Teacher of History and Sociology (Maternity Cover)

History and Sociology Departments at St Bede’s

We are looking for a teacher of history and sociology to join us on a full-time basis. The post is a temporary maternity cover appointment which is expected to start in December 2021 or January 2022. It will last for up to 12 months, but due to the nature of the post, there is no guaranteed minimum length of employment.

The history department consists of the Head of Department, a KS3 Co-ordinator and five other members of staff. 

History is taught to mixed-ability form groups in Years 7 to 9 and in mixed ability option groups in Years 10 and 11. For 2021-2022 there will be seven  groups in Year 10 and five groups in Year 11. Our Year 10 and Year 11 groups will be following Edexcel GCSE (9-1) with units covering Elizabethan England, Medicine in Britain, Weimar and Nazi Germany and Superpower Relations: The Cold War 1941-1991. In 2019 (our last exam year) over 88% of our students achieved 9-4 grades.

We deliver three A-level courses to an increasing number of students. In Year 12, we will teach two history groups, three sociology groups and one politics group. In Year 13 we will teach two history groups. 

Our Year 12 are studying the AQA History A level modules The Making of a Superpower, USA 1865-1975 and the English Revolution 1625-1660 and and our Year 13 are currently studying The Making of a Superpower, USA 1865-1975 and the Religious Conflict and the Church in England, c1529- c1570. 

We have a departmental office and seven classrooms, all of which are equipped with computers and projectors. 

The department is particularly committed to fieldwork. We have run a yearly residential trip to Ypres for our GCSE students but this has scope to change to a Berlin residential, given the recent change in module to the Cold War. Every two years we organise a visit to Washington aimed at history and politics students in Years 12 and 13. 

The AQA Sociology A level course is a popular choice for sixth formers at St Bede's. We currently have 3 year 12 classes and 2 year 13 classes. In year 12 the students study the Education and Research Methods and Family and Households units of study. In year 13 the students study the Beliefs in Society, Crime and Deviance, and Theory and Methods units of study. Through a variety of learning activities, including frequent research projects, the students actively 'do' sociology, leading to a thorough understanding of what shapes society and how we can study it. 

The course is run by two members of staff - a course leader and an additional sociology teacher who teaches the year 13 Crime and Deviance unit. We usually attend an annual Sociology conference in London, and run after school booster sessions where more able students, through leading revision activities, can perform the role of 'subject leader' to support their own and other students' progress.

Why work for us?

• St Bede's is a good place to work. Staff are friendly and supportive of one another: relationships between staff and pupils were recognised by Ofsted as 'exceptionally strong'.
• NQTs benefit from a well developed and comprehensive induction period programme. More experienced teachers are given the opportunity to participate in training which will help them to develop skills needed for middle and senior management roles.
• There are good on-site catering facilities. Staff are able to use the fitness facilities free of charge and to participate in sports activities.
• Music is a big part of school life and staff are welcome to join our senior choir and instrumental groups.
• We have a social event at the end of each term as well as occasional staff trips to the theatre.
• The school is situated in Redhill, a commuter belt town in the Surrey Fringe area. We are close to the M25 and there are good transport links to London and the South Coast from Redhill station which is about 15 minutes walk from the school. We also benefit from being within walking distance of beautiful countryside . Many staff live locally, others commute from Guildford, South London, Kent and East & West Sussex.