Teacher of Geography (Part Time, Maternity Cover)

The Portsmouth Grammar School is a leading co-educational school located in the historic heart of Portsmouth. It values the development of the whole person, placing emphasis on both academic achievement and co-curricular involvement. The school aims to support every pupil in order that they might achieve their potential.

The school seeks to appoint a temporary, part-time teacher of Geography from April 2022 to cover maternity leave for two terms in the first instance. As maternity cover, the contract may be varied according to the return date of the post holder and could be extended up to a full year. 

This is a part-time vacancy and applications are welcomes from candidates who can offer a part-time role of approx 0.6 FTE. 

This role offers the opportunity for both new and experienced teachers to gain valuable experience in a large and successful department. 

We are seeking to appoint an excellent classroom teacher with a real love of Geography who is able to transfer that interest easily and naturally to our pupils across all year groups, with a particular focus on Year 7 to Year 11.  The successful candidate will exude enthusiasm, energy and excellent subject knowledge, to meet the needs of all learners. The ability to teach A Level is not a requirement for this temporary appointment.

Informal enquiries about the role can be emailed to the Head of Department, Miss Sarah Stewart  s.stewart@pgs.org.uk

Outstanding teaching and learning at PGS are achieved by inspirational and creative teachers with excellent subject knowledge and the ability to use ICT and interactive resources to enhance learning.  Teachers’ planning is informed by assessment for learning, ensuring all pupils make very good progress in each lesson.  Our pupils are encouraged to take responsibility for their learning and understand how they can improve using constructive feedback provided by their teachers. 

The school offers excellent training and support to teachers at all stages of their career and has an outstanding reputation for induction of newly qualified teachers.

The successful applicant will be expected to contribute fully to the pastoral and co-curricular life of the school.  

The Department

The Geography department is a leader in digital learning at the school and has been able to use these skills to provide highly effective teaching, facilitating excellent learning for pupils during this period of lock down. The content in the following paragraphs reflect the situation in any normal year.

The post-holder will join a dynamic and well-resourced department, which currently consists of two full-time members and four part-time members of staff.  The department again achieved the “Secondary Geography Quality Mark” from the Geographical Association in Sept 2021, this time also being awarded Centre of Excellence status for fieldwork. This is a prestigious award that recognises quality and progress in geography leadership, curriculum development and learning and teaching in schools.  Fieldwork is very much at the heart of Geography teaching at PGS, including a residential Year 12 trip to the Lake District and overseas trips for GCSE and A Level pupils (Iceland in March 2018 and Tenerife in March 2019). We also offered a wide range of virtual fieldwork experiences during the recent lockdowns. The ethos of the department is that pupils should study a balance of physical and human topics set in real place contexts, in order to be able to make carefully considered judgements and decisions about the world in which they live.

At all levels of the school Geography is taught as a separate subject and all pupils in Years 7 to 9 study Geography.  In recent years, about 60 candidates opt to study GCSE Geography, which follows the OCR Specification B.  The number taking Geography in the Sixth Form is also strong.  Approximately 20 candidates study the OCR A level Geography specification in each year group. Results at both GCSE and A Level are strong with 50% of GCSE pupils scoring grades 8 or 9 and 80% scoring grades 9-6. 81% of our A level Geography pupils scored A*-B Grades at A Level in 2019. Many pupils studying A level choose to continue their studies at university taking courses as diverse as Urban Studies, International Development, Sustainable Development as well as Environmental and Earth Science courses.

In Year 7 the Geography department contributes to the Portsmouth Curriculum, an innovative, cross-curricular course unique to the school.  Geography also enjoys close links with many other departments and is taking the lead on the school’s drive towards a more sustainable future. The sixth form “Geography Society” has grown in strength and number over the last few years and offers a range of experiences; from outside speakers and lecturers to the mentoring of younger pupils in their Geography studies. The sixth form geographers also assisted with the department’s “Geography Discovery Days” in summer 2019, where 3 local junior schools brought pupils to PGS to participate in using our iPads and GIS software to collect and collate microclimate data, they also used our green screen and examined rates of lava flow. The “Geocaching Club” offers an active and fun range of activities at lunchtimes for younger pupils. 

The department occupies a suite of four dedicated teaching rooms that are well equipped with IT and AV facilities.  

Benefits

The school is a strong supporter of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and its INSET programme of Professional Development Days provides staff with many personal development opportunities. 

Key financial benefits of employment at PGS include a generous salary structure supplemented by payment of an additional PGS Allowance.  There are many opportunities to take on additional paid responsibilities to assist in the management and operation of the school.  

The school also has a generous fee concession for the children of teaching staff.  The school supports the Cycle to Work scheme and all members of staff have free use of the school’s sports facilities which include a well-equipped Fitness Centre. The school provides a two course lunch during term, with a full evening meal provided before all parents evenings. 

How to Apply

PGS is committed to safeguarding children and the successful applicant will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure DBS check. 

Further information is available on the website at www.pgs.org.uk under the ‘About Us’ section and any queries regarding the vacancy should be emailed to HR@pgs.org.uk. 

An electronic application would be preferable, submitted to HR@pgs.org.uk.  All applicants should complete an application form, and send a covering letter addressed to the Head, Dr Anne Cotton, together with a full curriculum vitae.  All applications should be accompanied by the names, addresses, email and telephone numbers of three referees. 

The closing date is noon 6th December 2021 and early applications are encouraged. 

Interviews will be held in school during w/c 6th December 2021, with shortlisted candidates invited to teach an observed lesson as part of the interview day. We ask shortlisted candidates to allow a whole day for the interview process. We look forward to hearing from you.