Head of Business and Economics

We are currently looking to appoint a qualified, experienced teacher to join our academy as Head of Business and Economics to ensure high standards of teaching and learning across the subject area through continuously, developing and enhancing the quality of teaching and learning.

As a member of our team at Harris Rainham Sixth Form and Harris Academy Rainham, you will be in the position to lead your subject across an 11-16 Academy and into a brand new sixth form which will first open its doors in September 2023. These are two separate schools but they will have a close relationship and share a similar ethos and staff.

To learn more about the role and the school, you are encouraged to contact the school for an informal visit or to arrange a phone call with Gareth Stananought, Principal.

Research shows that some applicants are put off if they don't meet all criteria, particularly women and people from a BAME background. We encourage and welcome any applicant who meets the majority of our criteria to apply.

About Us

Harris Rainham Sixth Form is a new sixth form and will open its doors to our first cohort of students in September 2023. This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to help shape a new sixth form free school from its very beginning. Harris Rainham Sixth Form will be an academic and ambitious Academy which will meet a need for this provision in our area. For too long Rainham students have had to travel to access high quality Post 16 education. This will no longer be the case. The students of Rainham will now have an ambitious and highly aspirational sixth form that will enable our young people to access the best universities, apprenticeships and employment opportunities that exist. At the heart of Harris Rainham Sixth Form are our values. These values will be found at the core of all we do. We believe our staff and students are involved in the pursuit of knowledge to benefit their lives and the lives of others. This mission comes alive in our values – curiosity, compassion and commitment.

Harris Academy Rainham is a very popular and oversubscribed 11-16 academy which is part of the Harris Federation. We joined the Federation in September 2016 and the school keeps going from strength to strength. We are an SSAT Leading Edge school and have received recognition for our curriculum, professional development and approach to research. At Harris Academy Rainham we have a dedicated group of staff who are deeply committed to serve our community. We have built a school on our core values of Belong, believe, Become. These values are at the heart of our school and all that we do.

Main Areas of Responsibility

The purpose of your role will be:

• To be accountable for leading, managing and developing the subject area.
• To raise standards of student attainment and achievement within the whole subject/curriculum area and to monitor and support student progress.
• To ensure the provision of an appropriately broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum for students studying in the department, in accordance with the aims of the academy and the curricular policies determined by the Governing Body and Principal.
• To teach the relevant subject across the age and ability range.
• To facilitate and encourage a learning experience which provides students with the opportunity to achieve their individual potential.
• To effectively manage and deploy staff, financial and physical resources within the department.
• To share and support the school's responsibility to provide and monitor opportunities for personal and academic growth.

Your main areas of responsibility will fall under the areas of:

• Operational and strategic planning (including formulating the subject and faculty improvement plans, and leading the development of appropriate syllabuses, resources, schemes of work, marking policies, assessment and teaching strategies)
• Ensuring the delivery of an appropriate, comprehensive, high quality and cost effective curriculum and leading development of the subject and its delivery
• Staff development (including recruiting, building and managing an effective team of motivated staff)
• Student outcomes (including ensuring the effective operation of target setting, monitoring and evaluation systems and the input and maintenance of accurate student data)
• Pastoral system (including being a form tutor to a selected group of students)
• Teaching, including acting as an outstanding role model

Qualifications & Experience

The successful candidate will:

• Hold QTS (or equivalent) and a relevant undergraduate degree, and, ideally, management training
• Demonstrate successful teaching of GCSE at good or better level
• Have experience of initiation and effective management of change
• Show evidence of raising achievement in present post and showing good value added for groups
• Have knowledge of current curriculum developments in subject and their implications
• Have good knowledge and understanding of current educational thinking
• Show good understanding of how children learn and how to raise standards of achievement
• Have good communication skills in speech and writing
• Display excellent organisational skills
• Be able to build and sustain professional standards and relationships with students
• Be able to contribute towards creating a safe and protective environment

Professional Development & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance for teachers on MPS/UPS, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan including access to a virtual GP, electric car scheme, and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.