond those expected for their age group."
“Pupils talk and discuss with a maturity and confidence that is remarkable for their years."

The successful candidate will be:

• An excellent teacher and subject specialist
• Skilled at fostering independent, student-led learning
• A creative and deep thinker about pedagogy
• Innovative in using new technology to enhance learning
• A collaborative planner, able to work across subject disciplines
• Interested in developing the growth of every child – head, heart and hand

ABOUT SCHOOL 21:

• 4 to 18 mixed, inclusive school in the heart of Stratford, Newham
• Cutting edge pedagogy and curriculum
• Small - only 75 children in each year group
• We have plans to set up two new schools in close proximity to School 21 which will give staff more opportunities to grow and develop

WE OFFER:

• Outstanding career development and exceptional CPD
• Generous TLRs based on experience and skills
• The chance to network with outstanding practitioners and learn from the best
• Collaborative working across the 4 to 18 school
• Leadership training and development opportunities
• A strong feedback culture so that teachers can develop in areas of their practice that are important to them
• Every teacher being part of a team/circle that develops strategic practice

For more information see: www.school21.org.uk or e-mail Anne Shaker at careers@school21.org.uk or call 020 8262 2121.

To apply: Please visit the careers pages at www.school21.org.uk and complete an online application form.

Apply by: Tuesday, 24th April 2018 at 9am
Likely interview date: Monday, 30th April 2018

School 21 is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding children.