Teacher of History (with Key Stage 3 Humanities)

Applications are invited from highly professional, enthusiastic and well-qualified teachers for this exciting, rewarding and demanding post.  

To ensure we appoint the best candidate, we are initially offering this role as a fixed term contract and are open to applications from those able to offer a minimum of 0.5 FTE. The role may be offered on a permanent basis for the right candidate.  

The Role

This post is suitable for a newly qualified teacher or a more experienced colleague.  

The successful candidate will be an excellent classroom practitioner with creative ideas for developing effective pedagogy within the department and school. They will be required to teach at all Key Stages, therefore experience of teaching exam courses is an advantage. 

Ability to teach another KS3 Humanities subject is essential.

Applications from candidates with the ability to teach A Level Politics would be an advantage. 

The post includes responsibility for the academic and pastoral progress of a vertical tutor group. Teachers at BCCS are expected to contribute to co-curricular areas of BCCS life. 

The School

Bristol Cathedral Choir School is an academy that specialises in Mathematics and Music. The academy became part of the Cathedral Schools Trust (a Multi Academy Trust) in 2016. It serves students from all over Bristol and welcomes those of all faiths and none.  We are proud of our diverse, tolerant and respectful community, which reflects Bristol’s demographic.  

“The ethos and culture of the academy are outstanding. Pupils from a wide and diverse range of backgrounds, faiths, beliefs and values come together in an exceptionally harmonious environment where all are respected, valued and supported to do well.”  Ofsted 2016.

The school received an overall judgement of “Outstanding” from Ofsted in January 2016 and is the most oversubscribed school in Bristol, with a trend of strong results in public examinations at both GCSE and A level. 

As a Teaching School, we are able to offer a coherent, high quality programme of continuing professional development. In addition, there may be the opportunity to progress towards designation as a Specialist Leader of Education, depending on the individual career history of the candidate.

The History Department

History is a popular and successful subject within Bristol Cathedral Choir School in terms of results at both GCSE and A-level.  We ordinarily run two or three classes at GCSE and two classes at A Level.

In 2019, 88.1% of students entered for GCSE History achieved the equivalent of Grade 4 or above, 67.8% achieved Grades 7-9 and 33.9% achieved Grade 9.  At A level, the pass rate was 100% and 83.8% of students achieved grades of A*-B. 

The History department is located in the Rectory building and consists of two specialist rooms. The successful applicant will join a team of four History teachers.

KS3

The students come from a large number of different primary schools and a wide variety of backgrounds.   The KS3 programme of Study across Years 7-9 includes a variety of British and World history schemes which are embedded around historical concepts and cover a time range from 1066-1945.  Enquiries include, but are not limited to:

Who were the Mughals?

How can we challenge simplified interpretations about the First World War?

How accurate are representations of the crusades?

What can primary sources tell us about the slave trade?

KS4

History is a popular subject at GCSE and uptake is consistently high.  At GCSE level the students follow the OCR History B (Schools History Project) course.  The options we take are:

British History - Migrants to Britain, 1250-Present and The Elizabethans, 1580-1603

World History - Living Under Nazi Rule, 1933-1945 and The Making of America, 1789-1900

History Around Us - Bristol Cathedral, which is attached to the school site.

A Level

Uptake of History A Level is high and we currently have two classes in both Year 12 and 13.  We follow the AQA specification.  Our module choices are:

Breadth Study - Stuart Britain and the Crisis of Monarchy, 1603-1702

Depth Study - France in Revolution, 1774-1815

Non-Examined Assessment - Russia from Autocracy to Dictatorship, 1855-1953

Curriculum and Teaching responsibilities

To monitor, analyse and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the department as part of the improvement planning process.

To lead the work of other members of the department to formulate, implement and review appropriate programmes of study, schemes of learning and an assessment map.

To ensure effective liaison between key stages and phases.

Further information about the school can be found on our website http://bccs.bristol.sch.uk/ 

Applications should be received by midnight Sunday 10th November 2019. 

Interviews will be held in the week beginning Monday 18th November 2019.

Please note that all posts at the School are subject to initial and periodic checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service as the school takes every measure possible to ensure the safeguarding of its students.

Cathedral Schools Trust recognises the strength in diversity. Our schools have a wide range of cultural, socio economic and religious influences and we use this to ensure that we broaden our understanding of each other and the world.  We welcome applications of all backgrounds but particularly welcome those from BAME backgrounds as we recognise that our staff team does not currently reflect the diversity of our student body.

As part of our commitment to equal opportunities, we ask that all applications are made using our application form and are accompanied by an equal opportunities form. The equal opportunities form is anonymous and is not shared with the shortlisting panel. 

The duties outlined in this job description may be modified by The Principal, with your agreement, to reflect or anticipate changes in the job, commensurate with the salary and job title. This document does not form part of your contract of employment with the school.