KS3 Lead Political Science Faculty (History Specialist Preferable)

Abbey College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. 

The responsibilities of the post will be in accordance with the Teacher’s standards, latest School teachers’ pay and conditions, school’s policies and under the direction of the Headteacher.

Job role and purpose

In addition to the requirements of a class teacher and any other agreed responsibilities: To work with the Department Leader, to develop the learning and teaching in Political Science Faculty for Key Stage 3.

Political Science Faculty subjects: History, Geography, Politics & Law

Teacher Expectations:

Good or outstanding classroom skills

Ability to create effective lesson plans

Ability to use assessment to inform planning for good teaching and learning

Experience or desire to be involved in a curriculum initiative

Ability to differentiate materials to meet the needs of learners

Experience or desire to raise standards of achievements

Willingness to continue to develop own expertise

Ability to build good relationships with students and colleagues

Be well organized and able to obtain accurate records

Ability to use ICT effectively to engage students

Humble, Intuitive and Passionate

Details for applicants

 Who are we?

As a department, we are passionate about embedding Politics, History, Geography & Law into the curriculum.  Our teaching staff consistently resource wider reading opportunities to share with students, to ensure that all political science lessons are subjects with context and relevance. 

 Would you like to visit us?

Informal visits are welcomed. We are not as far away as you think and driving through the countryside each morning is a very pleasant way to start you day! You’ll find us just 20 minutes from Peterborough and Huntingdon, and commutable from Cambridge too. Why not come and visit us so we can show you more of our school and our Political Science department?

 What do I do if I want to know more before applying?

You are very welcome to come and visit our wonderful school, please just let us know and we will arrange a tour of the department and wider school.  More information is available on our website. However, if you have any further questions, please contact Simon Hedges simon.hedges@abbeycollege.cambs.sch.uk ch.uk

Main Duties /responsibilities

Outstanding classroom skills

Ability to create effective lesson plans that determine and develop from student starting points

Ability to use assessment to inform planning for good teaching and learning

Experience or desire to be involved in a curriculum initiative

Ability to differentiate materials to meet the needs of learners

Experience or desire to raise standards of achievements

Willingness to continue to develop own expertise

Ability to build good relationships with students and colleagues

Be well organized and able to obtain accurate records

Ability to use ICT effectively to engage students

 Leadership and management

Support the Head of Faculty to ensure that KS3 provision is aspiring and challenging and in line with the School Improvement Plan (SIP)

Contribute to establishing the core values of the school and assist with making decisions within the Faculty on all aspects of policy, development and organisation by playing a supporting role in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the SIP and the Faculty Development Plan.

Arrange and attend parents’ evenings and staff meetings, being available to discuss any concerns and provide assistance.

Support Head of Faculty in monitoring the quality of teaching and learning of department staff.

Support Head of Faculty in management of key school events, e.g. Y6 Open Evening

Other

To support the furtherance of the school’s mission statement

To promote student engagement

To support senior staff in quality assurance procedures

To share responsibility with others for the environment in New Horizons

To support colleagues in sustaining outstanding behaviour and attitudes to learning amongst students

To provide cover for other colleagues, as required.

Person Specification

Skills and abilities:

Able to manage people effectively, set high standards, to administer efficiently, to work collaboratively and to give leadership to colleagues

Confident use of ICT with the ability to use it to enhance pupil learning in the classroom

Able to use assessment for learning and assessment data to raise standards of achievement in groups of learners

Able to communicate effectively with a wide variety of people, including pupils, parents and colleagues

Ability to be a committed and effective Form Tutor

Personal Qualities:

Enthusiastic and committed to the teaching of Politics and History

Creative in problem solving together with a willingness to take on new approaches and ideas

A positive attitude towards continuing professional development and their own learning with ambition for further development and promotion

A positive, “can do” approach to cope with the challenges ahead

Reliability and integrity

Professionally ambitious

Willingness to provide extra-curricular activities that extend pupils’ experience and to contribute to the wider life of the School

Committed to the welfare and safeguarding of young people

Humble, Intuitive and Passionate

Wellbeing

Ensure all pupils have equal access to learning using appropriate strategies and resources, where necessary.

Liaise with pastoral staff members to ensure the wellbeing of pupils and their full participation in school life.

Raise any concerns regarding pupils’ behaviour with the relevant Raising Standards Lead.

Implement any specific arrangements for individual pupils, ensuring that relevant staff members are aware of the measures in place.

Provide individual pastoral support to pupils, where necessary.

Continuously motivate and challenge pupils, whilst promoting and reinforcing self-esteem.

Safeguarding

To have the ability to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.

Appreciate the significance of safeguarding and interprets this accurately for all individual children and young people whatever their life circumstances.

To have a good understanding of the safeguarding agenda and can demonstrate an ability to contribute towards a safe environment.

The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice and information in accurate spoken English is essential for the post. 

Variation Clause

This job description will be reviewed and updated periodically in order to ensure that it relates to the job performed or to incorporate any proposed changes.  This procedure will be conducted by the Headteacher or line manager in consultation with the post-holder.  In these circumstances it will be the aim to reach agreement on reasonable changes but if agreement is not possible management reserves the right to make changes to the job description following consultation.