Ark St Alban’s Academy
Lead Teacher of Biology
Ark St Alban’s Academy is seeking to appoint a skilled and enthusiastic teacher to lead Biology teaching at the school.
Our school is committed to addressing educational disadvantage. We consistently guide pupils to GCSE and A-Level outcomes which place our cohorts in the top 10% of schools nationally on many measures, including those for the progress of disadvantaged pupils. Our school serves pupils from central Birmingham. The percentage of our cohort eligible for the Pupil Premium is the eighth highest in the country. There are very few communities in the UK who need great teachers more than ours. Teachers and leaders at Ark St Alban’s Academy are determined to prove that the background of a young person can be no impediment to their success. Our school prepares pupils to succeed at elite universities, with our alumni proudly representing our community at prestigious destinations including Cambridge University, Durham University and the London School of Economics.
Our school consistently secures excellent outcomes for our pupils.
In Science, our pupils are increasingly successful. This year in combined science, over half of the Year 11 cohort achieved at least 5-5, in addition to our small cohort of separate scientists of whom 90% gained at least a grade 7 in all three sciences. At A-Level, sciences are increasingly popular, even with a requirement of at least 7-7 in GCSE Science and a 7 in GCSE Maths to study A-Level sciences. There is demand for multiple classes of A-Level Chemistry, where last year, 75% of the Year 13 cohort achieved at least a grade C and a third achieved an A grade.
Providing all pupils with an academic and rigorous science education is central to our university preparatory curriculum.
The majority of pupils study towards the combined science qualification at the end of Key Stage Four. The number of pupils choosing to pursue separate sciences is though increasing. At A-Level, multiple classes of Biology and Chemistry operate in both Year 12 and Year 13, alongside a large cohort studying the Level 3 Applied Science BTEC qualification. In both GCSE Science and A-Level Sciences pupils study towards the AQA specification.
The successful candidate will work with leaders in the department to evaluate the Chemistry curriculum and to develop an approach to guiding pupils to make even greater progress. In addition, there will be the opportunity in this role to continue the work of the department in playing a leading role in the trust-wide collaboration of curriculum leaders from across the network of Ark Schools.
In this role, the successful candidate will receive direct support from leaders both within and beyond the department through line-management. As part of Ark Schools, all colleagues also have access to exceptional professional development and training opportunities, including NPQs through the Ark Teaching School Hub and Ambition Institute.
We are seeking a leader to join our work to provide a transformational education for all of our pupils.
For an informal conversation about the role or to arrange an informal visit or phone call with the Principal, please contact Katie Roberts on 0121 446 1323 or katie.roberts@arkstalbans.org.
Please submit your application online by visiting our vacancies page.
Start date: January 2023 (flexible for the right candidate)
Location: Conybere Street, Birmingham B12 0YH
Reports to: Relevant Curriculum Leader
Salary: Ark Main or Upper Pay Scale (£28,704 - £45,437), plus TLR 2b (£5,023)
The deadline for applications is Monday 16th January 2023 at 10.00am.
Our website can provide more information about Ark St Alban’s Academy.
Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.