Teacher of Biology and Psychology
Brighton College
Brighton and Hove
- Expired
- Salary:
- Competitive
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- January, April or September 2022
- Apply by:
- 26 October 2021
Job overview
Brighton College is seeking to appoint a Teacher of Biology and Psychology, to start in January, April or September 2022.
Ideally we are looking for someone who can operate confidently across both subject areas on an equal footing, and be an inspiration for, and embodiment of, interdepartmental working. The successful individual is likely to have a neuroscience or biological psychology background and therefore act as a genuine academic ‘bridge’ between the two disciplines for both staff and pupils. It is likely that the successful candidate’s timetable would be split relatively evenly between the two subjects, although this is open to discussion at interview.
THE DEPARTMENTS
BIOLOGY
The department consists of 9 members of teaching staff and one full-time technician. The current Head of Department is also the Director of Science, and another colleague holds roles as Deputy Head of Department and Head of University Medical Admissions. Staff have specialisms ranging from plant circadian rhythms to immunology and physiotherapy, whilst one is a qualified doctor. The subject is taught to all pupils in Years 7 to 11, with GCSE material taught from Year 9 when we commence the Edexcel 9-1 syllabus. We currently have over 120 pupils studying the OCR Biology specification at A-Level. Public examination results are consistently outstanding. In 2019, the most recent year in which examinations were sat, 95% of pupils taking biology GCSE achieved a grade 8 or 9 at GCSE and 96% A*-B at A-Level (100% A*-C). The department also has a very comprehensive support programme for candidates applying to Oxbridge and medicine, with much recent success in this area, alongside pupils making the final of the British Biology Olympiad in 2019. The department has exclusive use of six laboratories and a preparation room on the top floor of the School of Science and Sport. The practical emphasis to teaching in the department is further supported by a dedicated glasshouse classroom and an experimental space on the roof of the building. We have a range of activities to explore biology beyond the syllabus, including regular extension activities, external speakers, excellent links to local medical schools and universities, sixth form fieldwork days, and successful participation in national Biology competitions and events.
PSYCHOLOGY
The department consists of two full-time members of staff. The subject is taught at A-level in classes, which average 18 in pupil numbers across years 12 and 13. There are currently 90 pupils taking the subject at A-Level. At present we follow the AQA syllabus. The results in recent years have been excellent, most notably achieving 88% A*-B, 75% A*-A in the rigorous linear A-Level last summer. Many pupils opt, each year, to further their studies of psychology at undergraduate level on some of the most competitive courses available, with P.B.S. at Cambridge being a popular choice. The department is currently housed in a dedicated classroom, with full interactive C-touch facilities. However, with the expansion of the department due to a significantly increased uptake by pupils, it is expected that a second dedicated classroom will be in use from September this year. Pupils engage in the annual Reading trip at the end of year 12, undertaking their own research and visiting the psychology department at a local university.
THE ROLE
The successful candidate will be expected to be capable of teaching Biology and Psychology across the curriculum, from Year 7 to A-level. An ability to contribute towards the departments' extension programmes, including a willingness to support pupils with applications to leading universities (including Oxford and Cambridge), will be a distinct advantage. All teachers within each department are expected to assist in the development of Schemes of Work, through the creation of teaching resources and the compilation of content for our virtual learning environment. All teachers at Brighton College are expected to contribute to the school’s pastoral system, generally as a tutor in one of our 14 houses (of which six are boarding houses and eight are day). There is also an expectation that all teachers will contribute to the cocurricular life of the school, through the extensive Games programme, and/or through the leadership of one of almost 100 school societies. Candidates are encouraged to point to interests and and enthusiasms as part of their application.
SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBLITIES
- This role will involve daily contact with pupils and you will be engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.
- All staff and volunteers have a responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for who you are responsible and with whom you come into contact.
For further details, please see the Applicant Info Pack
Attached documents
About Brighton College
THE SCHOOL
Brighton College is one of England’s leading schools. The College comprises the Senior School, educating 1,181 pupils aged 13–18, and the Lower School, educating 89 pupils aged 11–13.
