Head of Computer Science
Reports to: Vice Principal
Start date: September 2020
Location: Ark Kings Academy
Salary: Ark MPS/UPS Outside London (£24,982 – £43,992) + TLR2b £4,656
Deadline: 9:00am on Monday 18th May 2020
Virtual Interviews: Tuesday 19th May 2020
Ofsted: Good in all areas (2016)
Visits to our school are welcome; to arrange, please call 0121 459 4451.
Ark Kings – transforming the lives of our students
In September 2017, Ark Kings became an all-through academy, admitting children from Reception to Year 11 and has improved both academically and in the provision, we provide. We have extended this offer in 2019 by opening a nursery for our 3 year olds.
This is a growing school serving its local community – a school that meets the needs of each of its students and has the highest expectations of every one of them to do well. We want to transform the life chances of every student who comes to this school. We focus on academic excellence and make sure that every child achieves their potential in subjects that will serve them well beyond school.
In order for pupils to be successful and happy in school, so much is dependent on the work of our teachers and support staff. To this end we focus heavily on personal and professional development and offer a supportive environment that encourages both staff and pupils to be their best. This is why it is important to recruit excellent staff to serve our pupils. We are currently looking for an excellent Head of Computer Science to lead this growing department and to be an integral part of our family.
The Role
As Head of Computer Science, you will lead, develop and manage the effective delivery of an outstanding curriculum which enables the highest level of student progress and attainment. You will lead the professional community of Computer Science to ensure high attainment across the school.
Job Description: Head of Computer Science
Key Responsibilities
Leadership and Management of the Subject Team
- Build and lead a high performing team
- Support, develop and line manage the department’s staff, through the provision of CPD, inset training days, supervising NQTs, ITT students and support staff, etc.
- Monitor, evaluate and continually improve the quality of planning, teaching, and assessment of all members of the Computer Science team
- Manage departmental budget, resources and learning environment
- Lead behaviour management in the department, securing strong routines for learning, consistent with the school’s policy, and liaising with tutors and parents when necessary
- Develop strong partnerships and ensure regular communication with parents
Improving Teaching and Learning
- Be accountable for student progress in Computer Science across the school at all key stages, ensuring that all students achieve results in line with, or better than, value-added predictions
- Lead joint practice development across the department subject teams, ensuring that outstanding practice is shared with all staff in the department and the wider school
- Model outstanding teaching and lead collaborative planning and development, including the sharing of resources and best practice within the department
- Monitor the work of the department through rigorous and regular lesson observations, work scrutinies, and provide detailed, constructive feedback
- Monitor the identification of and provision for students with individual needs, and develop differentiated learning and teaching methods and schemes of learning
- Liaise with other department heads on a regular basis to ensure curriculum and learning goals are met across all subject areas and to exploit cross-year and cross-curricular links
- Keep up to date with any changes in learning and teaching related to Computer Science, DfE guidance, assessment regulations, etc. and ensure staff are kept informed
Curriculum and Assessment
- Be responsible for maintaining and tracking student progress across the department, analysing all relevant data to make data-driven changes to the curriculum design and intervention strategies and using the data to monitor the performance of subject staff
- Plan, deliver, monitor and evaluate the curriculum provision and enrichment for all year groups within the department
- Predict student outcomes and set ambitious targets
Teaching Responsibilities
- 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 school and/or network 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
Other
- Carry out other reasonable tasks as directed by Principal
Person Specification: Head of Computer Science
Qualification Criteria
- Qualified to teach and work in the UK
- Degree in Computer Science or related subject
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Experience of raising attainment in a challenging classroom environment
- Experience of leading a team and/or developing others
- Experience of having designed, implemented and evaluated effective, imaginative and stimulating Schemes of Work
- Experience of improving the quality of teaching and learning through the development of schemes of work and high quality resources
- Experience of leading successful enrichment which inspire and motivate learners
- Experience of interpreting complex student data to drive lesson planning and student progress
- Excellent understanding of both subject and general teaching pedagogy
- Effective and systematic behaviour management
- Knowledge of the national secondary education system, examinations and curriculum
Personal Characteristics
- Genuine passion for and a belief in the potential of every student
- 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
- 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.