English Teacher (part-time maternity cover up to 1 year)

Dunottar is a co-educational school for pupils aged 11-18 set in extensive grounds of 15 acres on the outskirts of Reigate. With a new Headmaster in September 2017, the school is on a very exciting journey.  The school is experiencing fast growth in pupil numbers and it is undergoing a £6.6 million capital development programme to accommodate future growth. Our new Sixth Form centre was completed in May 2019, with our new whole school Assembly Hall scheduled for completion in October 2020.

Dunottar is a great place to work, with a team of highly professional and committed teachers and support staff.  We incorporate best practice from independent schools and academies right across the United Learning Group, whilst retaining our unique, friendly ethos in Reigate where pupils are nurtured to make significant personal progress at the same time as achieving excellent academic results.  United Learning is an organisation which prides itself on providing a working and learning environment which encourages ‘the best in everyone’.  You will join a network of staff belonging to over 80 other schools, with opportunities to engage with fellow professionals which far exceed what one school could achieve on its own.  Personal development and career opportunities are excellent. 

The English Department

The English Department is one of the largest departments in the school. At GCSE, students follow the AQA syllabus for English Language and English Literature while at A-level, they follow the OCR English literature syllabus. Classes at Key Stage 3 and 4 are set according to ability. 

The department encourages students to read as widely as they can through weekly lessons in the library for Year 7, a ‘book bingo’ initiative, e-books, a news app, visiting speakers and competitions. Co-curricular involvements include a student eMagazine, a writers’ club, a public speaking club, theatre visits and enrichment lecture days. The English department has a twitter account @DunottarEnglish, which is regularly updated to share news stories and articles. 

The department is friendly, welcoming and supportive: staff are keen to share resources and embrace new ideas, aspiring to keep their teaching fresh and exciting. The department aims to stretch and challenge every student to realise their potential. We are therefore looking for a dynamic, outstanding Teacher of English. 

The Role

We are seeking to appoint a high calibre and enthusiastic teacher to join this successful and friendly department.  We are looking for someone with an ability to stimulate curiosity and interest in English and who is prepared to give full commitment to the aims and ethos of the Department and to Dunottar School.   We are also keen to consider applications from NQT candidates which may be completed through United Teaching (www.unitedteaching.org.uk). 

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive and the post holder may perform other duties reasonably required by the Headmaster. 

The successful candidate will share our passion for developing the work of the department and sharing good practice. They will also play an active role in the extensive and varied co-curricular program at the School, both during the working week and some weekends.  

Key Responsibilities   

• Enable pupils to acquire new knowledge and to make good progress according to their ability to increase their understanding and develop their skills in the subject being taught.   

• Display evidence of well-planned lessons, and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time. 

• Show a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils, and that these have been taken into account when planning lessons.   

• Display a high level of knowledge and understanding of the subject matter being taught and communicate this enthusiastically to students.  

• Employ an excellent range of teaching strategies, high-quality resources and activities, thus enabling all students to fulfil their academic potential. 

• Ensure that marking of pupils’ work is both regular and thorough and that full records are kept in line with the Assessment, Recording and Reporting Statement.  

• Ensure that pupil assessment is used to inform lesson planning so pupils can make progress and evaluate pupil performance both in terms of the school’s stated aims and national norms. 

• Use effective strategies for managing behaviour and encouraging students to act responsibly. 

• Have high expectations of students.  

• Create a stimulating and positive learning environment.   

• Keep abreast of current thinking and development in the relevant subject area.  

• Assist the Head of Department with the development of appropriate schemes of work. 

• Share resources and training materials with colleagues.   

• Contribute to departmental activities, e.g. enrichment work, clubs, societies and trips.  

• Provide or contribute to oral and written assessments, reports and references relating to 

     individual pupils.  

• Attend Parents’ Evenings.  

• Attend and contribute to relevant meetings when required.  

• Be involved in a House, attend House meetings and support House events.  

• Take part in the co-curricular life of the school. 

• Attend and support assemblies and co-curricular events e.g. concerts, plays.  

• Pastoral Care is the responsibility of all members of teaching staff at Dunottar, staff 

     must:  

o Contribute to the pastoral care and personal development of pupils.  

o Report any pastoral concerns to the Head of Year or in serious circumstances the Deputy Head Pastoral.   

o Be fully conversant with the Child Protection policy and report any concerns or allegations to the Senior Designated Person. 

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive and the post holder may perform other duties reasonably required by the Headmaster.  

The School reserves the right to make an appointment at any stage during the recruitment process.  

United Learning

Dunottar School is part of United Learning, a large, and growing, group of schools aiming to offer a life changing education to children and young people across England.     Our schools work as a team and achieve more by sharing than any single school could. Our subject specialists, our Group-wide intranet, our own curriculum and our online learning portal all help us share knowledge and resource, helping to simplify work processes and manage workloads for an improved work-life balance.     As a Group, we can reward our staff better: with good career opportunities, better pay, benefits, and ultimately, the satisfaction of helping children to succeed. We invest in our staff wellbeing through an ongoing group-wide wellbeing programme. It's an ethos we call ‘the best in everyone’.