Teacher of Computing

The Post

Are you someone with a genuine and infectious passion for their subject, can you enthuse and engage the students you teach; are you someone with high expectations for all students whatever their prior attainment.

This is a key post in a dynamic and strong department and is suitable for candidates who can teach KS3 Computer Science, GCSE Computer Science and elements of the A-Level Computer Science specification.

We welcome applications from experienced teachers as well as those new to the profession and currently in training.

Didcot Girls’ School is an accredited teaching school with a significant track record for successful fast-track career progression, leadership development and excellent CPD. There is the possibility of leadership responsibility on appointment for the right candidate. The school is also part of Ridgeway Education Trust, a growing multi-academy trust, which provides the opportunity for school improvement and leadership work across schools in the future.

For further information about the department, please email Sarah Roberts, Deputy Headteacher at sroberts@didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk

DGS Computer Science Department

The Computer Science department is already well established within the school and has consistently achieved excellent examination outcomes. In 2019, over 90% of GCSE students achieved a 9-4 grade, which was 26% above the National Average. In 2023, 83% of students achieved a grade 9-4. The A-Level Computer Science results are also strong.

The department is a team of four, which is led by the Head of the maths and computing faculty, ensuring that our focus is on providing a Computing curriculum which is ambitious, coherent, and inclusive of all learners.

The department aims to provide purposeful lessons which build upon their prior learning, allowing students to develop their skills and knowledge across Computer Science, Digital Literacy and IT. We want to encourage students to become independent learners by solving problems and developing their own programs, which will allow them to consider taking the subject further in their studies.

The department builds their KS3 lessons using the NCCE Teach Computing curriculum, which has been written in a way that each lesson is sequenced so that it builds on the learning from the previous lesson, and where appropriate, activities are scaffolded so that all pupils can succeed and thrive.

We offer a fully resourced curriculum, with a collaborative department who continue to develop strategies and resources to ensure that the needs of all learners are met.

We are now looking to expand the department so that we can continue to offer a rich experience within the subject, as well as offering whole school enrichment projects. We are very fortunate to have connections with Oxford and Buckingham Universities, the Computing at Schools network (CAS) and we also have links with Microsoft and a range of international technological and engineering companies at Harwell Campus.

Computer Science is taught in Years 7 and 8 for an hour a week, which fully embeds the three NC Computing strands from Digital Literacy, Computer Science, and IT.  GCSE Computer Science is a popular choice; one or two Computer Science classes are taught throughout each year for Years 9 - 11. We also offer an increasingly popular A-Level in Computer Science with our current Year 12 class being a 50/50 gender split. Both GCSE and A-Level courses follow the OCR specification.

The department is fast-paced, outward-facing and at the forefront of the school’s work on developing outstanding teaching, learning, planning and assessment strategies that support even greater success for students.

Didcot Girls’ School

Didcot Girls’ School is a dynamic school. In November 2022, the school was judged again to be Outstanding. As Ofsted recognised, we invest in all of our staff:

“Leaders support staff very well. They have established a collaborative and respectful working environment. With the Trust, they provide highly valued training and leadership programmes. Staff are exceptionally proud to work at the school.”

Ofsted also noted the high standards within the school and commented that “Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary.”

We are a values-driven school, committed to high quality teaching and learning and respectful relationships within an inclusive learning community. Developing stimulating and student-centred teaching and learning is at the centre of our school development work. We work hard to ensure that all girls’ education enables our students to develop confidence, leadership skills and high levels of aspiration.

We are committed to continuous professional development and have wide-ranging training and development opportunities. We are also mindful of the competing demands people face in their lives and make every effort to accommodate flexible working.

Summer 2023 GCSE results were superb with 85% of all students achieving 4+ in English and Maths, and 71% doing the same at 5+.  Results at A level in the mixed sixth form shared with our partner school, St Birinus School, are also extremely strong with 34% of grades awarded as A* or A and 66% achieving Grades A*-B. These results place us as one of the highest performing schools in the county.  These results place us as one of the highest performing schools in the county. Didcot Girls’ School has also been named as one of the top ten comprehensive schools in south-east England by the Sunday Times Parent Power performance table for 2023-24.

RET – Ridgeway Education Trust

As a member of Ridgeway Education Trust, Didcot Girls’ School (Ofsted Outstanding November 2022) works in close partnership with St Birinus School (Ofsted Good, February 2020) All Saints’ CE Primary School, Long Wittenham CE Primary School, Sutton Courtenay Church of England Primary and a 400 strong mixed Didcot Sixth Form (Ofsted Outstanding, November 2022) which is based predominantly at St Birinus.  

 Employing great staff is key to the success of our school: the Headteacher is actively involved in every interview process.  

 We understand that valuing and developing our staff is the best way to release and realise their potential. In return, we seek staff who are passionate about working with young people, resilient, and with a truly growth mindset. If this is you, we look forward to hearing from you!  

Didcot Girls’ School is a Family Friendly School, committed to supporting our staff so that they can carve out a professional and personal life that is fulfilling and balanced.

RET SCITT

Didcot Girls’ School plays a key role in teacher training, as founding partners in our own SCITT (RET SCITT), we are working with Teach First and Orchard Learning Alliance to provide outstanding teacher training across both secondary and primary phases. This provides opportunities for our teachers to help develop the next generation of teachers whilst also ensuring that teacher development remains a core part of our ethos. 

This ethos allows us to maintain our track record of highly successful fast-track career progression, leadership development and excellent CPD. There is the possibility of leadership responsibility on appointment for the right candidate. The school's place as a leading school in Ridgeway Education Trust also provides the opportunity for school improvement and leadership work across trust schools in the future.