Network Lead for Secondary Science (Maternity Cover)

Reports to: Director of Curriculum and Assessment

Location: West London – currently operating an agile working policy with two core days (Mon and Weds) in the office and with travel to other sites as needed 

Contract: FTC 1 year (maternity cover)

Pattern: Full time (standard hours 9am – 5.30pm), part-time could be considered

Start Date: March 2024 (open to negotiations)

Closing date: 09/02/2024 at 10am

Interviews: w/c 19/02/2024

Salary: £60,000 to £70,000 (depending on experience)

About the role:

Alongside the Director of Curriculum and Assessment the Network Lead for Secondary Science works with a range of groups to drive improved science outcomes in schools, from KS3-5. The key levels for delivery are:

1. Curriculum delivery and implementation
2. Direct school improvement
3. Building capacity through the network
4. Network assessment design, analysis and action planning
5. Cohort-level subject training
6. Maintaining awareness of school-level and subject-level developments more broadly

This work is coordinated with the work of the Curriculum team, particularly the Network Leads for Secondary & Primary English, Maths and Music Primary.

You will work with science departments, senior leaders, and Science Mastery (Ark Curriculum Plus) to ensure that schools’ curriculum and resourcing needs are met, and that delivery of the curriculum is ambitious and tailored to the needs of the department and its intake.

You will support science leaders to use network-level data to identify topics to be reviewed in their department’s curriculum and training.

Key Responsibilities:

• Working with teachers and Science Mastery to ensure the pilot KS4 curriculum is implemented successfully in schools and to maintain a robust feedback loop as the curriculum is developed
• Working with the KS5 Network Leads to support alignment of curriculum and assessment at KS5, particularly for A-level science
• Work intensely with a small number of focus schools to support outcomes in science, as directed by senior leaders in the Central team. The nature of visits and support might include training, observations, feedback, coaching and work with senior leaders
• Developing smaller networks of teachers focused on key priorities, such as delivering a new course or addressing a common challenge
• Analysis of data after termly assessments (Y7-10, Y12) and mocks, identifying patterns and gaps and using these to inform training, work with schools, and senior leaders in schools and in the central team
• Leading Network Days, three times per year, working with schools and external groups to offer a strong range of training and workshops, responsive to schools’ needs and patterns identified in assessments
• Leading network meetings and training for specific groups, such as HODs, KS5 leads, or other groups with a specific focus (e.g. GTAs, homework leads)

Key Requirements:

• Qualified to degree level and above 
• Qualified to teach and work in the UK  
• Experience leading (Head of Department) and teaching Science within more than one school or across a range of schools in order to raise outcomes for disadvantaged pupils 
• Substantial knowledge of the Science curriculum and related pedagogy 
• Substantial knowledge of national policy, legislation, statutory obligations and current national and international thinking in secondary education  
• Experience of delivering CPD to teachers
• Willingness to travel across the network to visit schools in different regions using public transport whenever practicable, and when necessary, work outside normal working day to achieve deadlines 
• A strategic thinker, with the ability to consider both the detail and the bigger picture  
• An effective coach and developer of others 
• Excellent interpersonal, planning and organisational skills 
• Resilient, motivated and committed to achieving excellence 

View the full job description and person specification here

About Ark

We’re an international charity, transforming lives through education. We exist to give every young person, regardless of their background, a great education and real choices in life. In the UK, we’re a network of 39 schools, educating around 30,000 pupils in areas where we can make the biggest difference and we’re recognised as one of the highest achieving academy groups in the country. We want to change the lives of children everywhere, not just in our own schools. So, we create and incubate Ventures designed not only to help pupils in Ark schools, but also to improve education systems.

You’ll be joining a group of like-minded, ambitious individuals who work collaboratively and are all committed to our core mission, that every child has the potential to succeed. Having just celebrated our 20^th anniversary, we are shaping our goals for the next 20 and there has never been a more exciting time to join us.

Benefits

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years’ service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays
• Full office closure between Christmas and New Year
• Hybrid working, with currently two days a week in our state-of-the-art office in West London working alongside colleagues
• Regular social events, monthly free breakfast, and daily fruit
• A flexible approach to working with understanding and consideration for work life balance and personal commitments
• As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to. Depending on your role you may also be entitled to TPS which is a defined benefit scheme where you contribute a percentage based on how much you earn (as do we) in exchange for a guaranteed amount in your pension pot every year
• Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform
• Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests

How to Apply:

Apply with a CV and cover letter on our online recruitment portal. Applications to be submitted by Friday 9^th February 2024 at 10am but please note: we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this advert may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response.

This ATS application form should take no longer 20 minutes to complete. At any time, you can pause, save, and log back in. If you have any difficulty with meeting the deadline for application, please contact recruitment@arkonline.org

Interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.

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.  

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link. 

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.