Head of Art (Maternity Cover)

Lancing College are seeking to appoint a Head of Art to cover maternity leave for up to one-year fixed term to manage the Arts Department. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the wider life of the Arts Department as well as to the College’s extra-curricular programme.

The appointment will be made by the Headmaster who will be assisted by members of the College's Senior Management Team.

Head of Art - Responsibilities

• The Head of Department is responsible to the Headmaster through the Deputy Head. S/he  should keep the Deputy Head informed of all aspects of department policy and practice.

• Be an effective teacher within the department and, in the Art Department, lead Fine Art and liaise with the Head of Photography

• Co-ordinate the work of the department by choosing an appropriate syllabus at all examination levels and keeping abreast of syllabus and curriculum development.

• Producing and updating a departmental booklet. 

• Allocating teaching in conjunction with the Deputy Head and Assistant Head  (Academic).

• Devising and overseeing the production of schemes of work. 

• Ensuring that evening school (prep) tasks are regularly and appropriately set and marked.

• Monitoring departmental assessment and reporting and ensuring that they follow school guidelines.

• Preparing and arranging the production of suitable course material.

• Selecting suitable textbooks where appropriate. 

• Ensuring that coursework deadlines are met.

• Arranging for members of the department to sit in on and discuss each other's teaching. 

• Ensuring that strategies for dealing with pupils with special needs are developed. 

• Analyse value-added data, examination results (both internal and external) and other indicators of ability and achievement, and to discuss with members of the department what conclusions can be drawn and what targets should be set as a result.

• Develop with members of the department ways in which pupils can learn effectively; to be available to discuss and advise members of the department on all matters involving the motivation of pupils, teaching method and classroom control; and to encourage the use of ICT where appropriate.

• Attend to the paperwork relating to public examination entries, and to liaise  appropriately with external examiners and moderators.

• Set entrance papers when required and arrange for the setting of and marking of Scholarship examinations and other tests and interviews relating to entrance.

• Hold and minute regular departmental meetings.

• Delegate appropriately.

• Attend Heads of Department and other meetings as requested by the Headmaster.

• Liaise with other Heads of Department and members of staff and develop such cross curricular links as may be appropriate.

• Keep abreast of developments both in the subject and in the teaching of the subject.

• Maintain a working knowledge of university entrance requirements and university courses in the subject and those related to it.

• Liaise with the Librarian, the Assistant Head (Pastoral) in charge of careers, and the Director of University Admissions.

• Select and prepare candidates for entry to Oxford and Cambridge, and to ensure that all university entrance candidates in the subject are appropriately prepared for interview.

• Liaise with Heads of Department in feeder preparatory schools and such other professional groupings as will aid in the best strategic development of the teaching of the subject.

• Promote the career development of members of the department, advising and encouraging relevant INSET.

• Support, encourage, monitor, and review teachers in the department, and to oversee all aspects of the academic duties of probationary teachers.

• Promote staff development.

• Develop a departmental development plan.

• Plan a budget annually, liaising with the Bursar.

• Ensure that staff and pupils in the department' work in a safe manner in accordance with the School's Health and Safety policy.

• Supervise departmental technician.

• Maintain and update a departmental website on the intranet. The website should include the departmental handbook and schemes of work. 

Key Skills and Qualities required

• An excellent classroom practitioner (or with the potential to become one) with a genuine passion for Art, able to lead by example and inspire pupils.

• A strong first degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline with post-graduate qualifications and experience where appropriate.

• A strong knowledge of History of Art, to support a full critical studies programme and to prepare candidates for application to Art History degree courses. 

• An outstanding ambassador for the benefits of the subject in the wider education the College offers.

• A good team player with the ability to lead and work as part of a small team but also to work independently.

• Outgoing and positive in personality with a 'can-do' mindset and the enthusiasm and gravitas to be an outstanding ambassador for the College.

• Kindly, approachable, and measured in manner with the ability to form strong working relationships with pupils, colleagues and parents.

• Organisation, discretion, flexibility, and attention to detail.

• Excellent skills in oral and written communication.

• Willingness to contribute to the extra-curricular life of the College.

• Confident proficiency with using Microsoft Office, especially Outlook, Word and Excel.  Training will be given on the College's Management Information System (PASS).