English Teacher

St Helen's is one of the leading selective independent days schools in the country, educating over 1100 girls aged 3-18.

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a  part time Teacher (0.6) to join our thriving English Department to work across 3 days per week.

 The Department currently comprises the Head of English, a second-in-department, and five 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.   A good proportion of girls go on to study English Literature at university.  In addition, English Language is also offered at A Level.

At Key Stage 4 we now follow the new linear AQA 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. 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 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 and ICYD debating competitions; we run a Poetry club, a Debating club, and a Literature in Context club.  The librarian organises author visits each year; recent speakers have included Malorie Blackman, Sally Gardner and Holly Bourne.

The English Department at St Helen’s is a lively, experienced and successful department.

Person specification

The successful candidate will have:

Essential:

• A good Honours degree in English or related subject

• Experience of teaching English across the secondary age range to A Level and demonstrable passion for the subject, especially English Literature

• 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

Desirable:

• A teaching qualification such as PGCE or equivalent

• Evidence of further professional development

• Knowledge and experience of how IT 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 learning and teaching styles

• Theory and practice of providing effectively for the individual needs of all children (e.g. classroom organisation, planning, and teaching strategies which remove barriers to learning and which stretch and challenge able, gifted and talented pupils)

• Monitoing, assessment, recording and reporting of pupils’ progress

• How assessment supports effective learning

• The need for high quality pastoral support to complement the academic experience of pupils aged 11-18

• The Legislation concerning Equality, Health & Safety, Individual Needs and Safeguarding / Child Protection