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Teacher of Science

Teacher of Science

AKS Lytham

Lytham St Annes

Salary:
Competitive
Job type:
Full Time, Permanent
Apply by:
8 April 2018

Job overview

AKS Lytham is part of United Learning, a large and growing group of schools aiming to offer a life changing education to children and young people across England. Schools within United Learning work as a team and achieve more by sharing than any single school could. By collecting expertise and combining resources, we help to make the tough job of teaching a little easier. With a shared curriculum and lesson plans from around the group available to all, our teachers have strong foundations to lead the engaging, rounded education our children deserve. Our intranet site, United Hub, is just one example of how we share this resource and communicate across sites, helping to simplify processes and manage workloads for an improved work-life balance. We reward our staff: with wide career opportunities – between Primary and Secondary, Academy and Independent – better pay, benefits, and ultimately the satisfaction of helping every child at each of our schools to succeed and reach their full potential.

We are looking for a dynamic, talented teacher to join our Science Department. You will have a passion for learning and teaching in Science, (with the ability to teach Chemistry to GCSE level) together with the skills to inspire and motivate our students.
 
Our students enjoy Science and make good progress at all key stages. We achieve outstanding GCSE results.
 
AKS Lytham is a friendly school from Nursery to Sixth Form, committed to achieving the highest of standards in all aspects of its educational provision. It currently has the best independent school GCSE and A level results in Lancashire, award winning art, drama and music, truly inclusive sport, and one of the most successful Duke of Edinburgh Award programmes in the county.
 
AKS Lytham provides high standards of teaching, outstanding pastoral care, and a wide co-curricular programme, in a magnificent and historic building with a stunning aspect over the Ribble Estuary and Irish Sea. The impressive campus has also benefitted from a multi-million investment programme, with brand new buildings, refurbished facilities, establishing a strong and stable independent school for current and future generations of young people.

To Apply

Please apply online by clicking on the following link: https://unitedlearning.current-vacancies.com/Jobs/Advert/1195781?cid=1567

Closing date: Monday 9 April 2018

Where teaching is better shared

United Learning comprises: UCST (Registered in England No: 2780748. Charity No. 1016538) and ULT (Registered in England No. 4439859. An Exempt Charity). Companies limited by guarantee. VAT number 834 8515 12. Registered address: United Learning, Worldwide House, Thorpe Wood, Peterborough, PE3 6SB.

About AKS Lytham

  • AKS Lytham
  • Clifton Drive South, Lytham St Annes
  • Lancashire
  • FY8 1DT
  • United Kingdom
+44 1253 346391

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Arnold was founded by Frank Truswell Pennington on 4th May 1896. Known initially as South Shore Collegiate School, the school moved to its present site in Lytham Road when Pennington took over and gradually, expanded the buildings of an earlier Victorian School. He then adopted the former school's name of Arnold House School, which was later amended to Arnold School. 

Distinguished Pupils
From its inception, Arnold has attracted pupils of the highest calibre from the Fylde Coast. In return, the school has given Lancashire many of its most distinguished citizens, including Sir William Lyons, the founder of Jaguar Cars and Dr Michael Smith who received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1993. Other notable alumni include Alderman Rhodes Marshall (Honorary Freeman of Blackpool and twice Mayor of Blackpool), James Armfield OBE, High Sheriff of Lancashire, (43 caps for England Soccer, 15 as captain), Jonas Armstrong, (Theatre and TV actor) and Christopher Lowe, (One of the "Pet Shop Boys"). 

Buildings and Facilities
Continual review and development of the facilities means that Arnold can combine the best of the modern with traditional teaching methods. As part of a commitment to ongoing development, recent investments include new music facilities - including a large recital room, a music technology room and several rehearsal and practice rooms - a state of the art Design Centre, a modern sports complex, new teaching classrooms and a large extension to the Junior School. These complement two lecture theatres, modern science laboratories and a dedicated Sixth Form centre that offers students places for individual or group study. The superb sports facilities include an all-weather Astroturf playing surface, a modern sports hall with climbing wall, a well equipped fitness suite and extensive playing fields.

Information and communication technology also impacts heavily on life at Arnold. At the core of a school-wide network of computers and internet based activities are four dedicated ICT suites. In 2008 every classroom was equipped with an interactive whiteboard.

The school also has its own outdoor activity centre at the foot of Helvellyn in the Lake District, which hosts a variety of activities through which the children experience a beautiful part of the world, and meet and overcome challenges that might never be faced in the classroom. 

The Pupils and their Care
The majority of the boys and girls live within 15 miles of the school; this is an area which covers Blackpool, Lytham St Annes, rural Fylde, Wyre and parts of Preston.

The Junior School comprises Kindergarten, Infant and Junior departments. The Senior School is divided into three sections; the Lower School (Years 7-9), the Middle School (Years 10 & 11) and the Sixth Form. Each section is run by a Head of Section and an assistant.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of teaching at Arnold - and one often commented on by new members of staff - is the happy relationship between the teachers and the pupils. There is no doubt that we are fortunate in the good humour and tolerance of those we teach. They are by and large friendly, bright, well motivated, responsive and fun to teach.

Most members of staff act as tutors to a group of around 12 boys and girls within the Sixth Form, or to a slightly larger group in the Middle or Lower school. Tutors' duties will include communicating with other teachers and with parents (an involved, supportive group), encouraging individual interests, and generally getting to know as much as they can about their charges.

The school was last inspected in November 2004 when it received a most favourable verdict. A copy of the report can be downloaded from ISI. 

