Head of Chemistry

Ark Boulton Academy, Birmingham

Salary: Ark MPS (£24,313 – £35,883) + TLR / UPS dependant on experience

“It takes a whole community to bring up a child.” We work closely with parents and community to support our children to develop a strong character and become confident young people.

The Role

As our Head of Chemistry, you’ll be developing, leading and managing exceptionally effective delivery of an outstanding Chemistry curriculum that ensures all pupils make excellent progress. You will provide challenging leadership of Chemistry at KS3 and 4, including planning schemes of work, examinations and assessment, and teaching and learning.

Responsibilities

As a Head of Department, you will be responsible for raising attainment at all Key Stages, ensuring that all students achieve results in line with, or better than, value-added predictions. You will observe, mentor and provide guidance to teachers in the department including Trainee Teachers. It will be your responsibility to ensure that lessons are being taught effectively and that pupils feel inspired and challenged by the subject.  

The Individual

You are someone who understands the difference a great education can make to pupils lives as you are a great role model not only for them but other teachers too. You must be educated to degree level or above and have experience in delivering consistently outstanding lessons to pupils of all ages and abilities. You will need to be a great team player and leader with a resilient character and strong personal drive.

To find out more about Ark Boulton, please visit www.arkboulton.org. To apply for this post, please visit www.arkboulton.org/vacancies or if you would like any further information about this role, please contact the HR team on 0121 773 8156 or hr@arkboulton.org

Ark value diversity and are committed to safeguarding and promoting child welfare. The successful candidate will be subject to DBS and any other relevant employment checks.

Job Description: Head of Chemistry

Reports to:             Director of Faculty

Start date:               September 2019 or sooner if possible
Salary:                      Ark MPS (£24,313 – £35,883) + TLR / UPS dependant on experience

The Role

To develop, lead and manage exceptionally effective delivery of an outstanding Chemistry curriculum that ensures all pupils make excellent progress.

To provide challenging leadership of Chemistry at KS3 and 4, including planning schemes of work, examinations and assessment, and teaching and learning.

Key responsibilities

·         Be held accountable for the progress of all pupils in Chemistry across the school

·        Take responsibility for raising attainment at all Key stages, ensuring that all students achieve results in line with, or better than, value-added predictions.

·         Constantly improve the quality of teaching and learning, where necessary holding teachers to account

·         Lead the design and implementation of the Chemistry curriculum and assessment including controlled assessment and examinations

·         Be a role model of outstanding teaching in the department

·         Observe, mentor and provide guidance to teachers in the department including trainee teachers

Outcomes and Activities

Teaching and Learning

·         Enrich the curriculum with trips and visits to enhance the learning experience of all students

·         Teach engaging and effective lessons that motivate, inspire and improve pupil attainment

·         Use regular assessments to set targets for students, monitor student progress and respond accordingly to the results of such monitoring

·         To produce/contribute to oral and written assessments, reports and references relating to individual and groups of pupils

·         Develop plans and processes for the classroom with measurable results and evaluate those results to make improvements in student achievement 

·         Ensure that all students achieve at least at chronological age level or, if well below level, make significant and continuing progress towards achieving at chronological age level

·         Maintain regular and productive communication with pupils, parents and carers, to report on progress, sanctions and rewards and all other communications

·         Provide or contribute to oral and written assessments, reports and references relating to individual pupils and groups of pupils

·         Direct and supervise support staff assigned to lessons and when required participate in related recruitment and selection activities

·         Implement and adhere to the Academy’s behaviour management policy, ensuring the health and well-being of pupils is maintained at all times

Academy Culture

·         Support the Academy’s values and ethos by contributing to the development and implementation of policies practices and procedures

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

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

·         To be active in issues of student welfare and support

·         Support and work in collaboration with colleagues and other professional in and beyond the school, covering lessons and providing other support as required.

Other

·         Undertake, and when required, deliver or be part of  the appraisal system and relevant training and professional development

·         Undertake other responsibilities as directed by the line manager or Principal.

Person Specification: Head of Chemistry

Qualification Criteria

• Qualified to degree level and above
• Qualified to teach in the UK
• Right to work in the UK

Experience

• Experience of raising attainment in a challenging school

·         Evidence of continually improving the teaching and learning of their subject through schemes of work and extra-curricular activities.

·         Experience of leading, coaching and managing staff

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.

Behaviours

Leadership

·         Effective team worker and leader

·         High expectations for accountability and consistency

·         Vision aligned with Ark’s high aspirations, high expectations of self and others

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

·         Motivation to continually improve standards and achieve excellence

·         Effective listening skills that lead to a strong understanding of others

·         Commitment to the safeguarding and welfare of all pupils.

Teaching and Learning

·         Excellent classroom teacher with the ability to reflect on lessons and continually improve their own practice

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

·         Thinks strategically about classroom practice and tailoring lessons to students needs

·         Understands and interprets complex student data to drive lesson planning and student attainment 

·         Good 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.

Other

·         Commitment to equality of opportunity and the safeguarding and welfare of all pupils

·         Willingness to undertake training

·         This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.