Lead Practitioner Teaching and Learning

Teaching The Priory School is a thriving learning community which seeks to appoint two Lead Practitioners with responsibility for Teaching & Learning.
We are looking for inspirational, innovative and passionate teachers who can lead on whole school initiatives to help the school achieve our vision of ‘Physical, Emotional and Academic Progress for All’. We are a rapidly improving school with a dynamic, positive learning environment and we will provide you with the right balance of support, challenge and stimulation for both job satisfaction and career development. Applications from the following specialism are desirable; Geography, Design Technology, English, Maths and Science. The postholder will be responsible to the Headteacher and will demonstrate a genuine commitment to our Equality Policy and to the wellbeing of all students. This job description will be reviewed annually and will form the basis of the Performance Appraisal Review procedure. Any issues relating to the review of this job description should be brought to the Headteacher’s notice by the postholder. The postholder will undertake the following specific responsibilities in order to fulfill our statutory requirements, school aims, policies and targets:

Job Purpose:

• To promote, develop and support colleagues in driving the standards of Teaching and Learning to outstanding.
• To teach designated classes according to the requirements of the school timetable.
• To contribute to the effective leadership of the school.
• To contribute to the wider teams within the school.
• To ensure that the school is a disciplined, well-ordered place for purposeful learning to take place.
• Implementation of all school policies.

Key Areas of Accountability The postholder will, under the Headteacher’s overall direction, be expected to contribute to the leadership of teaching, learning and assessment across the school community. It is school policy to review and redistribute specific responsibilities and accountabilities periodically.

The initial responsibilities of the post are:

1.  To develop the standards of Teaching and Learning as identified by the member of SLT responsible for Teaching and Learning
2. To implement School Improvement Plan objectives as identified by the member of SLT responsible for Teaching and Learning.
3.  Working with identified outside partner schools and organisations to raise the level of pedagogical understanding.

This job description should be read in conjunction with;

• The Statutory Requirements contained in the current version of the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions document
• The Teachers’ Standards
• The Priory School Professional skills level descriptors (career stage expectations)
• The Priory Professional Code of Conduct

Person Specification 1.Educational Qualifications/Training

• Honours Degree.
• DfE recognised Qualified Teacher Status.
• Relevant CPD Training Courses.
• Further Degree/Professional Qualification (D).

2. Professional Experience

• Experience of teaching in more than 1 school (D).
• An outstanding class teacher with at least 5 years successful teaching experience (D).
• Experience of leading/managing a staff team in education (D).
• Experience of leading whole school professional development events / programmes.
• Proven track record in raising standards of student achievement.
• Experience of managing student behaviour and supporting others to manage student behaviour.
• Experience of constructive co-operation with stakeholders (parents, local schools, support agencies and governors).
• Experience in the use of ICT as a teaching and learning tool/management tool.

3. Professional Knowledge and Understanding The successful applicant will need to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Strategies for raising student achievement.
• Effective practice and approaches to Teaching, Learning & Assessment.
• How to lead change.
• Current educational trends and thinking.
• School performance review and self-evaluation processes.
• How to use data and information to effect improvement.
• Ofsted framework for school inspection/self-evaluation.

4. Personal Qualities and Skills We are looking for someone who:

• Can lead, motivate, enthuse and inspire staff and students, and win the confidence of parents and governors.
• Has the ability to think strategically with imagination, vision, creativity and originality.
• Is able to use ICT confidently.
• Is reflective, self-critical, motivated and ambitious.
• Has passion and believes that every student can succeed at The Priory School.
• Is an effective communicator and presenter.
• Can plan, organise and delegate effectively.
• Possesses excellent inter-personal skills.
• Can make tough decisions and hold stakeholders accountable.

D = Desirable The law requires this position to have an enhanced criminal background check. This is to protect children and vulnerable adults and to safeguard positions of trust. The position is, therefore, exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. If your application is taken further you will be asked to declare details of any criminal record, even convictions that are ‘spent’ according to the act. If you are offered the post this information will be checked against Criminal Records Bureau files. You will be provided with full information at each stage. The Priory School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Please note that The Priory School operates a no smoking policy. Please contact the school office for further details and an application form. Alternatively, these can be downloaded from the school’s website: www.priory.herts.sch.uk. If you would like a conversation about the post, or would like to visit the school in advance of applying, please contact Nicola Blake, Personnel Manager by email: nicola.blake@priory.herts.sch.uk .  Please return the completed forms and enclosing a letter of application addressed to Geraint Edwards, Headteacher, by 3:30pm on Friday 3rd March. Interviews will take place on Thursday 9th March 2017.

Closing date: 03/03/2017 15:30:00

Interview date: 9th Mar 2017

We are a popular and successful 11-18 non-selective school co-educational foundation school. The school is oversubscribed with 1,120 students on roll and we are well placed for future expansion. Hitchin, is an attractive historic market town with a population of 34,000, forty minutes by train to central London and Cambridge. We are fortunate to possess extensive grounds and excellent facilities, offering a brand new teaching block, an extended Sixth Form, a recent extension to our Café and refurbished Art rooms. All other teaching areas are resourced and furnished to a very high standard. We have created a learning environment which promotes high aspirations, expectations and academic success. Our aim is to provide a caring, safe and disciplined school in which our students can flourish physically, emotionally and academically. At The Priory School all teachers and support staff believe that every child has the right and ability to succeed. To embed our students’ learning, we need to ensure that we have strong partnerships with parents and carers. By sharing the same educational goals and working collaboratively together, we will be able to lay the foundations for the future success of our students. In 2013 Ofsted identified that we were a 'good' school - "Students are keen to learn and they behave well in lessons and when moving around the school. They say they feel valued and respected and appreciate the range of activities available to them". New colleagues will join a rapidly improving school which has a dynamic, positive learning environment. We will provide the right balance of support, challenge and stimulation for both job satisfaction and career development.

The Priory School:

• is oversubscribed
• is a Good school (March 2013) and will be an Outstanding school at the next Ofsted inspection
• has happy, disciplined students who are eager to achieve their best
• is situated on an attractive greenbelt campus in Hitchin with excellent transport links
• actively promotes staff wellbeing
• is a school that is committed to innovation and excellence

For more information and to apply online : www.teachinherts.com

Bedford Road
Hitchin
Hertfordshire
SG5 2UR
01462 622300
www.priory.herts.sch.uk