Head of Design and Technology

Isaac Newton Academy, Redbridge

Interim Principal: Jo Spencer

Head of Design and Technology

Required for September 2019

Brand-new all-through mixed 4-18 comprehensive in Redbridge.

Start date: September 2019     

Salary: Competitive, with TLR available depending on experience.

Location: Ilford, London

Nearest train station: Seven Kings

Deadline: 11am on Monday 25th February 2019

Ofsted: Outstanding in all areas (2018)

Visits to our school are encouraged; to arrange, please call 0208 911 6666.

In September 2012 Isaac Newton Academy opened with its inaugural cohort of 180 year 7 students. The secondary school is growing, year on year, to become an 11-18 academy of 1250 students with specialist status in mathematics and music. In 2014 the primary phase opened, welcoming 90 reception-aged pupils. This too will expand each year until full in 2020.

In October 2018 the school was judged to be outstanding in all categories by OFSTED.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and creative Head of Design Technology who is passionate about their subject.  You will have experience of teaching across the age range in DT specialisms (Graphics and Resistant Materials).  You will join a highly motivated team, committed to a creative and stimulating approach to teaching and learning, and to instilling in our students, a passion for the subject.

The successful candidate will help to develop an exciting curriculum to engage students in the learning of Design Technology and will work with other members of the ADT faculty to raise attainment across all key stages.

Our ideal candidate will:

• be a passionate teacher of Design Technology and a committed team player
• demonstrate high levels of ambition and optimism regarding what the academy and its students can achieve
• demonstrate evidence of raising attainment and developing excellence
• be a committed team player
• be committed to Ark’s ethos of high expectations and no excuses
• have the resolve and enthusiasm to make a real difference to the lives of pupils.

If you are seeking a challenging and highly rewarding position, enriching the lives of the students who attend Isaac Newton Academy and members of the local community, then we are keen to hear from you.

Please complete your application by 11am on Monday 25th February 2019.

If you have any technical issues with the application form please select  ‘Contact Us - Technical query’ at the bottom of the recruitment page.

To request a candidate information pack or to discuss the roles please contact Florentina Smintinica, HR Administrator, on 020 8911 6656 or email f.smintinica@isaacnewtonacademy.org

 Job Description: Head of Design & Technology

Reporting to:         Head of Faculty

Start date:              September 2019

Salary:                     Competetive, with TLR 2b

Disclosure level:  Enhanced

The Role

To deliver outstanding teaching, to ensure effective student learning in the subject and to achieve excellent results for the students

To be a role-model and impact positively on the academy more widely

Key responsibilities

• To strategically lead the development of the DT curriculum at KS3 and 4
• To identify students who are not making expected progress through pre and post learning assessments at KS4 and liaise with parents/carers
• To organise and administer termly assessments for KS4 groups
• To act as a line manager for a DT teacher, including induction and PD
• To support the Head of Faculty in effectively organising the resourcing of the ADT department by:
•   Meeting the technician on a weekly basis to ensure that s/he is aware of what resources are required for the upcoming SOL and lessons
•  To promote design technology by exhibiting student learning and high quality exemplars from the design world
•   To plan, resource and deliver imaginative, interactive and inspiring lessons that ensure that effective learning takes place and students make excellent progress
• To provide a nurturing and stimulating classroom and academy environment that helps students to develop as learner.
• To maintain/establish positive behaviour for learning across the whole academy
• To contribute to the effective working of the academy
• To support students in the acquisition and development of learning dispositions and positive character traits
• To provide stimulating and enriching extra-curricular opportunities for students and potentially for members of the wider school community
• To be accountable for student progress and attainment levels in their own classes.

Outcomes and activities

Teaching and Learning

• With direction from the Head of Faculty, to plan and prepare effective teaching modules and lessons
• To teach engaging and effective lessons that motivate, inspire and involve students and improve  student attainment
• To use regular assessments to monitor progress and set targets
• To respond accordingly to the results of such monitoring to differentiate intervention
• To utilise a full range of AfL strategies
• To maintain regular and productive communication with parents, to report on progress, sanctions and achievements
• To promote reading and teach literacy skills.

Academy Culture

• To help create a strong academy community, characterised by consistent, orderly behaviour and caring, respectful relationships by maintaining a presence around the Academy
• To help develop an Academy culture and ethos that is utterly committed to achievement
• To actively promote the Academy at all times
• To contribute to discussions at meetings
• To contribute to the writing and implementation of the Academy Improvement Plan
• To be active in issues of student welfare and support.

Other

• To be a form tutor or co tutor and deliver tutorial, BRIDGES and PSHE sessions to the form group
• To undertake other various responsibilities as directed by the Head of Faculty or Principal
• To undertake the main professional duties of a teacher as set out in the ARK Schools pay and conditions of 
•  To meet the expectations of all INA staff as laid out in the Staff Expectations Policy
• To uphold all Academy polices with consistency and diligence

• Person Specification: Head of Design Technology

Qualification Criteria

• Qualified to degree level and above in at least one technology subject
• Qualified to teach (and work) in the UK.
• Qualified and skilled to teach Design and Technology at KS3 & 4

Knowledge

• Up to date knowledge in the curriculum area
• Understanding of the strategies needed to establish consistently high aspirations and standards of results and behaviour.

