Teacher of Classics from September 2020
Sevenoaks School
Sevenoaks
- Expired
- Salary:
- Sevenoaks has its own competitive salary scale
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Apply by:
- 24 February 2020
Job overview
The Classics Department
Classical subjects are very well established at Sevenoaks and enjoy an excellent reputation both inside and outside the school. The Classics department consists of seven teachers, including part-timers. Latin, Greek and Classical Civilisation are all taught up to GCSE and IB, and for entry to Oxford and Cambridge. We use the OCR GCSE syllabus for Latin, Greek and Classical Civilisation, and we teach Higher and Standard Level courses within the IB Diploma in the Sixth Form. The department is highly qualified, energetic, diverse in its interests and dedicated to the subject and the learning of its pupils. In the academic year 2019-20 we moved to a spacious newly-refurbished Classics building designed to provide a central hub for all three Classical subjects.
All pupils in Year 7 take Latin as beginners. In Year 9 Latin remains compulsory for all; we run an ab initio course for beginners new to the school, as well as continuation sets for those who have been at Sevenoaks since Year 7 and those new scholarship and Common Entrance candidates who have studied Latin before. Our Year 9 combined Latin and Greek set has proved a great success. The Cambridge Latin Course is the principal textbook used in the first three years, and John Taylor's Greek to GCSE is used by Greek students. In Years 10 and 11, normally around 50-60 students opt for Latin at GCSE, with roughly 20 of these taking Greek as well.
In the Sixth Form about 50 students in total are taking at least one Classical subject. There are currently sets for Higher Level and Standard Level Latin, and for Higher Level and Standard Level Greek, shared between all teachers. Latin and Greek are part of the Languages option at IB, and Latin remains a popular choice; we also offer Classical Greek and Roman Studies, a school-based syllabus within the Humanities section of the IB Diploma. Every year a handful of students apply to read Classics or a Classics-related degree at Oxford or Cambridge.
Outside the classroom we take trips to the British Museum and Fishbourne, attend many education lectures, university open days and productions of Classical plays both in Greek and in translation. We also invite external speakers to talk on Classical topics in school. The department runs a Year 10 visit to the Bay of Naples, a Year 9 residential to Bath, a trip to Rome for Classicists in the Lower Sixth, and an occasional cross-year trip to Greece.
The Post
The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic, imaginative and well-qualified graduate who is willing to be part of a team. We believe very strongly that Classics has an important and exciting role to play in secondary education in the 21st century. We therefore seek a candidate who will contribute fully to the work of the Classics department at Sevenoaks School, and inspire real interest in our pupils. The successful applicant will ideally be able to teach the full range of what we offer, from Year 7 to Year 13, and make a useful contribution to our efforts in promoting the work of the department. We regard the co-curricular activities of the department as very important, and we aim to recruit a colleague who will participate energetically in these.
We welcome applications from teachers new to the profession as well as those with teaching experience. The opportunity to train for PGCE may be available.
A commitment to excellent pastoral care, enriching co-curricular and outreach activities is also expected.
For further details please see the attached Job Description
Sevenoaks School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants will undergo appropriate child protection screening, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. Registered Charity No. 1101358
Attached documents
About Sevenoaks School
Founded in 1432, Sevenoaks enjoys a global reputation as a centre of academic excellence and a flagship school for the International Baccalaureate. A co-educational day and boarding school, it offers a stimulating, intellectually demanding and balanced education for over 1200 students from ages 11 to 18.
Sevenoaks is one of the world’s leading IB schools, having taught the International Baccalaureate for over 40 years. For nearly 20 years, all Sixth Form students have taken the full IB Diploma with consistently outstanding academic results which are testament to the school’s experience and commitment to the programme.
Sevenoaks is the top large-cohort IB school in the UK and among the top five globally. In recent years it has been the second highest achieving large-cohort IB school in the world. Sevenoaks is also the top fully co-ed all-IB boarding school in the UK, according to Best Schools (Education Advisers Ltd). The Sunday Times named Sevenoaks School Co-educational Independent Secondary School of the Year in 2023.
The school is one of the largest employers in the local area, employing staff in a wide variety of roles, and aiming to be an employer of choice for top staff from around the world. We offer our staff a competitive range of benefits and are in the process of developing a range of progressive employment policies and opportunities for personal and professional development. All Sevenoaks staff are encouraged to enjoy facilities such as our sports centre and pool, attend performances at our performing arts centre, and get involved in service activities within the local community. We strive to promote the positive mental and physical health of all staff, and are committed to ensuring that equality, diversity and inclusion are at the very heart of our culture and community. We believe every member of the school community should feel welcomed, included and valued.
Teaching at Sevenoaks:
Teaching here is immensely rewarding: we work in high-performing teams towards a shared endeavour. Everyone appointed to teach at Sevenoaks School is expected to engage actively in all aspects of our broad and well-rounded education.
We want all our pupils to enjoy their subjects, to be inspired by their teachers and to become independent, lifelong learners. Teachers are enthusiastic and well-qualified graduates. We have an exceptionally lively, talented and committed staff body. We welcome applications from experienced teachers and newly-qualified teachers, but can also provide training including PGCE for those joining the profession at whatever stage. All new staff undertake a comprehensive induction programme. Sevenoaks is committed to supporting its staff with training and professional development tailored to staff needs and interests.
All teachers are involved in proactive pastoral care. All teachers participate in the co-curriculum and, as our outreach activities expand, contribute to our work with local pupils and schools. Teachers at Sevenoaks are innovative and forward-thinking many are involved in the Institutes of Teaching and Learning, Higher Education and Professional Insight, and Service and Partnerships, shaping further development and initiatives for students and staff alike.
What people say about us:
‘Tough for any university not to be an anti-climax after Sevenoaks.’ Good Schools Guide.
The International Baccalaureate
All new staff undertake a comprehensive induction programme. No previous experience of teaching the International Baccalaureate, which we have taught since 1978, is necessary; gaining experience of teaching the IB, an internationally recognised qualification which we believe offers outstanding preparation for university and beyond, is stimulating and undoubtedly a valuable career asset. Information about the IB can be found on the website www.ibo.org.
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