IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) Coordinator

The INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF SIENA is seeking to appoint a PYP Coordinator as part of the Senior Leadership Team.

Join us in August 2020 (Start date can be negotiated for exceptional candidates)

As interviews will be held on a rolling basis, we encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible.

Deadline for applications: Friday 17th July 2020

The Position:
We are seeking to appoint a PYP Coordinator as part of the Senior Leadership Team. This position will provide the correct candidate with the opportunity to lead on the continued growth and development of the PYP as well as the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the development of our school.

The PYP Coordination role will abe combined with a reduced teaching timetable (up to a 50% teaching). Preference will be given to candidates who are able to deliver PYP Physical Education (PE), run the PYP Library lessons or deliver MYP English Language Acquisition. However, all suitable candidates will be considered. 

The below person specification provides an overview of the essential and desirable characteristics we are looking for during this recruitment process.

Essential Characteristics:

• A university degree in a related subject 
• A teaching qualification / license 
• To be a proficient user of English
• To be an EU passport holder or already be in possession of a valid visa that enables to work in Italy. 
• Experience of teaching within the PYP (Minimum 3 years)
• A commitment to, and belief in, the IB mission statement and pedagogical approaches
• A detailed knowledge and understanding of the structure and functioning of the IB Primary Years Programme
• Ability to inspire and motivate young people
• Ability to use IT effectively
• Use IT to raise achievement and as a management tool 
• Diligent, hardworking, and prepared to lead by example
• Flexibility and willingness to go above and beyond
• Exceptional organisational and administrative skills
• High quality communication skills, and well-developed interpersonal capabilities
• Solution focused thinker
• Willingness to engage with parents in order to encourage their close involvement in the education of their children
• Committed to maintaining confidentiality and dealing with sensitive information
• A good understanding of safeguarding and child protection procedures and policies

Desirable Characteristics:

• Ability to lead and develop a coherent team approach to the implementation and delivery of the PYP
• Proven previous leadership skills within a department or programme
• Ability to promote and lead through collaborative practices
• Ability to coach and mentor to raise standards of Teaching and Learning
• A record of continuous professional and career development / Commitment to personal career development 
• Ability to work hard under pressure while maintaining a positive, professional attitude 

The School
The school consists of small classes, one class per grade. Our IB programmes provide each student with opportunities to explore, inquire and develop confidence as well as equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and understanding necessary for the 21st century. Our school is based in a new purpose-built facility which includes a spacious indoor gymnasium, well-designed classrooms, Drama studio, Libraries and two science labs with on-going developments of the external facilities. 

We are an International Baccalaureate World School delivering all three programmes: Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme. The school is one of several very successful Italian schools belonging to ISE (the International Schools of Europe) which in turn are part of Inspired, a worldwide network of premium schools. (www.inspirededu.co.uk), offering global best practice and professional development. 

Our classrooms are exciting centres of collaborative learning and this extends to the philosophy and vision of relations between teachers and families. We believe that collaboration with families is of particular importance and our teachers interact comfortably and confidently with parents as well as being imaginative and flexible classroom practitioners. We expect high standards in teaching and learning with special awareness of language acquisition and literacy since the majority of students do not have English as their mother tongue. 

Applicants must be willing to be active, flexible participants in a hard-working team of teachers. The initial contract will be fixed term for 12 months, after which there may be the possibility of converting the contract into a permanent position of employment. 

Why work with us:

• A knowledgeable and talented staff body committed to supporting the very best in student achievement.

• IB professional development during employment

• Support settling in to Italy with our Relocation Agents

• An international campus in Siena, Italy and a school where teachers are respected as professionals and afforded autonomy to teach in the most innovative and effective ways.

How to apply
Interested candidates who meet the above requirements should complete the TES application form (including the contact details for three referees-one of which must be a current supervisor from most recent appointment and include your current Principal or Head Teacher), including a supporting statement, for the attention of the Principal Lianne Knibb in which you explain how you meet the Person Specification for the role.

The successful candidate will be expected to begin work at the end of August 2020 (Or at the earliest opportunity), before which date a criminal records check will need to be completed as part of our child safeguarding policy. 

More information about the school can be found on our website at http://internationalschoolsgroup.it/school/siena.