Head of Biology
Northwood College
Hillingdon
- Expired
- Salary:
- ML3
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Apply by:
- 4 February 2019
Job overview
A person of energy and vision is required to lead our dynamic Biology Department. Working closely with our enthusiastic and ambitious Head of Science, they will play a critical role in the crafting and delivery of the science curriculum from KS3 through to KS5.
The successful candidate will be an engaging and impactful teacher, who will lift others by their example. They will be a strategic thinker, committed to developing an engaging and rigorous biology curriculum. They will be a passionate subject advocate, eager to communicate their enthusiasm for science and they will be both an inspiring leader and flexible team player, committed to getting the best out of their departmental colleagues and working with the wider Science Department.
The Department:
This is an exciting time to be joining our Science Department. We have a new enthusiastic Head of Science with a strong STEM focus, and our goal is to help girls wake up their inner scientists—so that no matter what they decide to pursue as a career, they are able to ask questions, develop creative solutions, think critically about data, draw conclusions and be scientifically literate members of society. We have plans for new dedicated science facilities to be completed in 2020. Year 6 girls have one lesson a week in a STEM enrichment in a Senior School science laboratory, and we continue to develop links between the Junior and Senior School science programmes. Our Heads of Biology, Chemistry and Physics work closely together to ensure that connections are made across the three sciences starting in KS3. In Year 9 girls begin the iGCSE programme of study and choose double or separate science starting in Year 10. Over half of the Sixth Form choose to study one or more science options at A level and a precursor to university study in such areas as medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, engineering and pure sciences. We run an active extracurricular programme, with clubs and activities across all key stages, from the STEAM team and CREST to Biomedical Society and Astronomy Club. So far this year we have already had a team of Sixth Form girls complete the TfL Innovate programme and one of our Year 6 girls was a finalist in the Young Imagineers competition. We are a very well-resourced department, with dedicated technicians for each of the sciences.
About the School:
Northwood College for Girls is an independent, academically selective day school for approximately 840 girls aged 3-18. At NWC, we value character and academic rigour equally. Our curriculum ignites intellectual curiosity and fosters emotional intelligence, building resilience through challenge. An NWC education enables every girl to lead a purposeful life and feel successful in their learning. Both students and staff are encouraged to find and develop their passions and talents, through clubs, societies and an extensive programme of CPD. All members of the NWC community are expected to act with compassion and integrity, with respect for others and the environment and an awareness of global responsibility.
NWC is at an exhilarating moment in its evolution under its new Head, Zara Hubble, and with exciting school development projects around the corner. The successful candidate will be similarly ambitious for the school, and for the Biology Department, in particular.
Benefits:
As part of the GDST, the UK's leading network of independent girls' schools, we can offer a variety of benefits, such as:
- Competitive salaries and pay progression
- Access to extensive professional development opportunities
- Good transport links
- Training grants for qualifications
- Generous pension schemes
- Free life assurance benefit
- A discount of up to 50% on fees for children at GDST schools
- Interest free loans for training, computer purchase loans and travel season ticket loans
- A Cycle to Work scheme
- Competitive terms and conditions of employment
For further details and an application form please visit the school’s website by clicking the apply button.
Applications must be received by 4pm on Monday 4 February 2019
Interviews will take place the following week.
Northwood College for Girls and the GDST are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.
About Northwood College
"Northwood College is EXCELLENT in every category" - ISI inspection report, March 2012.
Northwood College is an independent day school for girls, which was founded in 1878 in Central London. By 1892 it had moved to its present site on Maxwell Road. Careful, planned development over the decades has ensured that the College has facilities which enable it to provide a high quality of education appropriate to modern needs. Further development is outlined in the school's strategic building plan over the next ten-year period.
The completion of a new Performing Arts block, comprising drama studio, recital hall, three teaching rooms including an ICT suite of 16 MAC computers, 10 smaller practice rooms, offices, assembly area and conservatory, in October 2004, marked the beginning of this development. Two new ICT suites opened in September 2005, providing four suites throughout the school plus a mobile bank of laptops. A new Early Years Centre, called Bluebelle House, containing 14 PCs for Nursery and Reception classes, opened in April 2009. In addition, there are approximately 60 interactive classboards.
Our Ethos
Teaching at Northwood College is a very rewarding and enjoyable experience. Girls are of above average ability, motivated and keen to learn. They come from a wide variety of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and all the world’s major religions are represented by the girls – as well as a number of the minor faiths. The atmosphere at Northwood College is unique. Relationships between girls and between girls & staff are excellent. We are an extremely harmonious community that places great emphasis on valuing the individual and expecting the highest standards of behaviour in order to maintain the principles of mutual respect, tolerance and consideration for others which characterise our community. There are approximately 750 girls aged 3-18 on roll, with approximately 100 in the Sixth Form.
As girls are able, the pace of teaching is brisk. Our unique “Thinking Skills” initiative challenges us all to consider the way we teach so that we enable our girls to be able to think critically and creatively, and thus help to prepare them for the rigours of the future. Staff are expected to be committed fully to this programme and training is provided in support of this.
We believe that it is important for every girl to develop her individual talents – whether academic, musical, dramatic, artistic, sporting or organisational. Every girl, from our youngest nursery pupil to our most sophisticated sixth former, is valued for her own unique contribution to the school community.
We encourage girls to recognise their own achievements and those of others. Girls display mutual respect and understanding. Initiative, independence, social responsibility and concern for others are highly valued. We offer a strong system of pastoral care which ensures that every girl feels confident and secure. The College has a warm, friendly atmosphere, and older girls take opportunities to help younger ones.
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