The Brighton College family of schools also includes Brighton College Prep School, St Christopher’s School, Handcross Park, and from September 2023, Brighton College Kensington, educating a further 1,450 children aged 3 to 13. Overseas, the College has opened Brighton College Abu Dhabi, Brighton College Al Ain, Brighton College Dubai, Brighton College Bangkok and Brighton College Singapore. The first of seven schools in Vietnam opens in Hanoi in August 2023. Brighton College educates over 6000 pupils globally.
The College was delighted to receive record-breaking A-level and GCSE results in 2022. The Times listed us as one of their top schools for our A-level results, with 99% of grades A*-B and a phenomenal 62% of grades at A*, which compares to 15% nationally. One in six Sixth Formers are offered a place at Oxford or Cambridge. At GCSE, our pupils excelled, with 94.13% of grades at 9/8/7. Almost 1100 9s were achieved in the 2022 GCSE exams, with more 9s than all the other grades combined. Not a single paper was failed, with nearly 2,000 GCSEs sat at the school.
The College was recently named ‘England's School of the Decade’ by The Sunday Times. The award was given on the basis of our exceptional examination results as well as our fundamental emphasis on kindness and social engagement.
The Sunday Times also named Brighton College ‘England’s Independent School of the Year 2019’, the second time in a decade the school has won this accolade. The Week magazine named Brighton College ‘Most forward-thinking school in Britain’ for two years running in 2017 and 2018. Tatler magazine awarded Richard Cairns the title of ‘Head Master of the Year 2012-13’, and Brighton College was named UK ‘Independent School of the Year 2013- 14’ at the Independent Schools Awards. The last full ISI Inspection in 2021 on educational quality and compliance awarded the top grade for both pupil attainment and their personal development, and the compliance section of the 2021 report (and the shorter 2018 inspection) confirmed that all aspects of the College’s operation were fully compliant.
There has also been major investment in new facilities over the last ten years. This has seen the construction of five major buildings on the main site, including the new £55m School of Science and Sport which opened in January 2020, which includes eighteen state-of-the-art laboratories alongside a new sports hall, 25-metre swimming pool, fitness centre and roof-top running track. Other recent additions include two new boarding houses, a state-of-the-art Music School and the Yeoh Building, a teaching building which includes 22 classrooms for maths, history, economics, politics and EAL, alongside an innovative Creative Learning Centre, opened in 2017. Our next new building will open in May 2024: this is an exciting development which will include a stunning theatre, a first-class Sixth Form centre, teaching and performance spaces for dance and drama, and modern, spacious classrooms for English, computing and music.
Above all, Brighton is a very happy place where staff and pupils feel fulfilled and purposeful. We are proud to have taken a progressive stand on diversity, equality and inclusion and we are committed to furthering this agenda through our teaching, and all aspects of the life of the school. We are a member of the School Inclusion Alliance and an important aspect of our vision for education is to increase diversity among our teaching staff to enrich all aspects of the life of the College and provide diverse role models for all pupils. We pride ourselves on being a warm, inclusive and respectful community, where our staff are welcoming and positive and our pupils are intellectually curious and kind.
LIVING AND WORKING IN BRIGHTON
The College enjoys its location in Brighton, one of Britain’s youngest cities and one of the most vibrant and progressive in Europe. A recent national survey identified Brighton as the ‘happiest city in the UK’ and it regularly features within the top cities for quality of life nationally. With an extensive beach and seafront, and proximity to beautiful rural areas including the South Downs National Park, the opportunities for recreation and leisure are varied and numerous. Transport links are also excellent, Brighton being within easy travelling distance of London (50 minutes by train), and 30 minutes from Gatwick Airport. Brighton is also a university city, and the College has good links with both the University of Sussex and Brighton University. Our annual involvement in the Pride parade has strengthened existing links with the local community.
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