Team Leader of Key Stage 4 Design Technology, Second in Faculty also available

Thank you for your interest in the post. We wish to appoint from September 2021 a well-qualified, enthusiastic and committed Team Leader of Key Stage 4 Design and Technology.  For the right candidate, there is also the potential to take on the Second in Faculty role.  The post is full-time and permanent.  The position would suit an experienced teacher.  

This is an excellent opportunity to join one of Oxfordshire’s largest and most successful schools judged ‘Outstanding by OFSTED in the latest inspection. Effective  administrative systems support the two sites.  Students are well-behaved and motivated, and there is a strong sense of community in Thame, with a committed parent support base.

We are exceptionally strong in terms of pastoral support for all students and have the highest     expectations for individual achievement whatever the starting points. Outside the classroom there are wonderful extra-curricular activities for all.  Students leave the school successful and well-rounded individuals. There is a ‘buzz’ about learning in the school and our students are fortunate to be supported in their learning by dedicated teachers and support staff. Staff training and professional development are always a developmental priority and many of our staff move on to promotions in other schools.

The School

The school is the only school serving the market town of Thame and surrounding villages. It is a popular school and always oversubscribed. It is a split site school – Years 7-9 on our Lower School site and Years 10 -13 on our Upper School site. There are around 500 students in our Sixth Form and we attract many students from other schools, post-16. Teamwork is a key feature of school life and so is partnership with our feeder primary schools. There is a strong drive to establish powerful curriculum links cross phase with teachers collaborating on a range of projects.

The Design and Technology Faculty

The Design and Technology Faculty offers a range of very successful courses, where students make excellent progress in their learning and produce very strong results. It has very supportive and friendly staff who, between them, have a lot of experience and a diverse range of specialisms. Staff have well-resourced, purpose-built workshops, classrooms and preparation/resource areas, where the teaching, administration and technical staff are able to provide excellent support to one another.  

Curriculum

Key Stage 3

The current course, studied by all students, seeks to provide students with a sound foundation to understanding our modern technological world, as well as providing a solid introduction to the values, knowledge, skills and understanding they will need if they go on to study Design and    Technology based subjects on offer at GCSE and beyond. 

The teaching modules cover Food, Textiles, Design Skills, Materials, Structures, Electrical and   Mechanical Systems, Graphical Skills, and CAD/CAM. 

Key Stage 4

Year 10 and 11 students follow AQA GCSE courses.  A wide range of options are available to    students allowing them to specialise in areas that they are interested in. These include Food Preparation & Nutrition; DT: Textiles; DT: Electrical and Mechanical Systems; DT: Materials; DT   Engineering Materials, and Child Development. In addition students have access to a range of     vocational courses, such as Construction Level 1, which is delivered in our purpose built skill centre.

Results each year are very good with high numbers of students achieving GCSEs at grades 9-4 (A* - C).  

Key Stage 5

The Advanced Level Design Technology (AQA) courses are very popular, producing excellent    results and the majority of our students go on to pursue related subjects at degree level.  As well as Product Design, the Faculty also offers very successful course in Textiles and sometimes Food at AS/A2 Level. 

Resources

The Lower School has a purpose built Technology Centre, comprising a suite of six very well-equipped and networked rooms supported by preparation areas and designed around a central ICT room, a team room and an inspirational display area.  Extensive teaching resources are available alongside excellent technical and administrative support.

The Upper School courses are also taught in well-resourced areas with adjacent computer suites, these  have all either been recently built or modernised. There has been significant investment in computer networking and equipment in all classrooms; this includes a full suite of CNC lasers,  routers, lathes and 3D printers.