Academic
Parents choose Arnold for their children because of its justified reputation for strong and consistent academic results and we are proud of the breadth and flexibility of the range of academic studies which we offer.

On arrival in the Senior School boys and girls (ages 11-13) are divided into four forms and follow a broad curriculum. Each pupil learns French in his or her first year. Class size averages at around 22. Most pupils study 8 or 9 subjects at GCSE. The majority of Year 11 pupils go on to the Sixth Form which numbers about 175. A levels are chosen from about 24 subjects in almost any combination. A Level pass rates are high and virtually all boys and girls who enter the Sixth Form go on to university. 

Activities
Whilst the pursuit of high academic standards is undoubtedly important, our hope is that a boy or girl may take advantage of the broad range of experience which the school offers and the curriculum is designed to balance intellectual and physical activity, to nurture creativity and to encourage a spirit of voluntary contribution to the school and the wider community. In recent years Arnold pupils have raised tens of thousands of pounds to support charities both at home and abroad. Village Aid, the Millennium Volunteers programme and other charity fund raising activities have also enthused and involved the whole school community.

The main games are rugby, hockey, cricket and athletics, with strong fixture lists, and Arnold is proud of the sporting prowess of its pupils. A wide range of other sports is on offer, from tennis and soccer to fencing and basketball. This extensive programme provides competition and challenge for all pupils and touring sides have travelled as far a field as Argentina, Chile, the Caribbean, Canada, Australia and South Africa.

Dedicated time is set aside each day so that pupils can participate in a variety of activities. As well as sport these include Combined Cadet Force, dance, debating, fencing, Italian and Young Enterprise and the quality of achievement is often stunning.

Drama at Arnold now has a deservedly national reputation and several exciting productions are staged each year, usually in the purpose built drama studio, with some receiving wider audiences and critical acclaim at national venues such as the Edinburgh Fringe and the National Theatre. Former pupils are currently appearing on the professional stage and on television. Members of staff who seek an involvement in drama will find much to interest them.

Music making is a vibrant part of the school's life. As well an orchestra, there are wind and brass groups, a swing band and several ensembles. Members of common room regularly play with an orchestra or band and several also sing in the choir or choral society. The Lawrence House Music Centre, with its excellent acoustics, provides a focus for an enterprising programme of concerts, plays and musicals, all of a high standard.

The number of clubs and societies varies from year to year in response to enthusiasms, but the list is always long - from debating to chess, or computing to the Holdgate Society for aspiring medics.

All members of staff are expected to involve themselves in one way or another with activities outside the classroom. Many of the clubs and activities offer trips away outside term time. These are seen as important educational experiences, and Arnold teachers are expected, from time to time, to be available to accompany trips. 

Common Room
There are around 75 members of common room, of whom about half are women and a small number are part-timers. All ages from early twenties to late fifties are represented, with an average age of just under 45. The accommodation comprises two well-appointed large rooms in the heart of the Senior School building with associated changing rooms and other facilities. These facilities are mirrored in the Junior School. The Senior School common room is equipped with several computer work stations and a photocopier. Secretarial support is available to teaching staff. The common rooms have a generally happy, purposeful atmosphere and the two committees organise a range of social activities - dinners, a Christmas party, occasional visits to theatres and concerts and sports events. 

Management Structure and Promotions
With the Headmaster in the whole school leadership team (WSLT) are the Deputy Head, the Director of Studies, the Head of Arnold Junior School, the Bursar and the Director of Marketing and Admissions. The Headmaster chairs the WSLT to which in turn other committees report (Senior Department Management Team, Junior Department Management Team, Academic Committee, Housemasters Committee etc). There is therefore plenty of scope for members of staff to express opinions.

Internal promotions are the norm for pastoral posts but of the current heads of department or heads of key stage, fifteen were internal appointments and eleven external. Of the current WSLT, two were internal appointments. In recent years, members of common room have moved elsewhere to become heads of department, deputies or heads. 
 

Salaries and Benefits
Arnold has its own salary scale which is, on average, more generous than the standard national scale. The school contributes in full to the DfCSF Teachers' Superannuation Scheme. Full-time members of staff are required to pay 75% of fees for sons or daughters who are educated at the school. Lunch, coffee and tea are provided free of charge. The school can provide only limited single accommodation for staff. 

The Town of Blackpool
Blackpool, which has a population of about 140,000, was by some margin the most popular place for Britons to go on holiday back in the 1950s. However, these days, with hotspot destinations such as Lanzarote and Ibiza just a few hours' away by air, the appeal of its seafront and tower seems to have diminished. Nevertheless, Britain's greatest attraction is still Blackpool Pleasure Beach which gets more visitors than anywhere else in the UK.

Whilst the centre of town retains some of its original buildings - some very grand indeed - many new houses have been built recently, resulting in a large and varied house market. For those who prefer living in the country, Arnold is within easy reach of a large number of villages. As well as Arnold, there are three independent schools close by, each with junior departments, as well as two maintained grammar schools, and several large comprehensives which are fed by some good primary schools.

Generally well provided with facilities the town centre has recently undergone significant redevelopment. As ever, the town centre shops have suffered from the arrival of large supermarkets and stores on the edge of the town, but access to Preston and Lancaster is easy for more adventurous shoppers. Manchester, only around an hour's drive away, is a lively university city with major theatres and much to offer in terms of architecture, music, museums, lectures and, of course, a variety of sports. 

The Future
In 2008, Arnold joined the United Church Schools Trust and through its membership of the Trust looks forward to a successful and prosperous future.

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Applications closed