Head of Digital Learning

The Pilgrims’ School is a leading, selective, day and boarding boys’ prep and double choir school, in a beautiful and historic ‘city meets country’ setting in Winchester. It is a vibrant, lively school where boys aged 4 to 13 are encouraged to find their passions and nurture them, whether that be in the classroom, science lab, music room, art room, sports fields, at Forest School or beyond.

Nestled between Winchester Cathedral, Winchester College, and Wolvesey Palace, the School occupies a superb site in the historic Cathedral Close. Our large playing fields lie in the shadow of Wolvesey Castle and the ancient city walls. We have our own swimming pool, and use of the excellent sporting facilites at Winchester College. With our Choral foundations, the School encourages musical achievement in all its pupils, but also excels in academic endeavour, sport and the arts. We enjoy an enviable local and national reputation.

For a flavour of the School and further information about us please visit our website at www.thepilgrims-school.co.uk.

Our objectives in terms of learning, teaching and pastoral care are:

• to scaffold, encourage and support all Pilgrims to make as much progress as they possibly can in all areas of the examined, non-examined, co- and extra-curricula

• to develop a growth mindset, confidence and resilience

• to develop a genuine love of and passion for learning.

Boys at The Pilgrims’ School learn Digital Learning as part of the non-examined curriculum and we also use it to support learning in the classroom as well as in Commoners (extra-curricular clubs). We have two dedicated ICT suites and iPads which teachers may use (e.g. for hybrid learning). We do not have sets of devices for boys (except desktops in the IT rooms) and no BYoD (Bring your own Device) policy as yet.

We are working towards satisfying the directive given in our last ISI inspection 2015 to “increase opportunities for the use of ICT within the curriculum”. We also aim to meet our goal (first expressed in July 2020) that ICT and digital learning becomes a source of competitive advantage for The Pilgrims’ School.

So, the objective of the School is to fully embed information technology and digital learning in order to support teaching and learning provision throughout the entire subject curriculum and all phases of the school: Pre-Prep, Junior and Senior.

The Digital Learning Department will lead the digital strategy and vision of the School and drive the take up and the use  of digital technology throughout the taught curriculum (examined and non-examined). It will be responsible for embedding digital learning in every subject, class and department (blended learning) and it will lead a significant change process throughout the School to achieve this. It will also develop and teach a computing and digital curriculum including an assessment regime throughout the School and ensure that digital learning is suitably represented in the curriculum map for each year group.

The primary objectives of the Digital Learning department are appropriately three-fold:

• Roll out, train staff, and embed a blended learning platform across all examined and non-examined curriculum

• Enable all boys to use devices and other IT to support their learning, as well as to seamlessly collaborate with other pupils, throughout our examined and non-examined curriculum

• Enable all boys to learn an outstanding, full and exciting digital curriculum including computing, logic, coding and other key skills, e.g. robotics, virtual reality and animation, and the use of apps and software packages. The scheme of work, curriculum and teaching must be sector leading, building on the National Curriculum learning requirements and the requirements of leading senior schools. The skills the boys learn should build seamlessly from Reception to Year 8, supporting differentiation (including for SEN and gifted and talented pupils), and including assessment for learning. It must prepare boys with the skills they need to transition to their senior schools.

The Head of Digital Learning is a full-time senior teaching role. They will lead this significant change programme in the School across all subject departments.

To underpin the above, Pilgrims’ needs a sector-leading IT hardware, software and systems strategy, vision and delivery.

The Pilgrims’ School is committed to providing the best possible care and education for its pupils and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The School is also committed to providing a supportive and flexible working environment for its entire staff. The School recognizes that in order to achieve these aims it is of fundamental importance to attract, recruit, and retain employees of the highest calibre, who share this commitment.

The aims of the School’s recruitment policy are as follows:

• To ensure the best possible staff are recruited on the basis of merit, ability, and suitability for the position

• To ensure that all job applicants are considered equitably and consistently

• To ensure that no job applicant is treated unfairly on any grounds

• To ensure compliance with all relevant recommendations and guidance, including the recommendations of the DfE in

Keeping Children Safe in Education and the code of practice published by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

• To ensure that the School meets its commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people by carrying out all necessary pre-employment checks

Candidates are encouraged to review the school’s full Recruitment Policy and Safeguarding Policy, both of which are available to download from the school website.

This position description will not form part of the contract of employment. If the job is offered a draft contract of employment, including a competitive salary and terms, will be provided for agreement.

How to Apply

To apply for the position please forward the completed application form and a covering letter by email to recruit@pilgrims-school.co.uk. Your letter should not exceed one page and should be addressed to the Head, Dr Sarah Essex.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 1700 on Monday 12 April and interviews will be held on Friday 16 April. Early submission of applications is highly recommended.