Teacher of Art

Teaching at Undershaw offers the opportunity to work in a setting where you will have the support to contribute to shaping a school around the way that you believe education really could be delivered.  Your passion for teaching and learning will be infectious, the proven quality of your ability to deliver outcomes outstanding, and your professional standards, safeguarding practice, expectations and relationships with pupils, parents, and colleagues exemplary.

We are looking for an exceptional secondary subject specialist teacher with the professional expertise and experience to fill this post.  You will have sufficient proven experience in curriculum design and developing teaching practice and be able to manage with confidence the challenge of balancing academic rigour and compliance with the challenge of meeting the needs of SEND students. 

We offer a different shape to the school day and week.  Monday to Thursday is comprised of three extended lessons a day to allow for deeper learning and integrated therapies.  We want every lesson to be the very best learning opportunity and experience which is truly tailored to the development and progress journey of each individual. Every Friday is a ‘Discovery Day’ where the students engage in a range of enrichment activities led by staff, which focus on developing personal, independent and employability skills. Through engagement in the Discovery Days, our students work towards our fully accredited Undershaw Diploma, which recognises personal development and achievement of key life and independence skills.  

Collaboration is essential, and we seek a flexible and proactive practitioner who will share their expertise.  You will work with the SEND, Pastoral and Therapy teams to assimilate therapeutic support, a proactive approach to health and wellbeing, social skills, PSHE and protective behaviours into the curriculum and across school life.   All teachers are Form Tutors, and we have regular multi-disciplinary meetings around students with specialist input, training and support from the Therapy team (Emotional Therapies, SaLT, OT and Physiotherapy). We invest significantly in staff professional development through a weekly extended CPD session delivered by a range of internal and external colleagues to share and develop pedagogy, SEND expertise and therapeutic strategies. 

Above all, we are seeking an exceptional and innovative professional who is an inspirational and dedicated teacher, passionate about their subject and who wants to use their talents and vocation to genuinely make a difference to ensure the delivery of the best possible educational and life outcomes for each of our wonderful and talented students, championing diversity and promoting an aspirational vision for SEND education.

We welcome applications from those with existing experience gained in independent or maintained mainstream secondary schools, or in a SEND setting, and from those at different stages of their careers who are able to meet the skills and experience requirements as set out in the role profile.  

Please read the job description attached carefully.  All qualified teachers receive a SEN allowance.  We offer the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, additional benefits and parking is available on or close to the school sites.  

We are a non-maintained independent specialist school with places funded by our Local Authorities.  Our school offers provision for children with mild to moderate learning difficulties and ASD (high functioning).  We provide an education for those who might not thrive in a mainstream setting but who equally would not be suited to attending a specialist SEN school - we offer an alternative which sits in the niche just between the two.  

Our school currently has 86 students in small classes of about 8 students, and is based at Undershaw, the former home of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Our aim is to ‘eliminate the impossible’ for each and every child and to become a Centre of Excellence and Influence for SEND education.  Please do visit our website for further information about Undershaw.

Closing Date:  Monday 31st January 2022

Interview Date:  Thursday 3rd February 2022 

Start Date:  April or June 2022 

Salary:  Competitive and commensurate with the experience of the right candidate

All applicants must complete a school application form to be considered for this post.  Completed application forms should be sent to HR@undershaw.education  

Any questions should be sent to the PA to the Headteacher karen.marshall@undershaw.education   

Undershaw is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer Recruitment practice and pre-employment background checks, including overseas checks, will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.