Teacher of MFL

Thank you for your interest in this exciting post. Application forms, other recruitment material and a copy of the school’s prospectus are available on the school website under the ‘Join Us’ tab. 

Didcot Girls’ School is a dynamic school. In December 2015, the school was judged to be Outstanding. As Ofsted recognised, we invest in all of our staff: ‘Staff have exceptional opportunities for professional development. Staff feel valued and really like working in the school. Morale is very high.'(Ofsted). 

We are a values-driven school, committed to high quality teaching and learning and respectful relationships within an inclusive learning community. Developing stimulating and student-centred teaching and learning is at the centre of our school development work. We work hard to ensure that all girls’ education enables our students to develop confidence, leadership skills and high levels of aspiration. 

Summer 2019 GCSE results were superb with 83% of all students achieving 4+ in English and Maths, and 64% doing the same at 5+. Our Attainment 8 figure was significantly above national average at 54.3 and our most recent Progress 8 score of +0.71 places us the top 3% of schools nationally. Results at A level in the mixed sixth form shared with our partner school, St Birinus School, are also extremely strong.

The ideal candidate will have a passion for learning and high standards and will enjoy drawing on evidence-based practice from wider trends in pedagogy to give our pupils the very best teaching in Modern Languages. You will be someone who can contribute positively to our school ethos and values and who shares our vision to ensure limitless opportunities for young women.

We highly value the professional development of all of our staff and leadership opportunities  run through the heart of the school for students and staff alike. There are exciting opportunities across our Trust to access the most recent research -based training in pedagogy and leadership so that all staff are continually able to develop their practice. This is complemented by dedicated collaborative planning and subject specific curriculum development time each week. 

The Department   

The Modern Languages Department is staffed by a supportive group of 6 teaching staff and 3 Foreign Language Assistants. We are also working in partnership with Brookes University on their Hanban programme and have a teacher placed with us during the academic year. Results at all levels are strong and following an upward trend. At GCSE results are very good in Spanish (76% 4+) and excellent in French (85% 4+), German (82% 4+) and Chinese Mandarin (87% C/4+). 

Accommodation

• teaching rooms all with ceiling mounted projectors

• 30 laptops for students

• 3 oral rooms

Curriculum

At Key Stage 3 students are taught in mixed ability classes. Most students in Year 7 study Spanish and either French or German over the course of the year; they study one language for the first half of the year and the other for the second half. At the end of the year, students opt for the language they wish to continue to study in Year 8. Some students in Year 7 opt to follow the Mandarin Excellence Programme when they join the school and they study Chinese only in Years 7 and 8. We use a range of resources for our schemes of work, including units from the Allez course for French, Jin Bu for Chinese, Zoom for Spanish and German.

We start our Key Stage 4 courses in Year 9 and run GCSE courses in German, French, Spanish and Chinese Mandarin as part of our options programme, following Edexcel specifications for all languages and using published resources tailor-made for this exam board. All examinations are taken in Year 11.

We are also part of the Mandarin Excellence Programme which is a very exciting intensive learning programme where students are taught 4 hours of Chinese every week from Year 7 upwards, with the expectation they will study the subject throughout their time at the school and into the Sixth Form. This programme features immersion learning in China in Year 8 and a university residential course in Year 10.

MFL options are increasingly popular in the joint Sixth Form with all four languages offered across our joint Sixth Form with St Birinus School (the boys’ school in the town). We follow the AQA specification for German, French and Spanish and the Cambridge International Level 3 Pre-U Certificate specification for Chinese Mandarin.

Extra-Curricular Activities

We have a very strong enrichment programme for our students including in and out of school competitions and weekly support/extension clubs for both upper and lower school. We run regular trips abroad which are very popular, from a short residential trip to Northern France with Year 7 students to longer visits to Paris, Salamanca, Munich and China. Didcot is twinned with the German town of Planegg and we have strong links with the school there. 

Didcot Girls’ School has held the International Schools Award for over twenty years. As a Languages Specialist school in the days when specialisms were available, the school has a long tradition of and commitment to language learning and approximately 60% of each year group will opt for at least one MFL GCSE. We believe it is essential that our school community is outward-looking and international in its focus in order to prepare our young people for global futures. 

The Post

This is a key post in a strong and innovative department. We are looking for a teacher with a genuine and infectious passion for teaching languages who will enthuse and engage the students they teach; a teacher with high expectations for all students whatever their prior attainment. 

The successful applicant will ideally teach Spanish up to KS5, with the possibility of teaching another language to KS3/4 for candidates with the appropriate skills/experience. Please make clear in your application which languages and to what level you can teach.

This post is suitable for newly qualified teachers as well as those with more experience. 

Didcot Girls’ School is an accredited teaching school with a significant track record for successful fast-track career progression, leadership development and excellent CPD. The school is also part of Ridgeway Education Trust, a growing multi-academy trust, which provides the opportunity for school improvement and leadership work across schools in the future. 

For further information about the department, please email Valerie Morris, Head of MFL at vmorris@didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk

Application Process

Please download and complete an application form from the school website (under ‘Join us’) and send it with a response to the following task to Frances Adley at fadley@didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk: 

• A response of no more than 2 sides of A4 (11 point) explaining what excellent teaching, learning and curriculum looks like in MFL.

Applications will be considered on receipt and the school reserves the right to interview on receipt of applications and to appoint prior to the deadline, so early application is recommended.  Closing date 6th December 2021

Please be aware that you will be required to bring your original degree certificate, proof of residence and your Disclosure and Barring Service or CRB certificate, if applicable, to your interview.  

Didcot Girls’ School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.