Head of Physics

Head of Physics required for April 2022

Term time only, permanent position

Salary: Commensurate with experience

Our inspirational team at JAGS is looking for a colleague to lead the Physics department. Your dynamic and creative approach will help our staff deliver outstanding lessons to encourage and champion today’s young scientists across Years 7 to 13 in this, one of the UK’s leading independent schools.

With its distinctive heritage as the oldest independent girls’ school in London, James Allen’s Girls’ School, JAGS, provides a forward-thinking and contemporary education for over 1000 girls aged 4 to 18. A diverse and dynamic school community, JAGS is in an exciting new phase in its development and this post presents a great opportunity to work within a community without barriers to full participation. Your input will help to bring a bold educational vision to life for all pupils and colleagues as we work together to develop this already exceptional school in its next exciting chapter.

Our school aims, both in and out of the classroom, are clear:

To celebrate our diverse and inclusive community

To champion social awareness and sustainability

To empower courage, creativity and compassion in each student

To inspire aspirational and authentic lifelong learners and leaders

To nurture respectful, resilient and kind individuals

If this matches your vision, then this is the perfect time to join the Science department, which consists of our team of 5 teachers and 1 technician in 5 laboratories and 2 prep rooms. The sciences are one of the many strengths of the school and are some of our most popular A Level choices, with a significant number of students applying for science degrees. Science is delivered by subject specialists as separate disciplines from Year 7 upwards.

Our GCSE and A Level results are outstanding, as you would expect from this highly selective school. At JAGS, however, we believe there is so much more to education than simply exam results. The department believes strongly in enrichment and extension and in all our teaching we aim to build critical thinking, confidence, independence and a love of Physics.

Teamwork plays an important role within the Department: the staff love to enhance the experience of the students by sharing good practice, resources and ideas for practical work. We are looking for a well-qualified Physicist to lead this exceptional department, who shares our vision, is passionate about Physics, and who will bring their own individuality to this warm and supportive team.

In addition, any prospective candidate must show an active commitment to the values and expectations of our school community and to the welfare of the pupils within it. The enthusiasm to assist in a strong co-curriculum is an important quality of all who work at JAGS.

We welcome applications from all parts of our community and know that our school is strengthened when staff and pupils feel a true sense of belonging. To enable us to make any reasonable adjustments, please let us know when you submit your application whether you have any special requirements.

We can offer you:

• The opportunity to join our outstanding school where public examination results consistently place JAGS amongst the leading schools in the UK

• A community of considerate, creative and compassionate students and staff

• A highly diverse and inclusive school community, committed to our bursary provision

• An inspiring and enthusiastic team of colleagues across the teaching and support staff

• Excellent facilities, including the latest resources to support provision of comprehensive practical activities

• A wide-ranging benefit package including lunch, gym membership, free access to the Dulwich Picture Gallery and the cycle to work scheme

What you can offer us:

• The ability to lead this already highly successful department in its next chapter

• Excellent knowledge of all matters relating to Physics teaching

• Kindness, open-mindedness and a sense of humour

• Resilience and optimism; someone who is willing to go the extra mile in the busy life of the school

• Team-working abilities and a keenness to contribute ideas and be part of positive change

• Commitment to the well-being and safeguarding of all students and staff

• Commitment to diversity, inclusion and anti-racism in the school community

We welcome applications from experienced teachers wishing to take on a new responsibility and experienced Heads of Department. The school operates its own generous and competitive pay scales and will offer a salary commensurate with experience.

Please visit our website www.jags.org.uk/about/employment to download a JAGS Teaching Staff Application Form and candidate pack. For further information please contact recruitment@jags.org.uk or James Allen’s Girls’ School, 144 East Dulwich Grove, London SE22 8TE. The Head of Physics, Andrew Low (andrew.low@jags.org.uk ) or the Deputy Head (Academic) Laurence Wesson (laurence.wesson@jags.org.uk ) will be happy to answer any questions.

Closing date: 5 December 2021

Interviews: from w/b 6 December 2021

Applications will be reviewed daily and interviews may occur at any stage after applications are received so we invite interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.

JAGS is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service and overseas police check if necessary. Candidates from overseas must provide information about their past conduct, for example, by providing documents issued by overseas teaching authorities.

Reg charity No 1124853