Teacher of Classics (Maternity Cover)

We are looking for an exceptional full-time Classicist to join a thriving Classics Department covering maternity. The successful candidate will be able to teach all three subjects (Latin, Classical Greek and Classical Civilisation) at all levels of the School.  

The Classics Department at Forest currently comprises five full-time members of staff and one part-time member of staff. It is a well-resourced and successful Department, which seeks to provide a positive academic experience of Classical culture – through the study of Latin and Greek language, literature, and cultural/historical background – to pupils of all ages and abilities. We have high expectations, and expect outstanding performances from our pupils in response.

Latin is taught to all pupils in Years 7 and 8, and is a very popular option in Year 9 and above. We use the Cambridge Latin Course and other textbooks, especially by Taylor, and the department is fully equipped with the SCP DVDs and other resources. Each year approximately 30 pupils sit the GCSE exams. In the Sixth form, Latin and Classical Civilisation are popular options for the OCR A level examinations. Ancient Greek has recently been included in the timetabled curriculum from Year 9 to A level, and we are building on this. We achieve excellent results at both GCSE and A Level: in 2017, 80% of all Latin GCSE and Classical Civilisation A level candidates achieved grades A*-B; 100% of all Latin A level and Greek GCSE candidates achieved A*. In view of this outstanding results profile, it is not surprising that a significant number of our pupils go on to study Classics-related subjects at university every year, including frequent successful applications to Oxford and Cambridge.

Whilst there is a substantial amount of teaching in Years 7-9, every effort is made to promote individual teachers’ interests within the framework of GCSE and A level teaching, and to develop teaching skills across the School and the full age-range in all three subjects. We see the recent and forthcoming changes to A level and GCSE specifications as an opportunity to develop our own subject skills as well as those of the students. Therefore, although the successful applicant would have several girls’ and boys’ KS3 Latin classes, there would also be some Classical Greek, and GCSE and A Level teaching.

The post is to cover maternity leave from 5th November 2018 to June 2019. However, a September start will be considered. 

Closing date: 25th May 2018, 8.00am 

Forest School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.