French Language Assistant

(HMC 1500 BOYS)

Fixed-Term, Full-Time, Term-Time Only

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a fluent French speaker to join our vibrant and dynamic French Department as a full-time French Language Assistant from September 2019. The Languages Faculty at Whitgift is one of the largest in the country, comprising seven languages.  In addition to French, Spanish, German, Mandarin, Japanese, Latin and Ancient Greek are also taught within the School. There are seven French teachers in the Department as well as two full time French Assistants, and French is taught from Year 7. A significant number of pupils take IGCSE French, and continue their studies in the Sixth Form, where we offer both IB and Pre-U. We offer a wide co-curricular provision, and students have the opportunity to take part in exchanges to Caen and Toulouse, as well as a Sixth Form work experience trip.  We are very proud of our Section Française, which offers timetabled provision to native or near-native French speakers enabling them to follow a curriculum in French which is very similar to the curriculum in France.

As a full-time language assistant, the successful candidate will be pro-active and enthusiastic about promoting French across the School.  She or he will play an important role in preparing students for examinations, working with students in small groups and assisting teachers in the classroom.  He or she will be able to produce resources and lead enjoyable discussions that challenge students while simultaneously building their confidence and ability to converse in both a natural and articulate manner. In addition to preparing resources for her or his own teaching, the successful candidate will work with the Head of French to assist in the production of high quality and innovative resources to support classroom teaching. A high level of accuracy in both spoken and written French and English will be essential, and the ideal candidate will excel in encouraging our students to engage with current Francophone issues, drawing inspiration from the media and other authentic sources.  Flexibility and a willingness to engage with the broader life of the school is a prerequisite. An ability to teach French literature would be an advantage.

The successful candidate will:

• Be a fluent French speaker
• Be proactive and enthusiastic about promoting French across the School
• Have excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Have a strong command of the English Language
• Be in possession of excellent administrative skills
• Be confident and well-organised
• Have the ability to meet changing deadlines and work under pressure
• Possess the ability to work independently and also as part of a team
• Be extremely flexible and work collegiately
• Have a solid working knowledge of Microsoft Office

Whitgift is a leading independent day and boarding school for boys, with approximately 1500 pupils including over a hundred boarding pupils and flexi boarding pupils.  It set in an attractive 48-acre parkland site in South Croydon enjoying excellent links to London, Surrey and the south coast. We are proud to be able to offer:

• A unique, tailor-made education for boys aged 10-18
• Beautiful and historic parkland site with outstanding facilities
• A record of outstanding academic achievement
• Superb facilities for over 40 sports, an exciting performing arts programme and wide range of co-curricular activities
• Excellent pastoral care.

In return we offer a generous salary and benefits package including a money purchase pension scheme (plus Life Assurance over), Employee Discount Club, discounted school fees for the Foundation Schools, discounted off-peak membership at our on-site gym (Nuffield Health), membership of a healthcare plan, a range of family-friendly benefits and season ticket loan.

We welcome applications from all parts of our community as we aspire to attract staff that matches the social and cultural diversity of our student intake. 

For further information and an online application form, please visit www.whitgift.co.uk/vacancies For any queries, please telep hone the Human Resources Department on 020 8688 9222 or email SchoolHR@whitgift.co.uk  

Applications will be reviewed daily, and interviews may occur at any stage after applications are received so we invite interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Whitgift School (part of the Whitgift Foundation) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  Where applicable, applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.