Head of Digital Education

Forest School is looking for an enthusiastic, informed, experienced educator committed to advancing the information capabilities of pupils and staff, to expanding and optimising their teaching and learning options, and supporting social and emotional development of pupils for effective participation in modern information society. The school is committed to developing skilled and literate pupils and staff that participate positively, productively, creatively, and responsibly in this evolving environment.

Forest School’s digital learning strategy, developed in 2012, has seen the school of almost 1500 pupils from 4 to 18, engage through mobile devices since 2013, subscribe to more than 200 online learning applications, and systematically introduce the Microsoft365 online learning and collaboration platform, starting with OneDrive and leading to OneNote, Teams, and Sharepoint implementations by 2017. The school now has up to 1900 active users of the suite in any given school period. It is exploring adaptive learning and the use of data in learning processes.

The Head of Digital Education will lead Digital Education across the whole school, working with the Information Director and Leadership Team/s to promote and develop academic, pastoral, and co-curricular education programmes appropriate for current and future information society.

They will work within a customised framework based on the JISC digital capabilities framework, and the 5rights framework of rights and responsibilities of online/digital citizens. The frameworks will drive planning, staff development, curriculum, support, and communications. It would be worthwhile to have some awareness of these prior to applying. 

Working with data specialists and Deputy Heads, they will contribute to developing data-driven teaching and learning strategies and integration.

They will support safeguarding and related data protections to support or assure safe use of digital information technologies by pupils, staff, parents, and others. They will inform and support pastoral, safeguarding and technical teams in matters of online safety, and information rights, responsibilities, and related statutory requirements.

They will be responsible for managing digital education resources, from budget and acquisition to data and information management, productive and responsible use, and disposal.

The role is suited to an experienced teacher, most likely of ICT/Computing or Media, and a passionate, forward-looking pedagogue seeking to progress to a significant managerial role. The post-holder will be a member of teaching staff, working across the whole School in a manner suited to their experience, and the school’s staffing needs. They will have limited teaching responsibility in Computing or Project Qualification (HPQ or EPQ).

They will report to the Information Director, and to the Deputy Head Academic of the Senior School. They will supervise an application support specialist, and a team of champions that supports the academic departments. They will be responsible for the development of the department and its staff which includes dedicated representatives from teaching departments.

The successful candidate may be more skilled in some areas than others, and applications are accepted from candidates with a wide range of experience. Enthusiasm, an informed commitment to digitally integrated education, and the ability to bring others along with them are essential.

The teacher of Art will be responsible for delivering high quality teaching with the aim of helping students develop a broad base of skills through practical, investigational and contextual work across all Key Stages. The Teacher of Art must be able to demonstrate excellent subject knowledge and communicate this in an enthusiastic and imaginative way in all lessons.

The Forest School Ethos

Forest is a humane, open-minded school with both feet on the ground, in which the pupils’ all-round personal development is outstanding and academic attainment is high. It is, above all, a happy school which understands the rich inter-relationship between the curricular, the co-curricular and the pastoral. There is boldness in the School’s character, a readiness to be forward-thinking and adaptable, with pride in what we are and excitement for what lies ahead.

Our Values

GROWTH HARD WORK RESPONSIBILITY COMMUNITY LEARNING DIVERSITY WELLBEING

About Forest

Forest is a large, vibrant school, with more than 1,430 boys and girls in equal proportion, from 4 to 18. Our traditional House structure means that each pupil is treated as an individual, of whom we have the highest expectations, while our size enables us to offer breadth and depth of opportunity.

Location

Forest is a city school set within 50 acres of grounds surrounded by Epping Forest, within easy walking distance of Snaresbrook Central line tube station and Wood Street Overground station.

Why work at Forest?

There are many benefits of working at Forest school as staff are our single most important asset. Key benefits include:                 

• Generous CPD budget                 
• Comprehensive Professional Development Review system                 
• Opportunities to contribute to the wider community via our extensive Outreach Programme         
• Free hot lunch (takeaway sandwich lunch also available) and refreshments throughout the day                 
• 20% fee remission (pro-rata for part time staff) for children attending Forest which is applicable Y3-Y13                 
• Subsidised membership to the Sylvestrian Leisure Centre               
• Membership of the School's Group Life Assurance scheme and Personal Accident Scheme          
• Contribution towards private medical insurance fees                 
• Membership of a pension scheme

Don’t just take our word for it

What the Good Schools Guide say:

“Forest is a power-house with a heart. The pupils exude purpose – modern, dynamic youngsters with an eye on what’s happening next”

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis so early applications are encouraged. The School reserves the right to make an appointment at any stage.

Applications close on Monday, 15 August 2022, 08:00am

Interviews will take place week beginning 22 August 2022

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. We are an equal opportunities employer.