Food Technology Teacher

Food Technology Teacher (with possible DT)

Salary: MPS/UPS + Fringe

Potential for TLR responsibility for suitable candidate

Full Time  Permanent

Required for September 2019

Rickmansworth School is an 11-19 heavily oversubscribed co-educational partially (35%) selective converter academy with 1260 on roll, expanding to 1450 over the next five years. Judged ‘Good’ by Ofsted (November 2017). Staff Development recognised as an area of excellence by Challenge Partners (March 2018), with 3 staff achieving national finals in last 2 years. Academic results are strong with GCSE Progress 8 +0.25 (sig +ve), EBacc 39% and A level almost 50% A*-B grades, with 100% students securing first choice destinations.  

The School is in a strong, stable financial position. £3.5m school expansion completed September 2018 which included New Sixth-form centre, ten classrooms, drama theatres and film editing suite. Outstanding staff well-being programme includes fortnightly well-being period, Childcare vouchers, Flu jabs, Access to the Fitness Suite and swimming pool, Pilates classes, Yoga class, and Free eye tests.

Our students enjoy learning and are a pleasure to teach. We believe every child deserves the best and we aim to achieve excellence in all aspects of school life.

About the Food Department

Our Department is home to two practical food rooms.  We have two members of teaching staff and a technician who currently works part time to ensure the smooth running of the department.  We encourage students to access the Science department’s garden area to grow and produce fruit and vegetables to use within the department.  The students learn the value of ‘grow your own’ and cycles of the seasons - choosing, planting, nurturing and then harvesting the produce.

All Key Stage 3 students are taught how to cook and apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating. Instilling a love of cooking in pupils opens a door to one of the great expressions of human creativity. The aims of the curriculum are for students to understand and apply the principles of nutrition and health through learning to cook a repertoire of predominantly savoury dishes so that they are able to feed themselves and others a healthy and varied diet.  We want all students to become competent in a range of cooking techniques.  Weekly lessons are supplemented by two extra-curricular food clubs.  One focuses on building traditional skills whilst the other aims to build on STEM links by exploring the wonders of modern food science. 

Students in Key Stage 4 study the new and exciting course of GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition.  The main focus is Food Science, Nutrition and Health to ensure students develop a thorough understanding of nutrition, food provenance and the working characteristics of food materials. At its heart, this qualification focuses on nurturing students' practical cookery skills to give them a strong understanding of nutrition.

Our aim is to encourage the students to prepare fresh foods and make nutritionally balanced dishes to enable them to lead a healthier lifestyle which in turn leads to good health and a fulfilled life, leading into adulthood.  We encourage the students to work within a budget, making good use of leftovers to make healthy meals once they are out in the working world.  We actively support recycling and sustainability within the classroom.

We have spent time in the past building links with the local community who are supportive of our work.  This has included a masterclass led by Great British Menu finalist Russell Bateman and competitions led by Rickmansworth’s The Café in the Park.  Creating real contexts for students raises awareness of the huge industries of hospitality and catering. We intend to continue building new relationships within the local community and strengthen old ties to ensure we always provide interesting, creative and stimulating lessons.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and are an equal opportunities employer.  Applicants must declare any criminal convictions and submit to a check with the Disclosing and Barring Service as the post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.  Application forms and details can be obtained from the website www.rickmansworth.herts.sch.uk, by calling the School on 01923 773296 or by email to khughes@rickmansworth.herts.sch.uk

Deadline for applications: 8.00am Monday 20 May 2019

Interview date: Wednesday 22 May 2019

Suitable applicants may be interviewed upon receipt of an application