Teacher of Art

The Portsmouth Grammar School is a leading co-educational school located in the historic heart of Portsmouth. The school is an IB World School and offers the IB Diploma alongside A Level. 

The school seeks to appoint a well qualified teacher of Art from September 2019. This is a part-time vacancy and candidates should be able to offer 0.5 FTE with some flexibility appreciated.  The ability to teach Art A Level and to the IB would be desirable although prior experience of the IB is not required.  

The school seeks a subject specialist, who inspires young people with their passion for Art and for teaching, and ensures all pupils reach their full potential.  Applications are invited from all those who meet the above criteria, whether they are newly qualified, or more experienced teachers or have yet to commence teacher training.  

The Department consists of two specialist full-time teachers and one part-time teacher, supported by a full-time technician with responsibility for Art and whole school display.  Our aim is to motivate pupils’ interest, encourage imaginative and personal expression, develop visual analysis with growing perception and foster an awareness and enjoyment of art at all levels.  The Department offers a wide range of disciplines including:  drawing, painting, printmaking, digital photography, mixed media, ceramics, 3D construction and installation. 

PGS pupils are bright, eager and creative, and can absorb challenging material rapidly.  They are supported by teachers with a passion for, and excellent knowledge of, their subject. Differentiation and assessment are key components to our planning and teaching. 

All pupils study Art and Design in Years 7 and 8.  The subject is offered as an option in Year 9, with a course designed to prepare them for the GCSE, as well as develop their technical skills and appreciation of Art. Across each Key Stage phase, the Department challenges pupils and encourages them to work beyond the expected demands of their course. Our classes in Years 9-13 are small and this means that individual support and encouragement can be used to obtain excellent progress and results.

At GCSE the Edexcel Art, Craft and Design (1AD/01) syllabus is followed. This fosters creative intelligence in handling a wide range  of materials and media and a high proportion of our Art pupils continue with the subject at post-16.  In the Sixth Form, pupils can take one of two routes. Many develop their studies through our A Level course which follows the Edexcel Art, Craft and Design (9AD/01) syllabus or as part of the IB Diploma where pupils follow Visual Arts  with a choice of either Standard or Higher Level courses.  Our Sixth Form pupils all continue to build upon the high standards that they have attained at GCSE. Pupil attainment is high and this is due to the critical questioning and independent enquiry that our pupils acquire in Art as they move through each stage of school. Pupils are encouraged to create work which is authentic, personal and compelling and as such, our results at GCSE and A Level are very strong. Some of our recent Sixth Form leavers have gone on to study at universities such as Oxford Brookes, UAL, Brighton, Westminster, Goldsmiths, Central Saint Martins and Greenwich in fields that include Architecture, Graphic Illustration, Computer Visualisation and Animation, Fashion, and Product Design.  

Alongside their learning, celebrating the artistic successes of our pupils is paramount to us. This year all pupils within school will be invited to make a postcard sized piece of artwork and this will lead to a whole-school celebration of creativity at The Jack House Gallery. In recent years, the Art Department has become greatly involved in the annual Portsmouth Festivities, with our Year 12 pupils exhibiting work around the city at various sites and under the same banner, our Year 12 pupils this year have been commissioned to present work at Aspex Gallery, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Festivities. We close each academic year with summer exhibitions for our GCSE and A Level cohorts and this year, our Year 13 pupils will present their closing work, as a week-long group show at a local independent gallery. From time to time the Art Department has appointed Artists-in-Residence to work at the school on their own projects and with pupils throughout the school.

The school offers excellent training and support to teachers at all stages of their career. PGS teachers convey passion for their subject and seek to maximise progress by knowing their pupils well and adapting their teaching accordingly.  

The successful applicant will be expected to contribute fully to the pastoral and co-curricular life of the school.  

PGS is committed to safeguarding children and the successful applicant will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure DBS check.