Head of Computing / IT Services / Digital Learning
Bethany School
Kent
- Expired
- Salary:
- Competitive Salary + Benefits
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Apply by:
- 7 April 2023
Job overview
Technology transforms everything.
You’ll help transform our approach to technology.
Bethany is far more than just a school. We’re a unique charity and educational community set in 60 acres of the stunning Weald in Kent countryside.
We’re particularly passionate about the power of technology and believe that digital literacy is essential to a fast-moving career and satisfying social life. That’s why we’re planning to introduce Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality into our curriculum.
Right now, we need exceptional specialists to take ownership of Computing, IT Services and Digital Learning respectively – or alternatively, a single professional to combine these roles.
We were among the first schools in the UK to embrace wireless technology way back in 2000 and have been fully wireless for more than 15 years, with every pupil in years 7 to 13 using a laptop to enhance learning. Our pupils already enjoy topics such as programming (Scratch, HTML and Python), digital media (photos and videos), networking and computational thinking, and can become certified users of the Microsoft Office suite. As a result, we achieved Microsoft Showcase Status in September 2021 – held by just 88 schools in the UK.
Joining our ICT Steering Committee alongside the Governors and Senior Management Team, you will map out our IT pathway, shape our computing curriculum and make us a centre of excellence in e-learning. To be equal to the challenge, you will require a degree-level education and teaching qualification plus a broad background in IT, giving you expert understanding of hardware, software and emerging digital technologies. Like us, you will be a true pioneer who embraces the power of technology for learning, communication, interaction and self-improvement – and you will be ready to go the extra mile every day to keep us at the cutting edge.
In return, we offer excellent conditions of employment within a friendly school community with a welcoming Christian ethos. We enjoy some excellent facilities and in recent years we’ve created an indoor swimming pool, a substantial extension to our sixth form building and a dedicated fitness suite. Central London is less than an hour away, as is the Channel Tunnel, so this is the perfect location in which to be based and we can even offer onsite accommodation if you need to work outside your normal hours.
So if you can deliver transformative technology, please send your CV to recruitment@bethanyschool.org.uk, indicating which role interests you or whether you would like to take on a single all-embracing position.
Closing date for applications is ongoing.
As part of your role, you will be required to adhere to all School Policies, to include but not be limited to Safeguarding and Child Protection, Code of Conduct and Health & Safety, as well as the continual promotion and safeguarding of the welfare of children and young persons for whom you are responsible and with whom you come into contact. All applicants must be willing to undergo enhanced child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.
These appointments will be made without regard to gender, age, or ethnic origin. Bethany School is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
About Bethany School
In addition to being a registered charity, Bethany is a co-educational, independent boarding and day school for pupils aged 11-18 years. There are 325 pupils in the School, including 110 boarding pupils. The majority of pupils remain in the School until they are eighteen and most proceed to University. There are 90 pupils in the Sixth Form and the A Level pass rate in 2019 was 95%. The 2019 GCSE pass rates was 85% at 9-4 (A*-C) grade.
Bethany enjoys an ever-growing reputation, both locally and further afield, for the quality of its teaching and pastoral care. As a result, pupil numbers are very buoyant. In recent years the School has undertaken a programme of building development, including the construction of an indoor swimming pool, an extension to the sixth form building as well as a dedicated fitness building The next phase of this development will include a purpose built performing arts space.
The School is a Christian foundation with a strong community life. All members of staff are expected to be in agreement with the Christian values and to attend Chapel with the pupils. The School is well known for its high level of pastoral care for pupils. In addition, it enjoys an international reputation for the education of dyslexic pupils. Class sizes are small, rarely reaching more than eighteen pupils, and considerably less in the Sixth Form.
The School is set in beautiful Kent countryside and the 60-acre campus is spacious and attractive. It lies in the hamlet of Curtisden Green, mid-way between Goudhurst and Marden. Central London is less than an hour’s journey from Marden Station, as are Dover and the Channel Tunnel. For a small school, the high standard of sporting success and the extensive games programme are made possible by the expertise and commitment of the teaching staff outside normal lesson time. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme also enjoys remarkable success, as do the Performing Arts. We have a hugely successful pupil/teacher/exchange programme with a senior school in Taiwan.
The School is forward thinking in all aspects of teaching, learning and curriculum and has created a 10-year vision, Bethany 2026, for its education provision.
Bethany 2026 is a school, which is:
• Providing an innovative education relevant to the 21st century;
• Encouraging the virtue of learning in young people delivering 21st century learning habits;
• Living our Christian values through excellent pastoral care.
• A flourishing school investing in the future.
Furthermore, the School has a unique philosophy of learning centred on developing excellent learning habits in its pupils in order to instil in them the ‘Virtue of Learning’. All teaching staff are encouraged to undertake their own action-based research through a teacher-led Professional Learning Community model.
In recent years the curriculum has been enhanced further and now includes GCSE Dance, and level 3 courses in Economics and Computing. In addition, all full-time staff are provided with a laptop computer and all pupils from Year 7 have their own laptop. This is complimented by a revised Computing curriculum in Key Stage 3 which includes coding and the opportunity for pupils to develop core computing skills. As a school we make use of Microsoft 365 for supporting teaching and learning and have a number of staff who are Microsoft Innovative Educators. We have used Teams to deliver a highly successful remote learning program during lockdown.
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