Teacher of Drama

We are seeking a talented and enthusiastic teacher to join our highly motivated Drama team. The post would suit an experienced or newly qualified teacher with excellent interpersonal skills, good organisational ability and a strong desire to be involved with the wider aspects of department and school life. 

This vacancy requires an individual with high professional standards who will work alongside the current Subject Leader, both within the core curriculum and in extra-curricular activities and events, including drama and whole school musical productions.  

The Drama department works closely with the other Arts subject teams, contributing to the school’s outstanding reputation in the performing arts.  As part of his / her remit we hope that the new member of the team will embrace the opportunity to further develop and strengthen these cross-curricular links, through outstanding teaching and involvement in arts-related projects and extra-curricular activities. 

Drama at Wycombe High School is exciting, popular and successful.  The department has an enviable reputation for examination results and enjoys high levels of participation by students in a variety of extra-curricular   activities.  

Drama is taught throughout the school by a specialist team of two teachers.  In Years 7 and 8, all students currently have a one hour Drama lesson each week.  At GCSE (year 9-11), Drama is a popular option; the AQA syllabus is effective preparation for AQA A Level.  

In addition to excellent results (81% A/A* grades at GCSE in 2016, and 100% A*/C grades at A Level) we try to ensure that each girl’s experience of Drama is inspiring and leads to the development of greater self-confidence and independence.

We offer a varied programme of extra-curricular opportunities.  These include two plays or musicals (one lower school and one senior school), a Gifted and Talented production, and participation in Global Rock Challenge (a dance and drama competition). In addition, we organise workshops and regular visits to the theatre. 

We have a dual-height, purpose built studio; lighting facilities are excellent with LED moving lights installed and there is an extensive costume wardrobe.  We continue to strengthen our ICT and audio-visual provision.

The successful candidate will have the enthusiasm and vision to build upon the strengths of our well-qualified and successful Drama team, increasing student engagement and enjoyment and further raising achievement and attainment within and beyond lesson time.

Wycombe High School is a girls’ selective state academy school with 1350 students on roll, of whom over 400 are in the Sixth Form. Each year 192 girls are admitted into Year 7. All students are assigned to a vertical tutor group consisting of about 21 students; usually three students from each year. There are six houses with 10 tutor groups in each house. 

The school has educated girls of High Wycombe for over a hundred years and is very highly regarded in the local and wider community. There is a strong and shared sense of community and collective pride, built on core values. We have excellent links with other local schools, colleges and universities. 

Examination results at Wycombe High School are outstanding. An impressive 44% of all A Level grades in 2016 were A* or A grades. The whole school A* rate was 14%. The significant majority of our students gained their first choice university place – an exceptional achievement given this year’s competitive climate. Our results at GCSE are equally outstanding, with 89% of all grades A*-B and 33% of all grades were A*.

Our school is part of the Wycombe High School Academies Trust; a Trust consisting of Wycombe High School and Bourne End Academy. 

Our staff are professional, forward-looking and committed to extending the horizons of our students, encouraging them to aim high, to take on leadership roles and to become independent learners. We have an ambitious development plan, with a focus on improving the quality of teaching and learning, both within and beyond the classroom. 

We are a National Support School, a Teaching School and a Mathematics Hub and have strong community partnerships. We have invested substantially in IT systems and training. We have an outstanding reputation for the performing and visual arts. 

Visits prior to interview are welcomed.