Teacher of Biology

The Science Department 

Science is a successful and forward-looking department which benefits from the purpose-built Science block, opened in October 2017. There are fifteen modern laboratories; they are spacious and well equipped and provide a very pleasant environment for teaching and learning. Five of the laboratories are used for Biology, five for Chemistry, each equipped with a mobile fume cupboard and the remaining five are dedicated to Physics.  There are three spacious and modern prep rooms and a comfortable staff room as well as a quiet work room for teachers.  

The staff are dedicated professionals, committed to raising standards and improving still further the quality of teaching and learning.  All the Sciences are taught by specialists: six biologists, five chemists and five physicists.  They are very ably supported by three full-time, very experienced laboratory technicians as well as a part-time Science assistant.  

In Years 7 and 8, students are divided into mixed ability groups and have seven one-hour Science lessons per fortnight. Students are placed in ability sets in Year 9 and above.  At KS4, there are four periods of each Science per fortnight.  

The examination results in all three Sciences at both GCSE and A level have consistently been very good.  All GCSE students follow the AQA Science specifications, sitting exams in June of Year 11.  Most students will certificate in the three separate Sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) though some may take a qualification in Combined Science: Trilogy.  

At KS5 there are nine periods per fortnight in each subject. There are four groups in Biology in Year 12 and in Year 13, following the OCR Biology A specification.  There are, at present four groups in Chemistry in Year 12 and in Year 13, and two groups in Physics in each year of the Sixth Form. Students follow the OCR syllabus at A-level Chemistry and AQA in Physics.

The Biology Department

Biology is taught separately by specialist teachers from Year 9 upwards. We follow the AQA Biology specification and guide students through one of two routes, with typically three sets of students taking separate Sciences and two sets following Combined Science. Results at Key Stage 4 are consistently amongst the best in the School; the 2019 results were particularly outstanding with 63.4% of students achieving either grade 8 or 9 in Biology. 99.2% of students achieved grades 5 and above.

Biology is a very popular A-Level choice. We currently have four teaching sets in each of Year 12 and in Year 13 following the OCR Biology A specification. Results are again impressive with 74.3% of students in 2019 achieving grades A*-C.  Many of our students go on to study Science related subjects at University including Biology, Medicine and Veterinary courses.

The Biology department currently consists of six full-time specialist teachers, including the Subject Leader for Biology. The vacancy has arisen due to a colleague re-allocating abroad from September 2020.

The role 

The role will suit either an experienced teacher with the ability to teach up to A-Level, or a newly-qualified teacher who may not have the experience of teaching up to A-Level but who can demonstrate the potential to teach our Sixth Form students. 

The start date for this vacancy is 1 September 2020. A start date of 1 July 2020 will be available for applicants who will be an NQT for the academic year 2020-21.

The size of the department and the number of posts within it provides the successful candidate with excellent opportunities for career progression.