Subject Lead: Computer Science

We are looking for a qualified teacher with subject leadership experience to join Harris Academy Chobham as Subject Leader of Computer Science.

The Business/Economics & Computing Faculty consists of three discrete subjects; Economics, Business Studies and Computer Science. Within the faculty each subject offers its GCSE qualification and at post-16, we offer A Level Computer Science and Economics alongside Cambridge Technical Business Studies. We also have discrete computer science lessons for all students in Key Stage Three.

The department recognises the relevance of its subjects to future career prospects and incorporates STEM links within all of the subject areas. It has also worked over the last 12 months to develop cross-curricular links to ensure consistent approaches to developing the wider learning skills of the students we teach.

The faculty also has excellent links with external partners based in Stratford and in the City of London. The faculty is always keen to grow and develop its teaching and learning practice and put students at the centre of every decision. We work hard to make sure that our students love our subjects, improve the cultural capital of those that we teach, and aspire to achieve their very best.

About Us

Chobham Academy is always on the lookout for inspirational and influential staff. Most of all, we are on the lookout for potential colleagues who like our students and want to help them succeed. In order to help our staff have the best possible experience and achieve a proper work- life balance, we have put into place a range of measures to benefit both our teaching and students services colleagues.

We place high emphasis on staff wellbeing at Chobham. This helps colleagues to be happier and more effective in their work. Staff are regularly consulted about their wellbeing and the outcomes of these consultations have a direct and rapid impact upon the Academy’s approach to supporting staff wellbeing. 

We understand that while it is incredibly rewarding, teaching is also a physically and emotionally wearing job.  We want Chobham teachers to be as fit and fresh as possible and to know that the school as a community really cares about how they are.  We have tried to put these principles into practice with a number of initiatives which we think give Chobham teachers one of the best wellbeing packages to be found anywhere. 

Our staff are regularly consulted on the wellbeing services the school provides and we always try to respond to staff suggestions.  In this way, staff feel empowered and get more of the services they really want.  We are very proud of our wellbeing programme at Chobham and hope you will agree that it shows our commitment to making the school an exemplary working environment.

Main Areas of Responsibility

The role of Subject Leader for Computer Science across this vibrant, successful all-through school, is an opportunity for a talented and visionary professional to lead on the development and implementation of an innovative, challenging, engaging and sequential curriculum across the secondary phase of the Academy.  The successful candidate will be enrolled on the Harris Federation Lead Practitioner Accreditation Programme from September 2022.  Once accreditation has been gained the Subject Leader for Computer Science will become the Lead Practitioner for Computer Science and promoted to the leadership pay-scale.  This outstanding and enriching professional development opportunity will be supported by expert mentoring from a member of the Academy Leadership Group.

The main functions of the post include:

• To lead on the continuous development of computer Science curriculum provision in Key Stage Three, Four and Five.
• To play a leading and highly visible role in the development of teaching and learning within the Computer Science faculty and across the Secondary Phase of the Academy where computer science skills are taught within subject curricula at Key Stage Four. 
• To ensure the best possible academic outcomes for all computer science students.
• To lead in the monitoring, evaluation and review of standards of computer science teaching and learning within the faculty and across the Academy.
• To lead on the professional development of digital skills across the Secondary Phase of the Academy. 
• To work in collaboration with the Primary Phase to ensure that there is a clear transition from primary to secondary teaching of computer science.

Qualifications & Experience

The successful candidate will:

• Hold QTS (or equivalent) and a relevant undergraduate degree, and, ideally, further qualifications and evidence of continuous self-development and updated knowledge in relevant areas
• Have a minimum of three years' teaching experience, ideally including KS5 and in multi-ethnic urban schools
• Understand the theory and practice of effective teaching and learning
• Have knowledge of National Curriculum requirements at KS3, KS4, and KS5
• Have experience of delivering high quality INSET to teaching staff within subject area, and of using coaching as a model for ensuring ongoing professional development
• Ideally, be able to show evidence of leading, supporting and managing others, both individuals and teams, ensuring high quality performance
• Be able to prove their success in raising achievement as a subject leader or classroom practitioner
• Have successful experience of processes of monitoring, evaluation and review that provide performance data that can be used to improve the quality of teaching and learning
• Have a good level of ICT skills and experience of how new technologies can be used to raise achievement
• Have recent experience of involvement in innovative curriculum development
• Have ideas of how Language, Literacy and Numeracy can be used across the curriculum to raise standards
• Have experience of embedding innovative strategies for improving teaching and learning and of managing and implementing change successfully

Professional Development & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level to senior leadership.