English Teacher (1 year maternity cover)

St Helen’s is one of the leading independent day schools in the country, educating over 1100 girls aged 3-18. An excellent opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, passionate teacher to join our vibrant and  thriving English Department. Applications from experienced teachers and NQTs will be considered.

English at St Helen’s The Department comprises the Head of English, a second-in-department, and four full-time English  specialists. A significant number of girls study English Literature in the Sixth Form, where, at  Advanced Level, we follow the AQA A specification.We also offer AQA English Language specification  B at Advanced level. A good proportion of girls go on to study English Literature at university.  Results are excellent: 93% of students achieved A*/A in IGCSE English Literature in 2016.  At Key Stage 4 we now follow the new linear OCR GCSE specifications in English Language and English  Literature.Teaching time in Key Stage 4 is generous with 3 hours per week dedicated to English.  The curriculum at Key Stage 3 is interesting, rigorous and varied; girls study a range of novels,  plays, short stories and poems. In addition, the girls read and study whole Shakespeare plays in  Years 8 and 9.We follow an ‘Introduction to Shakespeare and His Plays’ unit in Year 7. In the  Spring Term of Years 7, 8 and 9 all girls participate in the school debating competition. Class reading time is an integral part of each week’s experience of  English.We have recently introduced Accelerated Reader into Key Stage 3 and we encourage fast and  immersive reading throughout the years.The English Department offers a wide range of co-curricular  activities: we organise several theatre trips each year; we also offer girls opportunities to  compete in the ESU Mace debating and public speaking competitions; we run a poetry club, a debating  club, a literature in context club, a foreign fiction club and we produce the school magazine.The  librarian organises author visits each year; recent speakers have included Malorie Blackman, Marcus  Sedgwick and Holly Bourne.  The English Department at St Helen’s is a lively, experienced and successful department. Expectations are high, and colleagues are talented, helpful and personable.

Teaching at St Helen’s (job description)  

All teachers are expected to ensure the highest standards of teaching and learning by: 

•  Preparing and delivering challenging and differentiated lessons 

•   Setting homework in accordance with the School’s homework policy

•  Marking work in accordance with the School’s marking policy 

•   Using all available data and information to ensure that each student is provided with an  appropriate programme of study 

•   Having a good understanding of the schemes of work they are following and how these fit into the overall scheme of work for the subject they are teaching 

•   Keeping up to date with developments in the teaching of their subject   

Person specification 

The successful candidate will have:

Essential: 

•    A good honours degree in English or a related subject 

•   A PGCE or equivalant teaching qualification

•    Demonstrable passion  for and experience of  teaching English Stages 3 & 4.

• Detailed understanding of current developments in the secondary curriculum and assessment 

•    A clear motivation to work with young people 

•    The ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and boundaries with young people 

•    Commitment to further professional development 

A willingness to contribute to the co-curricular life of the School.

Desirable: 

•   Experience of teaching English across the secondary age range 

•    Evidence of further professional development 

•    Knowledge and experience of how ICT can be used to support learning  

The successful candidate will: 

•    Be an exceptional classroom practitioner and inspiring teacher 

•    Possess outstanding interpersonal and communication skills 

•    Have excellent time management and organisational skills 

•    Be creative, imaginative and energetic 

•    Be able to motivate others  

The teacher should have knowledge and understanding of:  

•    Effective teaching and learning styles. 

•    Theory and practice of providing effectively for the individual needs of all children (e.g.  classroom organisation, planning, teaching strategies and removing barriers to learning) 

•    Monitoring, assessment, recording and reporting of pupils’ progress •    An appreciation of how assessment supports effective learning 

•    The needs of pupils aged 11-19 

•    Legislation and best practice concerning Equal Opportunities, Health & Safety, Individual  Learning Needs and Keeping Children Safe in Education. Person specification (cont.)