Director of English - Member of senior leadership team

Ark John Keats Academy

Exciting opportunity to join a pioneering new school in north London.  

Ark John Keats Academy is a growing school currently in the process of setting up a brand new Sixth Form due to open in September 2019. Therefore, we are looking to recruit excellent staff to join our expanding team and be part of the exciting next phase of our development.

We provide pupils from Nursery to Sixth Form with a world class standard of education. Our approach is underpinned by our six pillars – A Mastery Curriculum, High Quality Teaching, Strong Discipline, Character Development, Raising Aspirations & Enrichment and Developing Education Leaders.

The academy staff, pupils and parents are incredibly aligned, committed and passionate about our school. We have been graded outstanding in all areas by Ofsted and pupils make rapid progress in a calm, purposeful and happy environment.

In recruiting for the Director of English role we are seeking the following from applicants:

·         The potential to be an exceptional leader

·         A  good degree in English or an English-related subject

·         Leadership experience

·         Secondary specialist

·         A growth mindset

·         High standards of professionalism

·         Courteousness

·         Record of high quality teaching

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to lead an inspirational and passionate team of English teachers. Ark John Keats’ English curriculum uses the English Mastery approach to teaching the subject.

We are committed to providing staff with high quality and regular CPD. All teachers and leaders have weekly coaching, a weekly whole staff training session, 14 CPD days annually and access to an extensive menu of Ark training programmes for all levels.

To apply please submit your application via the apply button by 8am Monday 25th February 2019. For further information, a confidential discussion about this role please contact Victoria Henderson on v.henderson@arkjohnkeatsacademy.org. For any technical queries/ questions about completing the application, please contact Mitra Samsami on m.samsami@arkjohnkeatsacademy.org

Start Date: September 2019

Closing date:  8am Monday 25th February 2019

Salary: Competitive

We value diversity and are committed to safeguarding and promoting child welfare. The successful candidate will be subject to DBS and any other relevant employment checks.

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Job Description: Director of English

Reports to:  Assistant Principal/Principal             

Start date: September 2019

Salary:  Competitive

The Role

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 Director of English

·         Implementation of the English curriculum and subject coordination across the academy

·         Work with primary Head of English to ensure rigour and alignment in the curriculum from EYFS to KS5

·         Achievement of consistently outstanding teaching and learning in English across the academy

·         Achievement of outstanding academic attainment and progress in English across the academy

·         Embedding of the Ark John Keats ethos and culture in the department and, as a member of the leadership team, across the academy

·         Delivery of the Instructional Leadership model as part of the academy leadership team

·         Leadership and management of all other aspects of the English Department.

Activities

Subject Coordination across the Academy

·         Lead and support all English teachers within the academy.

Leadership and management

·         Write a subject development plan, set teaching and academic targets and embed a meaningful monitoring and review process

·         Participate in recruitment and selection activities

·         Assist in the professional development of teachers

·         Supervise and support beginner teachers and NQTs

·         Develop strong partnerships and ensure regular and productive communication with parents

·         Manage the department budget to ensure value for money and impact on teaching and learning and attainment

·         Provide reports to the governing body on the effectiveness of the department’s provision and on the numeracy strategy

·         Maintain regular and productive communication with pupils, parents and colleagues.

Literacy

·         Line manage the literacy lead

Teaching and Learning

• Develop all department teachers to ensure teaching is consistently outstanding
• Direct and supervise support staff assigned to lessons to ensure the support provided to individuals and groups is having a significant impact on academic progress
• Put in place an ongoing intervention programme to ensure pupils who fall behind have effective intervention to ensure they catch up quickly and sustain progress.

Curriculum setting and assessment

• Develop and implement our English Mastery provision at KS3
• Develop and implement syllabi and schemes of work for KS4 and 5, in line with National Curriculum requirements, that inspire, challenge and enable pupils to achieve high end grades
• Develop the use of ICT in the department to ensure pupils’ IT knowledge and skills are developed in a relevant and effective manner
• Monitor and assess teaching and learning
• Set regular, meaningful and measurable assessments for pupils
• Maintain accurate pupil data that can be used to make teaching more effective
• Produce and contribute to oral and written assessments, reports and references relating to individuals and groups of pupils

• Participate in preparing pupils for external examinations

Academy Culture

• Support the academy’s values and ethos by contributing to the development and implementation of policies, practices and procedures
• Help create a strong academy community, characterised by consistent, orderly behaviour and caring, respectful relationships
• Help develop an academy culture and ethos that is utterly committed to learning and achievement
• Support and work in collaboration with colleagues and other professionals in and beyond the school, covering lessons and providing other support as required.

Other

• Undertake , and when required, deliver or be part of the appraisal system and relevant training and professional development
• Undertake other various responsibilities as directed by the Principal or Vice Principal.

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Person Specification: Director of English

Qualification Criteria

• A good degree in English or English-related subject
• Qualified to teach and work in the UK.

Experience

• Evidence of teaching to an outstanding level
• Experience of having designed, implemented and evaluated effective, imaginative and stimulating Schemes of Work

Behaviours

Leadership

·         Effective team worker and leader

·         Demonstrates resilience, motivation and commitment to driving up standards of achievement

·         Acts as a role model to staff and students

·         Vision aligned with AJK’s 6 Pillars

·         Genuine passion and a belief in the potential of every pupil

·         Motivation to continually improve standards and achieve excellence

·         Commitment to the safeguarding and welfare of all pupils.

Leading the Curriculum

·           Commitment to a knowledge-rich and academic curriculum

·           Ability to develop the curriculum and understand and lead on assessment

·           Good communication, planning and organisational skills

·           High expectations for accountability and consistency.

Teaching and Learning

• Excellent classroom teacher with the ability to reflect on lessons and continually improve their own practice
• Effective and systematic behaviour management, with clear boundaries, sanctions, praise and rewards
• Thinks strategically about classroom practice and tailoring lessons to pupils’ needs
• Understands and interprets complex pupil data to drive lesson planning and pupil attainment
• Good communication, planning and organisational skills
• Demonstrates resilience, motivation and commitment to driving up standards of achievement
• Acts as a role model to staff and students
• Potential to be highly skilled coach
• Commitment to regular and on-going professional development and training to establish outstanding classroom practice.

Other

• This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check
• All staff will play a role in the Leadership, Prep and Enrichment programmes
• Commitment to equality of opportunity and the safeguarding and welfare of all pupil.