Ark John Keats is an exceptional school looking to hire exceptional people.
We are looking to recruit a passionate and knowledgeable lead teacher of Government & Politics to join our team. As lead teacher, you would be responsible for the quality of curriculum planning and teaching within KS5 Government & Politics, setting an example for others with your own practice and developing other teachers to plan and deliver excellent lessons.
Government & Politics is a popular subject at A-Level, and you would be joining our team at an exciting time in our development as we continue to build the foundations of our new and growing Sixth Form. Our KS5 students are conscientious and ambitious, and our teachers nurture their aspirations for university both through teaching excellent lessons, and through the opportunities they provide outside of the classroom.
Ark John Keats was founded in 2013 with one class of reception children. We are now a fully-fledged all-through school, running from nursery to year 13, with over 1700 children. Our secondary school is oversubscribed, with a waiting list for every year group. Our community is composed of supportive and committed families who buy into our vision and work with us to ensure their children achieve all they are capable of in the future.
We aspire for all our children to have the academic knowledge necessary to enable them to progress to university, for pupils to have a love of learning and curiosity about the world, and for them to be polite, well-mannered young people who take responsibility for their choices and drive their own destinies.
Ark John Keats is part of Ark Schools, a hugely successful network serving pupils from deprived communities. Our network shares a belief in our six pillars:
High expectations: we have high expectations of ourselves and for what our children can achieve
Excellent teaching: great teaching is what transforms children’s attainment and opens door for the future.
Exemplary behaviour: children can and should be taught to behave well, following instructions first time, every time, without question.
Depth for breadth: with a curriculum that encompasses the best of what has been thought and said ensuring our pupils have the knowledge and cultural capital to thrive in the classroom and beyond.
Knowing every child: we get to know and care deeply about each of our pupils as individuals.
Always learning: we expect pupils to always learn, but also for our staff to continually develop their professional expertise, supported by Ark’s broad professional development offer.
At Ark John Keats, we believe in rigour – our curriculum is full of challenge, and we know that our children are intellectually resilient and capable of learning lots in every subject no matter what their starting point.
We believe in exemplary behaviour – we have sky high standards and support all children to reach these, by focusing on developing pupils’ self-regulation, explicitly teaching pupils how to behave, and by working closely with families.
We believe in the limitless potential of all children – if children work hard, there are no limits to what they can achieve.
We are looking for someone who aligns with our approach to curriculum and teaching. The successful candidate will work closely with other teachers and leaders in KS5 as well as across the Ark network to develop a truly all-through curriculum.
Please submit your application by 9am on Friday 20th May. In advance of applying please do explore our website and review our key information. For further information, technical queries regarding the application system or to arrange to discuss the role please contact us at recruitment@arkjohnkeatsacademy.org.
Flexible and part time working will be considered.
Job Description: Lead Teacher of Government & Politics
Reports to: SLT Line Manager or Head of Department
Start date: September 2022
Salary: Ark MPS (Outer London) £30,663 - £42,164, depending on experience + TLR2A
The Role
Government & Politics is a popular choice for A-Level students at AJK. As a skilled classroom practitioner and subject expert, you will deliver high-quality, rigorous lessons that drive achievement and inspire a love of learning that extends beyond the classroom. As lead teacher you would model strong practice in both curriculum planning and teaching, and ensure other teachers in the department meet the same high standard.
Duties and expectations of all teachers at Ark John Keats
· teach, to an outstanding level, all years, abilities and qualifications;
· deepen the scholarly nature of both the subject and the academy;
· play an active role in ensuring a consistently orderly, calm and stimulating environment, both in and out of the classroom;
· play an active role in the pupil leadership programme;
· play a central role in the Department, including contributing to workshops, running a weekly enrichment activity, competitions, trips, open days, prep and so on;
· make a vital contribution to the efficient running of the Department, including setting and marking examinations, assisting in moderation of coursework and undertaking administrative and other tasks as delegated by the Head of Department;
· enhance the quality of teaching and learning in the Department and wider academy through sharing resources and good practice, lesson observation, collaborative teaching, instructional coaching and active participation in CPL;
· develop habits of excellence in ourselves and our pupils through implementation of the academy rubrics and routines and consistent explanation of, and emphasis, on high expectations in all we do.
Key responsibilities and outcomes for the Lead Teacher of Government & Politics
- Lead curriculum planning in the department, aligned with whole school curriculum principles, so that teachers can deliver excellent lessons.
- Support and develop other teachers to improve their practice through co-planning, coaching and learning walks.
- Set high expectations so that all students are inspired, motivated and challenged to reach their full potential, and in doing so meet their progress and attainment targets
· Plan and teach well-structured, differentiated lessons that are aligned to the agreed curriculum and cultivate every student’s intellectual curiosity
· Use data to inform teaching and learning, identify areas for intervention and provide feedback to students, staff and families in order to promote progress and outcomes
· Manage behaviour effectively to create a safe, respectful and nurturing environment so that students can focus on learning
· Work collaboratively with both school and network colleagues as a committed team member, building successful, high performing teams
· Participate actively throughout the network, by attending relevant meetings, and, as appropriate, delivering network-wide training and initiatives
· Work with colleagues, students and families to develop a strong school community
Person Specification: Lead Teacher of Government & Politics
Qualification Criteria
· Qualified to teach and work in the UK
· Degree in Politics or related subject
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
· Demonstrable commitment to raising attainment of all pupils in a challenging classroom environment
· Excellent understanding of both subject and general teaching pedagogy
· Be or demonstrate the potential to become an outstanding teacher
· Mastery of and enthusiasm for academic subject
· Effective and systematic behaviour management
· Knowledge of the national Secondary education system, examinations and curriculum
Behaviours
· Genuine passion for and a belief in the potential of every student
· A robust awareness of keeping children safe, noticing safeguarding and welfare concerns, and you understand how and when to take appropriate action
· Deep commitment to Ark’s mission of providing an excellent education to every student, regardless of background
· Excellent interpersonal, planning and organisational skills
· Resilient, motivated and committed to achieving excellence
· Reflective and proactive in seeking feedback to constantly improve practice
· Commitment to regular and on-going professional development and training to establish outstanding classroom practice.
· Commitment to and understanding of professionalism in line with the National Teaching Standards
Other
· Right to work in the UK
· Commitment to equality of opportunity and the safeguarding and welfare of all students
· Willingness to undertake training
· This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check
Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in our academies. In order to meet this responsibility, we follow a rigorous selection process. This process is outlined here, but can be provided in more detail if requested. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.