Head of Department, Geography

Career Opportunity (M3-M6 or UPS1-3 teachers)

Ambitious, forward-thinking, flexible and self-motivated? If you can combine these attributes with excellent teaching skills, now is the unique time to join the teaching staff at Coombe Wood School. This is your opportunity to use your experience to influence how we plan our curriculum and develop this department. We offer scope for career development at our vibrant and heavily oversubscribed school (over 1700 applications for 180 Y7 places in September 2022), situated in £35million state-of-the-art, brand new buildings, where we took up occupancy in January 2021.

By September 2022 the school’s growth will have resulted in all year groups being on role, the on-going growth of Key Stage 4 and the CWS Sixth Form brings a variety of promotion opportunities for dedicated and ambitious staff. CWS is a school with a track record of rewarding outstanding performance amongst current staff via internal promotions. By becoming part of the team at Coombe Wood School, your career will benefit from joining a future-focused group of schools within Folio Education Trust, offering access to CPD, which contributes to the recognised quality of learning within our schools.

There is a strong team spirit amongst both staff and students at Coombe Wood School. Our staff are ready to overcome unexpected challenges, break fresh ground, encourage collaboration and share excellent teaching skills within our hardworking and dedicated group.

Our Geography department

Joining the Geography department at CWS is a very exciting opportunity: this period of natural expansion includes the inaugural year of Geography A-Level commencing September 2022. Opportunities such as shaping curriculum design, developing and sharing practice and pedagogy will be central to this role. Applicants with experience of teaching A-Level are welcomed to share this expertise within our team, although CPD/training will be available for the successful candidate with less experience.

Geography at KS4 began this academic year as the current Year 10s started their GCSEs. The high level of uptake shows the popularity and vibrancy of this subject. Students are developing a broad skillset and explore both local and global knowledge that is rooted in preparation for GCSE; however, there remains a strong focus on providing students with an understanding of the world around them. Cultural capital is a solid feature of student learning in Geography lessons at CWS. 

At KS3, students study a varied and exciting curriculum, which brings the outside world into the classroom. It focuses on developing key Geographical skills as well transferable skills, which can be used to deepen their cross-curricular knowledge. 

Like all departments, we keep our core values at the heart of all learning and are very proud to see our students develop their geographical skills whilst showing these core values every day. 

About us – context, location and buildings

This fully inclusive secondary co-educational school was established to meet an urgent rising local demand. The site of our new building and extensive grounds is opposite Lloyd Park in South Croydon, with an excellent Tramlink service to and from East Croydon station (just 5-minute journey-time away,) and a short walk from several bus routes. 

Our £35 million new building and facilities offer specialist teaching spaces for all subjects including Music, Dance, Drama, Science, Design Technology and Art. In addition, students benefit from indoor and outdoor auditoriums, a brand new Health Related Fitness building offering dedicated health and well-being studios and competition-sized spaces for gymnastics, netball, football and basketball. The school is set in spacious parkland grounds which offer a range of outdoor learning opportunities across all subject areas. 

Advantages Include:

• Network of expertise and CPD support within CWS and Folio

• 9 INSET days per year

• Chance to join an innovative and supportive ground breaking team

• Opportunity of career progression with natural expansion of the school

• Catchment includes many aspirational, supportive families

• Working with students who use MyZone technology to track and improve their fitness, as a result increasing their focus and concentration in class

• Outstanding brand new £35M building, modern facilities and extensive grounds

• Free access to new sports amenities for staff.

Application Procedure

Please download the candidate pack and application form or visit Career Opportunities on our website. For enquiries relating to the role please email careers@cws.foliotrust.uk

Please email your completed applications to careers@cws.foliotrust.uk  in compliance with safer recruitment guidelines CVs will not be accepted.

Closing Date: 9am on Tuesday 31 January 2023

Interviews:  w.c 6 February 2023

Safeguarding: Folio Education Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The recruitment process will include an enhanced DBS check, medical screening, confirmation of right to work in the UK and all other pre-employment checks in line with safer recruitment requirements.

The Candidate Privacy Notice (“Privacy Notice”) is published on our web site www.folio-education.co.uk 

Equal Opportunities

At Folio Education Trust, we believe that all individuals are of equal value and we are committed to equal opportunities for all. All people who work and study in the school have the right to be respected and valued within a safe and secure environment and not to be discriminated against on the grounds of age, class, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation and religion or belief.