Lead Teacher of Geography - Develop as an exceptional teacher and leader at King Solomon Academy

King Solomon Academy is achieving remarkable things. In our first four years of GCSE results we have regularly achieved nationally ground-breaking outcomes, including being the top 1% for pupil progress every year, and in three of the last four years we have been in the top 10 schools in the country.

We are looking for a teacher and leader who is passionate about geography and who can contribute more widely to the life of the school.  The Humanities department currently teaches Geography, History and Religious Studies at GCSE, and has achieved exceptional outcomes in all these subjects. At A-level we currently offer Geography, History, Government and Politics, Religious Studies, Economics, and Psychology.

At King Solomon Academy, pupils study humanities in Key Stage 2 and 3, and in Key Stage 4 pupils choose at least one of History or Geography to GCSE. Geography is an important subject at KS2 and 3 where all pupils study it, and a popular choice at GCSE, with 70% of the cohort the subject.

KSA is a pioneering school looking to hire exceptional people. In this role you will:

·      Become part of a team of like-minded individuals

·      Benefit from expert teacher development so that you make rapid progress in your practice

·      Be responsible for ground-breaking educational outcomes for pupils from an economically deprived background

·      Have the opportunity to take on additional leadership responsibilities

·      Experience a range of development opportunities as part of the Ark network.

King Solomon Academy is a place where teachers learn how to improve their teaching, constantly striving to be the best they can be. Each teacher has a coach who supports their teaching with frequent observations and action steps. Our teachers rapidly progress into being exceptional classroom practitioners. Our school is one which is transformational for staff and pupils alike.

To apply, and to see more information about the school and this role please visit http://kingsolomonacademy.org/current-vacancies. The deadline is 11am on Tuesday 7th May 2019. To discuss the role, please feel free to email the Principal’s PA, Shaheen Riaz (s.riaz@kingsolomonacademy.org) or phone on 0207 563 6901.

Job Description: Lead Teacher of Geography

Reports to:             Head of Humanities

Start date:               January, April or September 2019

Salary:                      Ark Main Scale + TLR 2a

The Role

To provide outstanding leadership, teaching and learning of Geography to ensure high attainment of their students.

Key responsibilities

·        Build on the current Geography curriculum to extend and develop it further

·        Devise and implement school wide standard based assessment programme for subject area

·        Maintain regular communication and collaboration with their Ark subject network

·        Model a nurturing and structured classroom and school environment that helps pupils to develop as learners

·        Model excellent pupil discipline and culture inside their classroom and across the whole academy

·        Contribute to the effective working of the academy

·        Be held accountable for all curriculum direction, teaching quality, and pupil attainment in their subject area

·        Provide a nurturing classroom and school environment that helps students to develop as learners

·        Helping to maintain/establish discipline across the whole academy

·        Contribute to the effective working of the Academy

Outcomes and activities

Subject Leadership

·        To create and develop challenging and innovative schemes of work which are inspiring for learners and teachers alike.

·        Use regular, measurable and significant assessments to monitor progress and set targets

·         Produce periodic assessments with marks schemes

·         Ensure assessments are moderated internally

·         Ensure end of year assessments reflect each pupil’s overall level which is both externally valid and provides an accurate baseline for the next academic year

·         Analyse progress and attainment data to make data-driven changes to curriculum design, and pupil interventions

·         Work in collaboration with classroom teachers and SENDCO to ensure pupils receive high quality interventions

·        Through observation and feedback, coach subject teachers to ensure excellent teaching and learning in all lessons, ensuring that classroom teachers are utilising best pedagogical practice

·        To develop an exciting and motivating extra-curricular and enrichment offer including university links, trips and residentials

Teaching and Learning

·        Meticulously plan and teach engaging and challenging lessons that pave the way for success in school and life

·        Meet the needs of all learners by consistently planning and teaching carefully differentiated lessons

·        Set and mark appropriate homework

·        Use regular, measurable and significant assessments of their teaching

·        Complete all reporting on time

·        Closely monitor progress and attainment of their pupils and use it to inform their teaching

·        Provide content for and where necessary deliver high quality pupil interventions with direction from SENDCO and Head of Department

·        Ensure that all pupils achieve academy targets

·        Maintain regular and productive communication with parents about their child’s progress, behaviour and development, including attending after school parent meetings as required

·        Organize and participate in exciting and motivating trips and events

·        Answer “homework help” phone calls from pupils until 8.30pm as required

Academy Culture

·         Help create a strong academy community, characterised by consistent, orderly, caring and respectful relationships

·         Help develop a small school culture and ethos that is utterly committed to achievement

·         Form teacher (teachers will usually be required to perform the role of form teacher):

·         Create and sustain a positive class culture

·         Care for each pupil as an individual and ensure that they succeed academically and develop emotionally and socially

·         Hold each pupil to account in every aspect of their school life by maintaining frequent phone/email contact with parents

·         Write form teacher comments in reports

Other

·         Undertake professional development as agreed with school leaders

·         Perform additional duties and tasks required for the effective operation of the school, including: attending home visits, eating lunch with pupils, supervising silent sustained reading (DEAR), break supervision and gate duty

·         Undertake other various responsibilities as directed by the Principal.

Person Specification: Lead Teacher of Geography

Qualification criteria

·         Qualified to degree level and above

·         Qualified to teach in the UK

Experience

·         Experience of raising attainment in a  leadership role in a challenging school

·         Evidence of continually improving the teaching and learning of their subject though schemes coaching or staff

·         Evidence of  leading and/or teaching KS5 is desirable

Skills and attributes

We are looking for these skills and attributes or at the very least, a clear, demonstrable capacity to develop them:

Leadership

·         Effective team worker and leader.

·         High expectations for accountability and consistency.

·         Vision aligned with KSA’s high aspirations, high expectations of self & others.

·         Genuine passion and a belief in the potential of every student.

·         Motivation to continually improve standards and achieve excellence.

·         Commitment to the safeguarding and welfare of all pupils.

Teaching and Learning

·         Excellent classroom practitioner.

·         Effective and systematic behaviour management, with clear boundaries, sanctions, praise and rewards.

·         Has good communication, planning and organisational skills.

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

·         Commitment to regular and on-going professional development and training to establish outstanding classroom practice.

Alignment with KSA vision

·         Relentless drive to do whatever it takes to ensure all students succeed.

·         The belief that with the right environment more than 95% of our pupils are able to excel at University.

·         The courage and conviction to make a difference.

Communication skills

·         The ability to listen and communicate effectively.

·         Empathy and the ability to understand the needs, aspirations and motivation of diverse individuals and groups.

Problem solving

·         Identify, analyse and resolve problems and issues.

·         Develop plans with concrete outcomes and effective solutions.

·         Evaluate results and identify necessary actions.

·         Make fact-based decisions.

Resilience

·         Sustain energy, optimism and motivation in the face of pressure and setbacks.

·         Stay calm in difficult situations and maintain clarity of vision.

·         Be adaptable in the face of adversity.

Results and learning orientation

·         Awareness of own strengths and limits.

·         Commitment to ongoing improvement and learning.

·         A passion for teaching subject.

·         Focus on achieving challenging goals and results.

·         Resourcefulness and flexibility in delivering outcomes.

Other

• This post is subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure.