HEAD OF PHYSICS - INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS - Required for September 2021 Part-time (0.6, 3 days per week)
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
HEAD OF PHYSICS
Part-time (0.6, 3 days per week)
Required for September 2021
INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
Information for applicants
www.croydonhigh.gdst.net
The School
Croydon High School in leafy Selsdon, South Croydon, is an Croydon High is made up of students from a broad and
exceptional independent day school for girls aged 3 to 18. Part culturally diverse range of backgrounds and the school
of the GDST (Girls’ Day School Trust), the leading network of recognises and hugely values the positive impact this has on all
girls’ schools in the UK, Croydon High has been delivering who teach and learn here. To support and enhance the
outstanding education to local girls since 1874. educational and pastoral provision for all our students, we are
fully committed to a recruitment policy in which job applicants
In spacious buildings, on a sloping site of over twenty acres are not discriminated against on the grounds of sex, race,
three miles from the centre of Croydon, our girls enjoy the disability, age, nationality, colour, ethnic or national origin,
benefits of excellent sporting facilities, teaching and marital or civil partner status, pregnancy, sexual orientation,
exceptional pastoral care. gender reassignment, religion or belief.
Proud of its heritage, Croydon High School is also firmly
focused on the future and the Senior Leadership Team, under
Headmistress Emma Pattison, consistently strive to move the
School forward preparing girls to meet the challenges of the “Croydon High’s way – and the GDST way – is so exactly
modern world. representative of an ideal workplace, in my mind. The way
Croydon High is concerned for mental and physical wellbeing of
We are enjoying the products of a masterplan of improvement pupils AND staff, the way you’re open to change, the way you’re
to the site over recent years that has included refurbishment welcoming to everyone from any and all backgrounds, the way
of the Junior School, improvements to the exterior of the you encourage healthy discussions around accountability and how
campus and our sports’ centre, a new sports pavilion and the to make progress and improve… Working in this kind of
creation of an Enterprise Technology Suite. Investment in the environment is a dream.”
fabric of the building is ongoing. Current Staff member, 2020
Visitors to the School cannot help but be impressed by the
warm welcome, the confidence of the girls, the love they
express for their School and the beautiful grounds.
Information for applicants
www.croydonhigh.gdst.net
Organisational Structure The School Governing Body
The Girls Day School Trust Under the GDST governance arrangements, each of the 23
schools are supported by a SGB who plays a valuable role in
The GDST educates nearly 20,000 pupils and employs over providing a high quality education for our girls.
3,700 staff in our 23 schools and two academies. Croydon
High School, founded in 1874, was the first “all-through” They support the Headmistress, advising on the effective use
school in the Trust. The GDST is the UK’s largest education of resources and helping the School foster the excellence for
charity with an annual turnover of more than £200 million. which it is renowned in the local area.
A Council of Trustees are legally responsible for the running The Senior Leadership Team
of the GDST and set the strategic direction of the Trust,
monitor its performance and ensure its financial viability. The School is managed and run by a Senior Leadership Team;
including the Head of Junior School, Director of Marketing
and Director of Finance and Operations alongside the
academic leaders of the Senior School.
Information for applicants
www.croydonhigh.gdst.net
Academic Life Co-curricular offer educating
Intellectual curiosity and outstanding results in an mind, body and spirit
exceptional learning environment.
Our extra-curricular programme is diverse and offers
Our curriculum is characterised by an emphasis on academic opportunity for all while ensuring our elite performers are
excellence, breadth and innovation, fostering creativity, challenged and develop their skills. We enjoy excellent facilities
exploration and enjoyment. Creative teaching and learning in sport, music, drama and technology and the purpose-built site
opportunities abound; highly qualified and motivated staff use offers a spacious and bright environment in which to learn and
innovative pedagogies which place them at the vanguard of work.
the teaching profession.
Our focus on the individual in all aspects of school life comes
In Years 7-9, all pupils study the following subjects: English, into its own in the many fundraising and charity projects
Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Enterprise Technology, History, undertaken by the girls. Their awareness and sensitivity to local
Geography, Philosophy and Ethics, Music, Drama, Art, 3D and international issues never fails to impress and they convey
Design, Physical Education. From early in Year 7 and their opinions with compassion and conviction.
throughout the School, all pupils are taught Mathematics in
ability sets. Almost all students study two modern foreign
languages from French, German and Spanish in Years 7-9 and
Latin is taught to all from Year 7. At GCSE, we offer a Pastoral Life
mixture of GCSE and IGCSEs and most students take 3 A
levels, the Extended Project Qualification and a number of The welfare of students and the personalised pastoral care
electives which are unique to our school. which is our hallmark underpins everything we do at Croydon
High School. The Tutor is a student’s greatest advocate in
Throughout the Senior School, a creative and diverse School and oversees all her endeavours; he or she is a source
curriculum balances the opportunity to explore and develop of advice and support, of encouragement and inspiration.
skills and talents with the need for academic rigour. Students are placed in tutor groups according to their academic
Inspirational teaching emphasises the pursuit of excellence year and the work of the tutor is overseen by the relevant Head
where pupils are encouraged to set – and supported to of Year.
achieve – ambitious goals. The application of learning across
subjects fosters an independent and proactive approach. Girls throughout the School are allocated to one of four houses
Inherent in this is the use of technology for learning and our and the spirit of friendly competition pervades each of the
bespoke Enterprise Technology curriculum in Years 7-9 enjoyable and well-supported house events. Girls not only
showcases our pupils’ aptitude for creativity, problem solving represent their houses in their areas of strengths but are also
and working collaboratively. This exciting strand to our encouraged to try out new activities within a supportive team
curriculum reflects our commitment to ensuring that our environment.
pupils are ‘real-world ready’ and prepared for the future,
whatever that may hold. Regular academic enrichment The Wellbeing & Citizenship programme and enrichment
enhances pupils’ learning and the numerous opportunities to programmes are well-delivered and play an important role in
experience content in a different context brings the the development of awareness of current issues.
curriculum to life.
Croydon High School students are compassionate and greatly
The School enjoys excellent examination results. In 2019, involved in charity outreach work, including raising funds and
51% of all GCSEs taken at the School gained an A*, grade, 8 awareness. They tackle challenging topics with incredible
or 9. At A level, just under 50% of examination entries were maturity and sensitivity and display a keen desire to make a
awarded an A or A*. Our students perform especially difference to the injustices they perceive. There are numerous
strongly in the Extended Project Qualification; last academic examples of student-led projects and activities such as the
year 83% of the projects were awarded either an A or an A* impressive Amnesty International Fair, the well-attended annual
grade. The majority of Sixth Form students go on to study at MUN conference and the annual conference for the national
their first choice destinations, which includes Russell Group Council of Young Women; all of these are organised and run
of universities (some 60% of students in 2019) including the by the students.
Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
Our mantra is Every Girl, Every Day and this highlights the
strong relationships between supportive staff and our
remarkable students. We want every girl to enjoy a learning
experience – every day – that inspires her ideas, stimulates
her curiosity and motivates her to be the very best version
of herself that she can.
Information for applicants www.croydonhigh.gdst.net The Physics Department Pupils follow a bespoke curriculum in Years 7 and 8 in Physics, which are taught as discrete sciences throughout the Senior School in order to develop pupils’ knowledge, skills and natural curiosity, as well as ensuring they are challenged academically. In Years 9, 10 and 11, pupils’ study for Edexcel IGCSE Physics, choosing either the Double or Triple Science Course. Most pupils opt to take separate sciences at IGCSE with some taking the Double Award to allow them to take another non-science GCSE option subject. In the Sixth Form, pupils study OCR Physics A level. Numerous pupils also choose a Physics-related topic for their Extended Project qualification, which is a popular elective in the Lower Sixth year. The department boasts excellent results as well as instilling a lifelong love of scientific enquiry. Last year, just over 90% of IGCSE pupils were awarded a Physics grade of 7 or higher. 100% of Physics A level candidates secured a grade B or higher. Each year several pupils go on to study sciences or a related discipline (such as medicine or dentistry) at a competitive university, including those within the prestigious Russell Group. There is a wealth of extra-curricular activities and opportunities for development within the department for the right candidate. Pupils participate in the Physics Olympiads and other national events and competitions, and we regularly take pupils to enrichment activities which go beyond the bounds of examination specifications. The Physics department has close ties with our Enterprise Technology department, collaborating on projects which put pupil’s knowledge of physics to ‘real world use’ whilst, in tandem, honing their programming, design and teamwork skills. The Science Faculty Taken together, the science faculty, which comprises Biology, Chemistry and Physics—which is led by Heads of each subject and a Head of Science—is one of the largest in the school with many pupils opting to study at least one Science subject at A level. Nine specialist members of staff are supported by two full-time and one part-time technician. The faculty has seven large well- resourced teaching laboratories and two smaller teaching laboratories across two floors. Six of the laboratories have been refurbished and have Clevertouch interactive screens. Refurbishment of a further laboratory is planned for Summer 2021. The Role We are looking to appoint a part-time Head of Physics to job share with the current incumbent. We are willing to consider applications from candidates who are looking for a full-time post. Please note, however, that the Head of Department responsibilities would only be part-time (0.6, 2 days per week) within a full-time post. This vacancy arises as a result of growth of pupil numbers throughout the school, as a consequence of offering both triple and double award science at IGCSE, and finally, due to strong pupil recruitment into science at A level. If applicants are looking for a full-time post, the ability and willingness to teach a second science to IGCSE would be essential. Purpose Overall responsibility for the professional leadership and management of the department in order to ensure high standards of teaching and learning are delivered, resources are used efficiently and effectively and the curriculum is managed and developed in accordance with school policy. Accountable to The Headmistress, through Head of Science
Information for applicants
www.croydonhigh.gdst.net
Accountabilities Marketing and external links, including public
occasions
Policy/Strategic direction and development • Actively promote the department within the school
• Contribute to whole school policy-making and strategic community to encourage pupils’ interest in the subject
planning as required by the Head. area.
• Prepare, monitor and update annual departmental plans in • Contribute to the positive promotion and marketing of
consultation with colleagues. the school and the GDST in the local and wider
• Take the lead in ensuring that school policies and community.
strategies are embedded in schemes of work and • Lead the department’s contribution to marketing events
departmental plans. and external links.
Leadership & management of others Management of resources
• Lead and manage the department, recruiting, inducting, • Monitor and control the department’s allocated budget
developing, deploying, motivating and appraising members and purchasing arrangements, to ensure the efficient and
of the department to ensure that they have clear effective use of all resources.
expectations of their roles, and that high-performance • Identify future resourcing needs and aspirations for the
standards are achieved and maintained. department for consideration in the school budget
• Empower members of the department to develop their planning process.
leadership potential to ensure continuous improvement • Ensure that all resources are fit for purpose and used in
within the department. accordance with GDST health and safety guidelines.
• Manage day to day requirements such as examination entry
and departmental timetables, delegating as appropriate, to Monitoring, evaluation & assessment
ensure the efficiency of the department. • Ensure that within the department individual pupil
• Chair departmental meetings to ensure that they are used progress is regularly assessed, recorded and reported
effectively to review performance and that actions are and used to inform future teaching.
recorded and implemented. • Monitor pupil progress through the use of performance
and benchmarked data to ensure that high standards of
• Teaching and learning learning are achieved and maintained.
• Promote excellence in teaching and learning to ensure all
pupils develop their potential and are equipped for life Training & development of self and others
beyond school. • As a lead professional set personal targets and take
• Exemplify in own practice the skills of teaching and learning responsibility for own continuous professional
typified by lead professionals and ensure that good development.
practice is shared throughout the department. • Be proactive in identifying training needs within the
• Ensure that schemes of work are used, reviewed and department, ensuring that they are appropriately met,
modified to enable the maintenance and development of and that all members of the department are active in their
high standards of teaching and learning. own personal and continuous professional development.
• Monitor pupils’ work and the classroom practice of those
in the department to ensure high standards are
maintained.
• Keep up to date with developments in subject area and
education in general to ensure that best practice is
adopted within the department.
• Ensure the department’s delivery and development of the
curriculum is effective in meeting the needs of all pupils.
• Contribute to the broader life of the school by supporting
and leading curricular and extra-curricular events such as
school productions and activity days.
Extra-curricular activities
• Actively promote interest in the subject outside the
immediate physical and timetabled confines of the
department.
Information for applicants
www.croydonhigh.gdst.net
General requirements
Application Details
All school staff are expected to:
• Work towards and support the school vision and the The Salary
current school objectives outlined in the School In line with GDST salary scale according to experience.
Development Plan.
• Contribute to the school’s programme of extra-curricular Safeguarding
activities. The GDST is committed to safeguarding and promoting the
• Support and contribute to the school’s responsibility for welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo
safeguarding students. child protection screening appropriate to the post, including
• Work within the school’s health and safety policy to checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring
ensure a safe working environment for staff, students and Service.
visitors
• Work within the GDST’s Diversity Policy to promote How to apply
equality of opportunity for all students and staff, both An application form should be completed and, together with
current and prospective. a covering letter addressed to the Headmistress, emailed to
• Maintain high professional standards of attendance, recruitment@cry.gdst.net
punctuality, appearance, conduct and positive, courteous
relations with students, parents and colleagues. Applications must be received by noon, Friday 19 March 2021.
• Engage actively in the performance review process.
• Adhere to GDST and school policies. The school reserves the right to appoint at any stage during
• Undertake other reasonable duties related to the job the recruitment process.
purpose required from time to time.
Review and amendment
This job description should be seen as enabling rather than
restrictive and will be subject to regular review.
You can also read
