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Head of Languages

Head of Languages

Downsend School

Leatherhead, Surrey

  • Expired
Job type:
Full Time, Permanent
Start date:
September 2018
Apply by:
12 February 2018

Job overview

HEAD OF LANGUAGES 

Required for September 2018

An IAPS, co-educational, day school educating children aged 2 to 13, Downsend is a thriving and vibrant school which provides a refreshingly different education through a broad based curriculum leading to outstanding academic success. 

In mid-November, we made the landmark decision to expand Downsend’s provision. With effect from September 2020, we will welcome Year 9 pupils on site for the first time and, in May 2023, our current Year 6 pupils will be the first Downsend pupils to sit GCSEs. This expansion comes with a multi-million pound investment which will see the building of a Creative Arts Centre, due for completion by September 2019. The Head of Languages at Downsend will be key in determining the direction of the subject at the school, including syllabus and Board, resourcing and timetabling. Due to the strategic involvement of the successful candidate, it is likely to be attractive to an individual seeking Deputy Headship as their next career move.

At this exciting time, we are looking for an enthusiastic and inspirational individual who can lead and manage the Languages Department and establish a clear ethos, positive atmosphere & attractive environment to inspire high achievement at GCSE. The successful applicant will lead and promote the teaching of Languages, within the context of our ‘Inspiring Young Minds’ model, to ensure a high quality learning experience for pupils.

Closing date: Monday 12 February 2018

Interviews to be held Friday 23 February 2018 

If you would like to apply for the above post, further details and an

application form are available to download below.  Any questions, contact:

Sue Wood, HR Administrator

Tel: 01372 385419   Email: hr@downsend.co.uk 

Cognita Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment.  Safer recruitment practice and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.    

Attached documents

About Downsend School

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+44 1372 385430

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Introduction

At Downsend, we prepare children for the future with a creative and problem-solving approach to learning that not only inspires young minds, but fosters bravery, sparks imagination, celebrates innovation and creates opportunity every day.

From nursery through to GCSEs, we provide the skills, motivation and inspiration for our students to be successful throughout their school journey and far beyond.

We have three Little Downsend locations in Ashtead, Epsom and Leatherhead. Each teaches children from the age of two to six. All the Little Downsend sites are overseen by the Head of Little Downsend, Mrs Lisa Burns, who instils the same ethos, high standards and innovative curriculum across each school through her dedicated team of experts.

The main school is located in Leatherhead and continues the same innovative, creative and academically excellent curriculum from Year 2 to Year 11 under the inspiring headship of Mr Ian Thorpe. Over the last 2 years, Downsend has benefited from an £8m investment in brand new flexible teaching spaces and our cutting edge Creative Arts Centre opened summer 2022. Last year we added Modern Foreign Languages block consisting of 5 contemporary classrooms.

Our ‘Inspiring Young Minds’ philosophy pervades all four schools and has resulted in some really creative teaching and learning initiatives across the schools, as well as fantastic enrichment opportunities, such as our tailor-made Stretch Programme.

The core curriculum provides a solid framework, preparing children well for their educational journey through Downsend. We achieve amazing success at all levels academically, and we are delighted for our first cohort of Year 11 pupils who have achieved remarkable results last year. As the first cohort to undertake a full set of GCSEs at Downsend since becoming a through-school, they mark a momentous day both personally, and for the School. We are delighted by their results, which are a testament to their hard work. With 100 % of all pupils securing the grades required for their first-choice onward destination.

It is the school's broader curriculum and strong pastoral support that particularly sets us apart, with an emphasis on practical subjects such as STEAM, Computing, Design Technology, Drama, Textiles and Food Technology.

The sporting programme offers scope for nearly every child to represent the school, with strong results achieved in both county and national competitions. The school’s huge range of clubs, with more than 50 activities on offer each week, further enhances the schedule.

The active programme continues into the school holidays when Downsend+ takes over. Children have the opportunity to participate in horse riding, rock climbing, scuba diving, fashion design or any of the other activities that are on offer throughout the holiday weeks. The school also offers Downsend Early Years+, for younger girls and boys age 2 to 5, at Little Downsend Leatherhead. Combined with term time schooling, Downsend can offer 50 week provision for working parents.

We are an incredibly friendly and supportive staff and we are looking for the right people to join us. So, if you are a great practitioner with a level of creativity and innovation to your teaching, would relish contributing to the extra-curricular life of school, are ambitious, and are happy to challenge and be challenged in a positive way for better outcomes for the children, then we want to hear from you.

Additional Benefits

· Free on-site parking

· Good road and rail transport links and proximity to London

· School Fee remission after qualifying period

· Childcare voucher scheme in operation

· Holiday club discount

· Free lunch available

Benefits of being a Cognita School

Cognita is an international group with over 90 schools in Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Asia, we employ 15,000+ teaching and support staff in the care and education of more than 60,000 students.

Teaching excellence represents everything we stand for at Cognita. We’re committed to hiring and retaining outstanding talent: teachers and school leaders who are passionate about their craft as well as functional leaders and professionals in our Head and Regional offices who can take the business forward.

We are looking for people who want to make a positive difference to children’s lives, who can help us stretch and support children to achieve beyond expectation.

Our diverse portfolio of schools and Regional Offices, combined with our ongoing investment in the professional development of our people, means we can offer first-class career opportunities with a global dimension. If you want to take your career further, we want to support you in achieving that goal within Cognita. www.cognita.com

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Applications closed