Teacher of Science with responsibility for a Key Stage

A fantastic opportunity has arisen to join our hugely successful Science team.   We are looking for someone who is passionate about Science; teaching engaging lessons that will help students appreciate the importance of the subject and develop the skills they need for life.   As part of the role you will be responsible for leading a key stage.  

The Science Department

Science is one of the strongest departments within the school and prides itself on a culture of collaboration and teamwork.  We have been a driving force to improve efficiency of working: collectively planning schemes of work and lessons, regularly sharing resources, and having an interactive feedback policy, with live marking and verbal feedback, to replace written feedback.

In Years 7 and 8, students study selected topics from the Exploring Science course.  At KS4 students have the option to choose to study Extended Science (Edexcel) and staff teach across all specialisms up to KS4.   Our Progress 8 scores are amongst the highest in the school and are well above the national average, placing us well within the highest performing departments in the country.

                                       2018    2019   2020  2021

Combined Science +0.61    +0.7      +0.56 +0.38

Biology                        +0.78   +0.31     +0.98 +1.78

Chemistry                +0.84   +0.23     +0.87 +1.66

Physics                        +0.65   +0.15      +0.76 +1.61

Our Sixth Form is very well subscribed and we currently offer both Chemistry (AQA) and Biology (Edexcel) at A-level as well as BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate in Applied Science.   Many of our students go on to study Science in further education, including Russell Group Universities and Oxbridge.

We offer a range of extracurricular activities within the department, such as Science Club at KS3 and Science Surgery at KS4.   At KS5, we have ties with careers services such as UpSkill Me and local Biotechnology companies.   We are also a case loading school for the medic mentor family, all of which help to support our students in making choices and gaining experience ready for their next steps.  Our school is on the outskirts of Slough Trading Estate, one of Europe’s largest, and puts us in a unique position to be able to collaborate with several multinational companies based there, such as O2 and Mars.

The department has an experienced technician team, working in 2 well equipped prep rooms, supporting teachers to deliver a wide range of practical activities across all year groups.   We have 11 well-equipped laboratories, all with interactive smart boards, providing all teachers with their own lab space.  We are also fortunate enough to have a dedicated administration assistant based within the department.

CPD within the school and department is excellent and many of our Science teachers have progressed to the Senior Leadership Team, including Deputy Head Teacher, Assistant Head Teacher, SENDCo and two Directors of Learning.   We also currently have 3 members of the department who hold TLRs and provide multiple opportunities for all team members to continue their development.  Prior to COVID,  The Westgate School collaborated with other local secondary schools who visited us as a benchmark for outstanding practice and to share ideas.

We are a school that offers:

- Great facilities and resources

- Strong support from line managers and SLT

- A strong CPD programme and the opportunity to deliver as well as receive training

- Access to a middle leader development programme

- Excellent career opportunities and progression

-      Free Health Care Cash Plan for all staff

- Complimentary tea and coffee

- Free on-site parking

We are passionate about ensuring that our students are #equippedforlife, through our innovative curriculum and the wide range of experiences we provide for them.   We are very proud to serve our local community and believe very strongly in our values.

The Westgate School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment.   Applicants must be willing to undertake child protection screening, including an enhanced DBS and past employer checks.   We are an equal opportunities employer.

If you believe that The Westgate School is for you, then please do visit our career site where you can learn more about us.   If you are interested in joining us then please complete the TES application form.   We also welcome you to visit the school and department prior to applying.

We reserve the right to hold interviews as suitable applications are received.

Previous applicants need not apply

No agencies please