Head of French

The Role

The School is looking to appoint a well-qualified Head of French within our thriving Modern Foreign Languages Department.  The successful candidate will be able to teach French to A level, and ideally a second language, at least to GCSE.  The successful candidate will also support students preparing applications to study French at university, including Oxford and Cambridge. The postholder will be expected to lead the teaching of  French across the School.

The Department

The Modern Languages Faculty has 7 full and 6 part-time teachers, as well as French, German, Mandarin, Spanish and Italian Assistants.  The general policy is to follow National Curriculum plus - that is, the broad outlines of the National Curriculum are followed, but the aim is to go beyond its confines whenever possible. Academic standards are high and results are excellent.  Colleagues use a broad range of methodologies, with emphasis on target language use.  A shared approach to ideas and resources is encouraged within Departments and across the Faculty.  Members of the Department make good use of a range of digital media.

Each student in Key Stage 3 at St Helen’s selects two languages from French, German, Spanish and Mandarin, and studies these languages until the end of Year 9.  GCSEs are offered in French, German, Mandarin, Japanese, Italian and Spanish (Italian and Japanese are ab initio courses starting in Year 10).  Girls studying French, German, Mandarin or Spanish currently sit the Edexcel IGCSE examination. All girls must take a Modern Foreign Language to GCSE and it is possible to take two languages. French, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Italian and Spanish are currently offered at AS and A Level. The Prep School girls are introduced to French from Year 1.  Prep School pupils study French with a specialist French teacher, who is a member of the Prep School staff.

The School has links with schools across the world. Regular exchange programmes take place with schools in Spain and Germany.  Other cultural trips are offered, including short trips to the continent, which may be cross-curricular.  At present, we offer a day trip to Boulogne for Year 8 and a residential trip to Montpellier.  Trips to China and Japan are also offered every two years.

Job Description

The management responsibilities as the Head of French include:

• to provide leadership and line management to the staff who teach French in the MFL Faculty

• to monitor the work of staff in the Department via formal and informal lesson observations, work scrutiny, annual Professional Development Review meetings and other appropriate means, ensuring that learning and teaching within the Department is consistent with the Headmistress’ Vision for St Helen’s

• to provide support, coaching, mentoring, challenge and advice to all members of the Department to secure the highest standards of learning, teaching and professional development

• to develop and implement departmental policies in line with whole school policies

• to ensure the ongoing development, implementation, monitoring and review of 

departmental schemes of work, teaching strategies, homework, marking, assessment, recording and reporting

• to evaluate the work of the Department and report to the Head of Modern Foreign Languages

• to organise the teaching of the Department

• to ensure effective communication within the Department and to hold regular minuted departmental meetings

• to delegate clearly defined areas of responsibility to other members of the Department

• to assist in the assessment and selection of prospective teachers in consultation with the wider recruitment team

• to ensure that all members of the Department have access to professional development opportunities which are consistent with their own needs and those of the Department and School

• to be responsible for departmental resources

• to prepare and manage the annual departmental budget

• to liaise with the teacher of French in the Prep School as required

Teaching at St Helen’s

All teachers are expected to ensure the highest standards of teaching and learning by:

• Preparing and delivering challenging and differentiated lessons

• Setting homework in accordance with the School’s homework policy

• Marking work in accordance with the School’s marking policy

• Using all available data and information to ensure that each student is provided with an appropriate programme of study

• Having a good understanding of the schemes of work they are following and how these    fit into the overall scheme of work for the subject they are teaching

• Keeping up to date with developments in the teaching of their subject

The teacher should have knowledge and understanding of:

• Effective learning and teaching styles

• Theory and practice of providing effectively for the individual needs of all children (e.g. classroom organisation, planning, and teaching strategies which remove barriers to learning and which stretch and challenge able, gifted and talented pupils)

• Monitoring, assessment, recording and reporting of pupils’ progress

• How assessment supports effective learning

• The need for high quality pastoral support to complement the academic experience of pupils aged 11-18

• The Legislation concerning Equality, Health & Safety, Individual Needs and Safeguarding /    Child Protection

The teacher will be able to:

• Promote the School’s aims, ethos and whole school approach to learning

• Develop effective relationships with pupils, parents, staff and governors

• Create a happy, challenging and effective learning environment

• Communicate effectively (both orally and in writing) to a variety of audiences

• Work collaboratively with others

• Work in a fast-paced and stimulating environment

The teacher will be able to demonstrate:

• A willingness to participate in the wider life of the School

• A willingness to make a significant contribution to the School’s extensive co-curricular Programme

Person specification

Essential:

• An exceptional classroom practitioner and inspiring teacher

• A good honours degree in French or a related subject

• Experience of teaching French across the secondary age range to A Level

• Demonstrable passion for teaching French to Key Stages 3, 4 and 5

• Leadership skills

• Experience of curriculum / subject development

• Detailed understanding of current developments in the secondary curriculum and assessment

• Demonstrable ability to work in a team and to work collaboratively

• A clear motivation to work with young people

• The ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and boundaries with young people

• A commitment to further professional development

• The ability to inspire pupils

• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills

• Excellent time management and organisational skills

• Creativity, imagination and energy

• The ability to motivate others

Desirable:

• A teaching qualification such as PGCE (or equivalent)

• The ability to offer a second language up to GCSE is highly desirable

• Evidence of further professional development

• Knowledge and experience of how ICT can be used to support learning

• Experience of leading and managing a team