Lead Teacher of Literacy Catch-up

Lead Teacher of Literacy Catch-up

Start date: 1st September 2022

Contract Type:  Full-time

Contract Term: Permanent

Salary:  Competitive 

Reports to:  Assistant Headteacher 

We are looking for a teacher with a passion for ensuring that no child is left behind in the race to read and write with fluency by the end of secondary school. In particular, we wish to recruit a member of staff who is informed about the latest, evidence-based approaches for teaching Literacy Catch-up, and would be happy to interview candidates with experience of teaching in a primary setting.

As our Lead Teacher of Literacy Catch-up, our successful candidate will be given the opportunity, and autonomy, to apply those ideas they believe work best in their literacy intervention classes. They will teach literacy intervention groups in Key Stages 3 and 4, as well as a number of classes in their original subject specialism as part of the mainstream school curriculum. 

The West London Free School 

The West London Free School is a non-selective school based in Hammersmith, West London. We are suited to teachers at all stages of their careers, priding ourselves on a supportive working environment and valuing the importance of staff wellbeing. 

The West London Free School provides all pupils, irrespective of their background, with a Classical Liberal education. By a Classical Liberal education, we mean a rigorous, knowledge-rich education that draws from the best and most important work in both the humanities and the sciences. We believe that knowledge is a good thing in and of itself, empowering pupils to understand and take an interest in the world around them. We believe a secondary education is not just a preparation for work, but a preparation for life. As such, we value the knowledge of our teachers, and the passion for their subject that they bring to the classroom.  

We have a firm but fair approach to behaviour. Senior leaders see it as their core responsibility to ensure all teachers can teach without disruption. School rules are non-negotiable, poor behaviour is met by escalating sanctions, and pupil detentions are centralised and run every day by senior staff. Teachers can therefore prioritise planning and teaching their lessons. Senior leaders at the West London Free School all teach, pay due attention to workload pressures and are highly visible around school. 

As well as a knowledge-rich education, the West London Free School runs an extensive co-curricular programme that encourages children to develop outside the classroom. The clubs are central to the ethos of the school and give pupils the opportunity to try new activities and develop new interests. The school specialises in music and offers a range of sporting opportunities as well as general interest clubs. All staff are encouraged to share their co-curricular enthusiasm by committing one hour a week to running a school club.

The Role

Lead Teacher of Literacy Catch-Up is a new role that we will to the West London Free School from September 2022. We are therefore willing for the successful candidate to play a role in shaping their own job description. We have no set idea of what teaching background the successful candidate will have and are willing to consider teachers with a variety of backgrounds in terms of stage (primary/secondary) and subject. We are expecting English teachers to apply, but would not rule out any teacher with a background in other subjects. 

Key characteristics of the role include:

• autonomy to build a literacy catch-up programme from scratch, based on the most effective, evidence-based practises available. 
• extensive external training in effective literacy programmes, if desired. 
• teaching around 10 periods (55-minutes long) a week of Literacy Catch-Up to small groups of pupils – no more than 8 – from Key Stages 3 and 4. The rest of your timetable will consist of lessons in your other subject specialism(s). 
• whole school responsibility for staff training on building literacy teaching into the mainstream curriculum. 
• to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in your department by taking part in collaborative planning, sharing resources, mentoring and observing teachers, and participating in continuing professional development. 
• to be a form tutor, and work collaboratively with your year group team. 
• to contribute to the wider school life, such as events, trips, and co-curricular clubs. 

The successful candidate will have:

• a passion for ensuring that no child is left behind in the race to read and write with fluency by the end of secondary school. 
• a knowledge of and interest in the latest, evidence-based approaches for teaching Literacy Catch-up, such as Direct Instruction, Catch Up® Literacy or Accelerated Reader. 
• experience teaching Literacy in either a primary or a secondary setting. 
• an understanding of the ethos of the West London Free School, and a commitment to teaching a knowledge-based curriculum; 
• high expectations of pupil conduct and behaviour; 
• excellent team working skills; 
• excellent communication skills with both pupils and staff;
• a willingness to contribute to the school’s co-curricular programme. 

Rewards & Benefits

People are at the heart of our success. We look for talented and ambitious individuals who share our vision for creating an exceptional school and are committed to ensuring that every child has access to the best possible education. We have developed a positive and supportive staff culture at the West London Free School, and we invest in our staff with support, coaching and mentoring as well as external training programmes. 

We offer:

• Teachers’ Pension Scheme for teaching staff
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Complimentary drinks
• Employee counselling
• Recommend a teacher bonus scheme
• Staff children have priority admission into the school (after two years’ service)
• Season ticket travel loan 

The closing date for applications is 9am on Monday 24th January 2022, although candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.  The School reserves the right to commence or complete the interview process at any time prior to the closing date.

Interviews: w/c 24th January 2022

Equal Opportunities 

The Knowledge Schools Trust is an equal opportunities employer. The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

West London Free School and the Knowledge Schools Trust is fully committed to the principles of equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion.  We want to attract and retain the very best staff in all areas of the Trust, ensuring our staff body reflects the diversity of our pupils and local community.