Head of Social Sciences (Sociology, Psychology, Criminology & Law)

We are seeking to appoint an exceptional Head of Social Sciences (Sociology, Psychology, Criminology & Law) for Ortu Gable Hall School, a member of the Ortu Federation. As Head of Social Sciences, you will be a dynamic, committed middle leader who will join a forward-thinking and innovative team in this ambitious 11-16 Academy. 

The Federation has ambitious plans to transform education in our academies, developing an aspirant culture and a dynamic learning experience that will rapidly improve the educational outcomes for all learners.

Working closely with the Director of 6th Form, the Principal of Ortu Gable Hall School and Chief Executive Officer of the Ortu Federation you will provide a strong vision and acute professional leadership to ensure a high quality of education for all students. You will have significant experience of successful senior leadership and be able to demonstrate a clear knowledge and understanding of the principles and practices of effective teaching and learning. Most importantly, you will share our commitment for improving educational outcomes across the Federation at pace.

About the school:

Ortu Gable Hall is an ambitious, happy and fully inclusive comprehensive school in Corringham for students aged 11 to 18. Daily life here emphasises the collective will to provide the best possible education which is broad, balanced, relevant and enriches the lives of students. Ortu Gable Hall is a popular school with a thriving Sixth form. The school community is a diverse one, students come from a range of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds and we are proud to be one of the most popular schools in Thurrock.

We have ambitious plans for the forthcoming year. We have overhauled the KS3 curriculum to provide a platform on which all students, regardless of their starting points, can achieve. The ultimate aim by the end of the key stage is to ensure all students become “capable learners” who are able to apply their competencies and skills to any KS4 subject offered.

Our stated goal is “To provide a world class educational experience for our students. In whatever we do, to be held as an example of best practice to other schools.” This is an aspirational goal, but one we judge ourselves against at all times. If you are successful in your application you will play a key role in this journey.

The KS4 offer is a rich mix of 29 (35 if you count alternative curriculums such as fishing, Hair & Beauty and native language entries such as Chinese) academic and vocational qualifications. Here we are keen to promote equality for all students. Therefore students are free to choose any combination of subjects, free of any prior attainment restrictions. 

We pride ourselves on being a truly inclusive school and this is actively underpinned by our motto ‘Knowledge Nurtures Wisdom’. Academic rigour runs alongside a commitment to extracurricular activities and we offer our students a wide range of opportunities to pursue their studies both inside and outside the classroom. 

We believe well-rounded individuals require more than just academic qualifications. There is a rich extra-curricular programme. We pride ourselves on providing students with trips and visits to countries including Spain, Portugal, Italy, Euro Disney, Austria, Germany, Uruguay, Alabama, New York and France as well as to several destinations in the UK. We believe such diverse and rich experiences are intelligently woven into the curriculum to provide the cultural capital students require to thrive in modern society and ensures all students get the chance to extend their academic, social and cultural experiences outside of the classroom. New staff are encouraged to participate in trips.

The school prides itself on providing staff with the most appropriate and effective support to ensure that their professional development needs are fully met and that there is a high level of challenge in the opportunities they are offered. Wednesdays’ are devoted to CPD and developing professional development. This is a valuable opportunity for staff to share best practice, work on curriculum development, undertake research and collaboratively plan and assess, amongst other things. Our objective is to build a community of teachers committed to professional development and excellence.

Last year we looked closely at how each subject’s curriculum is sequenced. Our approach to curriculum and teaching is influenced by the principles of Rosenshine. Before applying please make sure you are familiar with cognitive science and how it impacts learning and with Rosenshine’s principles. We want to recruit hard workinand driven colleagues with very high standards, someone who wants to make a real difference at Ortu Gable Hall.

The successful candidate will be ambitious and we will support them towards fulfilling their own career goals.

To support teaching, we have a whole school behaviour policy that teachers consistently use. This means that behaviour in lessons is excellent and low level disruption is rare. We want our teachers to focus on their pedagogy and practice, not managing disruptive behaviour. Our behaviour policy also promotes diversity and inclusion and we are proud to be a school that stands against bullying and discrimination.

Our Sixth Form continues to work in order to deliver the highest quality post-16 education pathways for our students. All members of the Ortu Sixth form Centre community are enormously proud of the sixth form. At Ortu Sixth form centre it is not just what students achieve academically that matters, but what type of young people they become and what they choose to do when they leave. It is for this reason that we have built a diverse and challenging curriculum, along with excellent enrichment opportunities for our students. We are an inclusive sixth form, with a welcoming, diverse and grounded community in which our students feel cared for and supported.

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Ethos and Values:

As you will see if you visit Ortu Gable Hall, the work we do at school is underpinned by the Ortu Gable Hall values: Ready, Respectful and Safe. Our assemblies and tutor time programmes reinforce them and the words are prominently displayed around the school.

Ortu Gable Hall is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to apply for an enhanced DBS disclosure.

Opportunities for every member of staff and every student:

This is our promise to students and their families and develop our staff with the skill sets to deliver this:

1. A personalised learning experience for every student to capture their aspirations 

2. A rich programme of clubs, trips and activities including sports, Drama, Art, Music, Science to create cultural capital

3. A full induction scheme at each key stage, including a buddy system in Year 7, full coaching and mentoring programme for students, families, community and professionals 

4. A Passport to Adventure which develops every student’s resilience and character, supplemented by local, regional and international overseas trips. We also offer Duke of Edinburgh scheme from Year 9 and a full Cadet programme

5. Development and enhancement of key personal life skills: leadership, teamwork, communication, problem solving, work ethic, flexibility & adaptability, and interpersonal skills are part of our Personal Development Curriculum offer.

A full coaching and training programme will be provided for staff along with a complementary Health and Wellbeing benefits package.