Primary Teacher with TLR or without (depending on experience)

Apply by:  10am on Monday 21 February 2022 

Interview date:  w/b Monday 28 February 2022 

This role is a one off. It is your chance to join a new primary school as part of a ground-breaking project to push the boundaries of how we do education in this country. School 360 opened its doors in September 2021 and is already beginning to embed a new and innovative model of education.

School 360 offers pupils a holistic education of the head, heart and hand. We pay attention to each learner as a rounded human being, their happiness and self-awareness, their knowledge and understanding, and their skills and experiences.  As well as a focus on crucial literacy and maths skills, we develop a range of skills across the curriculum, both creative, scientific and academic.  At the heart of our curriculum is a focus on social justice, both locally and globally, enabled through strong partnerships with the community around us and supported through contact with experts in their fields. 

We are looking for a teacher for the second class of Reception-age pupils, who has exciting and creative ideas about what learning could and should look like, and a toolkit of strategies to achieve these goals.  The successful candidate might be an experienced teacher currently in a leadership role, but might also be someone who is an enthusiastic new teacher. What matters is the mindset.  As a founding member of staff for the new school, you will have an opportunity to shape policy and practice, interfacing directly with the Co-headteachers.

School 360 is a different kind of place to work in. We empower staff to find their voice and their creativity. We offer a teacher enquiry model of professional development, that engages teachers as researchers of their own practice, using approaches like lesson study and action research.  The growing school will offer multiple leadership and development opportunities.  We believe strongly in developing the full potential of all staff through collaborative learning experiences, supported by external experts from diverse fields.  As well as being an exciting team, we are a very happy team who love working and learning together.

Our aim is for children to develop as rounded human beings, and for them to find their own learning pathways. In order to achieve this, the school focuses on:

Oracy: Supported by the work of Voice 21, a partnership project with Cambridge University, School 360 focuses on teaching pupils how to speak with clarity and conviction, how to listen carefully and engage in productive and powerful conversations.  Talk infuses every aspect of the school curriculum, from role play to storytelling, from performances to community listening projects. For us, talk is as important a skill to secure as maths, science, reading and writing skills.

Projects and problem solving: We believe that knowledge is connected and organic, and that the best way to teach this is through exciting projects in which pupils work in collaborative teams alongside outside experts to explore themes that motivate and are relevant to them.  Each of these projects has a social justice focus, enabling pupils to learn about what matters, and to understand how to effect real change in their school, their community and the world.  We help pupils realise their goals through producing beautiful work as project outcomes.  

Play:  We believe that play is not just for playtime.  Our learners learn through intelligent structured play in the lower years, and will experience playful learning in the upper years.  We see play as a vital tool for building relationships, being healthy in body and mind, developing imagination and problem-solving skills and encouraging creativity.  Much of our playful experiences support pupils to experience life through the eyes of experts in their field.

Wellbeing:  Our curriculum teaches pupils techniques to be well in mind and body, and to build happy relationships with others within the school and the wider community.  We use mindfulness as an approach to wellbeing, and work to develop emotional intelligence and collaboration skills.  As the school grows, pupils will connect in cross-age families, sharing meals and conversations, supporting each other’s learning.  We connect pupils with nature through a Forest Schools approach in our carefully designed outdoor areas, and through the use of natural learning resources. We care about staff wellbeing and work hard to make sure teachers are happy and thrive.

The successful candidate will be:

• An excellent primary teacher with both early and primary years experience
• Passionate about and skilled at enabling learning through play
• A skilled teacher of maths and English (including speaking, listening, phonics, reading and writing)
• A collaborative team player, able to work effectively with colleagues, parents and other community partners
• Experienced in implementing an innovative and creative curriculum
• Interested in developing the whole child – head, heart and hand
• Experienced in dealing with complex pastoral challenges and working effectively with families to maximise pupil progress
• Experienced in developing secure positive relationships and classroom culture 

ABOUT SCHOOL 360:

• Inclusive primary school in the heart of Stratford, Newham
• Cutting edge pedagogy and curriculum
• Small - only 60 children in the school in September 2022, expanding year-on-year 
• Close relationships with School 21, an all-through school which is very close by, and the possibility to connect with two new secondary schools in close proximity, giving staff more opportunities to grow and develop
• A network of curriculum partnerships with creative and academic organisations across the Olympic Park, including London College of Fashion, Bow Arts, UCL, Sadlers Wells, and many more

WE WILL OFFER:

• Outstanding career development possibilities and personalised professional development
• Exciting leadership possibilities as the school grows and expands
• The chance to network with outstanding practitioners and learn from the best across the Big Education family of schools and beyond
• A strong and supportive wellbeing and feedback culture so that teachers can develop and thrive in areas of their practice that are important to them
• Opportunities to shape the vision and direction of the new school

If you are interested in the role, do come along to our information session on Thursday 3 February at 4.30pm.

For more information, please read the job pack and see: https://bigeducation.org/school360/ or or to have a chat about the role email:

Sarah Franklin: sarah.franklin@bigeducation.org 

To apply please complete this online application form

School 360 is an equal opportunities employer and particularly welcomes applications from ethnic minority communities, especially those that reflect the make-up of the local community. The school is committed to safeguarding children.