Teacher of History and/or Modern Studies

TEACHER OF HISTORY AND/OR MODERN STUDIES 

Dollar Academy is seeking to recruit an enthusiastic and suitably qualified teacher of History and/or Modern Studies, beginning in January 2018 or sooner. This is a permanent post and may be either full time or part time.  

This post offers the opportunity to join one of the largest and most successful History and Modern Studies departments in Scotland at this prestigious 5 – 18 HMC school of 1200 pupils.  Dollar Academy is set in a beautiful central location, about 40 minutes north of Edinburgh. 

History is taught to all pupils in Forms I and II. The period covered spans the seventeenth to the twentieth century; in content we look at the impact of the Revolution in Ideas, and the Clash of Cultures in Scotland, Europe and America. Specific topic areas are included in light of current events.  This last year the centenary of the First World War has resulted in a unit being delivered to Form I looking at the world in 1916.   In National 5 at present we select Migration and Empire 1830-1939, the Atlantic Slave Trade 1770-1807, and Hitler and Nazi Germany 1919–1939.  Teaching at Higher follows Syllabus Option C covering The Impact of the Great War 1914-1928, The Cold War 1945-1989, as well as the compulsory British unit, Britain 1851-1951.  In Form VI we offer a choice in Advanced Higher courses. At present the Russian option is offered. One of our most popular fieldtrips is the ‘Battlefields Experience’ annual visit to Belgium and France. Pupils also have the opportunity to travel and learn outside Europe with China, Cuba, Germany, Poland and Russia as recent additions to our itinerary.  Close links with Scottish Universities and a range of visiting speakers further enhance the learning experience of pupils.  

Modern Studies is introduced in Form II and is offered thereafter at National 5, Higher and AH level.  Initially, pupils in Form II study Conflict and Resolution, Politics in Scotland, and Human Rights.  In National 5 we select Crime and the Law in the Social Issues unit, cover Democracy in the United Kingdom, and look at the World Power, the USA, as the final unit option.  In the Higher syllabus, alongside Politics, we cover the Inequalities option in Social Issues, and we offer the International Issues unit and focus on terrorism. Our present AH course covers the Social Issues, Law and Order option. We also offer Higher Politics to Form VI pupils.  All our courses are enhanced by a range of visiting speakers, from MPs to criminologists. As part of the Higher course we also attend and run pupil conferences in order to build on exam expertise and specialist knowledge.  We visit a variety of places from Parliament to prison.  

The Department is housed in the main Playfair building. Classrooms are well-resourced with IWB facilities and we benefit from the services of the Academy's Archivist and our librarian.  The Department is committed both to academic achievement and to positive enjoyment of the subjects taught. There is a good learning environment, and the Department is active in all aspects of life at Dollar Academy. There are seven members of the Department, and it is expected that the successful applicant will hold a good Degree in History/Modern Studies or a related subject. An awareness of the latest curricular thinking in Scotland and a passion for the subject will be expected. The new member of staff will be encouraged to develop his/her own interests within this framework, and in a lively, popular department. 

The academic standard throughout the school is high. We believe that we have retained what is best from traditional approaches, while incorporating the most effective modern strategies and key principles from the Curriculum for Excellence. Individual, class and group teaching methods are used; we have a well-resourced Support for Learning Department which ensures continuity of support throughout the Academy.  The Academy has a rich co-curricular programme in which all members of staff are expected to participate.  

The salary for the post will be in accordance with the Scottish main grade scales with the Dollar enhancement of 10% in addition. 

Candidates should either be registered with the GTC Scotland, or eligible for registration.  

Applicants must complete the Academy’s Teaching Staff Application Form (download from the Academy's website) and provide a covering letter. A CV is optional. These should be emailed to recruitment@dollaracademy.org.uk     

Applications should be submitted as soon as possible.   

All appointments are subject to receipt of a satisfactory PVG Scheme Record or Scheme Record Update from Disclosure Scotland.   

Contact: 01259 742511 or rector@dollaracademy.org.uk