Experience

• Experience of teaching a Graphics  and /or Resisatnt Materials at KS4
• Evidence of continually improving the teaching and learning of their subject through schemes of learning and enrichment activities
• Experience of using CAD and CAM
• Ability to deliver new DT specification at Key Stage 4
• Experience of standardising DT coursework/NEAs at Key Stage 4

Behaviours

• Passion for the Design Technology subjects
• High expectations for accountability and consistency
• Vision aligned with ARK’s high aspirations, high expectations of self and others
• A firm and constant belief in the unlimited potential of every student and a commitment to inclusive educational provision
• Motivation to continually improve standards and achieve excellence
• Commitment to the safeguarding and welfare of all students and providing equality of opportunity
• The ability to enthuse and inspire others
• The ability to consistently deliver outstanding lessons
• Effective and systematic behaviour management, with clear boundaries, sanctions, praise and recognition
• Excellent 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
• Commitment to regular and on-going professional development and training to establish outstanding classroom practice
• The ability to develop positive relations with students and adults
• The ability to work effectively alone and as a part of a team
• Excellent listening skills
• Strong interpersonal, written and oral communication skills and ICT skills
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• The ability to take personal responsibility, a readiness to reflect and self-evaluate, and the ability to change, develop and improve
• Confidence and self-motivation
• The ability to work well under pressure
• High levels of honesty and integrity
• A sense of humour and desire to have fun.

Other

• This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check
• The post holder must be committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and to providing equality of opportunity.

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.

December 2018

Letter from the Principal

Dear colleague,

Thank you for your interest in the post of Head of Design and Technology at Isaac Newton Academy, an ARK School. I’m delighted to have this opportunity to introduce myself, to give some details about our school and to describe the kind of candidate we hope to appoint to the position.  

Isaac Newton Academy opened in September 2012 in Ilford, East London, in brand new, purpose-built accommodation. The Academy has been carefully designed with ARK’s philosophy in mind and has facilities and resources to support a rich and diverse 21st century curriculum. It will have an intake of 180 year 7 students each year.  When full, in 2018, the secondary school will be 1,250 students (900 11 – 16 year olds and 350 sixth formers).  In 2014 the primary phase of the Academy opened to 90 reception-aged pupils. This too will grow year on year, until full in 2020. The Academy benefits from joining a number of successful secondary schools in the diverse Redbridge community as well as being part of the ARK Schools network.

I feel both privileged and excited to have been appointed as Isaac Newton Academy’s Interim Principal. I joined the academy as Vice Principal prior to it opening and helped shape its vision and ethos.  The chance to create a new and outstanding school from scratch, designing the curriculum, policies and procedures, structuring the school day and year and appointing the staff, is a rare and golden one.  I am committed to providing an inspirational and life-enhancing educational experience for all the young people who attend the academy.

The new Head of Design and Technology at Isaac Newton Academy will be a key member of staff.   First and foremost, I am looking for an individual who is committed to ARK’s six pillars and feels as passionately as I do about the school’s vision (outlined in the prospectus found on the Academy website). You will read that at Isaac Newton Academy we have extremely high expectations of ourselves and of each and every student. It is important that the post holder believes unswervingly that, regardless of background or prior attainment, every student entering the school has the potential to leave with a set of qualifications that will enable them to pursue their education at a top university. We are setting ourselves very ambitious goals, and the post holder will play a central role in ensuring that Isaac Newton becomes a truly great school. They will require determination, resilience, optimism and creativity in order to ensure that effective and efficient systems are in place to support every student to achieve their target grades.

It is my vision that Isaac Newton Academy will be at the centre of the local community, with opportunities for the students’ parents, siblings and neighbours to attend classes and benefit from the amazing facilities.  I am looking to appoint a Head of Design and Technology who shares this desire to enrich the lives of residents of Ilford and make the school a true community school.

And what you can expect from me as your Principal? I will be committed to providing you with the environment, support and resources necessary to carry out your role to an outstanding level. I will prioritise your professional development needs. I will ensure that you receive supportive and developmental line management and coaching.

Design and technology is very popular at KS4 and we currently have three Year 10 GCSE Design and Technology groups studying the EdExcel 9-1 specification (specialist materials Paper and Boards).  We have fantastic specialist art, design  and technology accommodation including two large  art spaces, an outside art terrace, two workshops, graphics and textiles suites, all of which are equipped with brand new machinery and equipment. 

If what you have read about Isaac Newton Academy chimes with your personal educational philosophy, I very much hope that you will consider applying for the post. This is a key role in the Academy and a challenging yet highly rewarding opportunity. 

If you would like to discuss the role, or if you have any technical issues with the application form please contact Florentina Smintinica, HR Administrator , on 020 8911 6656 or f.smintinica@isaacnewtonacademy.org

Please complete your application by 11am on Monday 25th February 2019.

Yours faithfully,

Jo Spencer

Interim Principal