HEAD OF GEOGRAPHY. Job description

Transcription

1 HEAD OF GEOGRAPHY Job description Summary of the Role: Geography is taught by five members of staff in dedicated teaching rooms. Results are consistently excellent and our 2017 results were as follows: A* A B C A level % 42% 42% 13% A* A B C GCSE % 30% 8% The Department follows the AQA specification at both GCSE and A Level. The subject is popular throughout the school and especially in the Sixth Form, with around 20 pupils choosing to study Geography at A level next year. Each year a good number of the Upper Sixth go on to study Geography or related disciplines at university, and we have been delighted by our recent Oxbridge successes in the subject. Geography is taught in mixed ability sets throughout the school. There are four Geography classrooms, all equipped with large HD TV screens and high-quality audio-visual equipment; staff are equipped with laptops which connect wirelessly to all TV screens around the school. Two new classrooms have been developed this year with large spaces for pupils to write around the room, while staff and pupils also have access to IT labs, Chromebooks and ipads. The successful candidate will be required to teach both Physical and Human aspects of the Geography syllabus throughout the range. An ability to offer physical topics at AS and A2 would be advantageous. Fieldwork is an integral part of the Geography curriculum, especially at GCSE and A level. Two day-trips are run at GCSE (currently to Bristol and Seaford), while at A Level a residential trip is taken to the Isle of Arran to conduct data collection for the NEA. We also run a regular awe-and-wonder trip to Iceland for a range of different year groups. The full Person Specification is below but in particular the successful candidate should: a) Have an excellent level of subject knowledge. b) Be able to inspire and engage pupils throughout their learning. c) Have a high level of ICT competence, especially the use of GIS, and have an awareness of how to integrate this into the Geography curriculum in order to enhance learning. d) Have a commitment to fieldwork. Created: May 2018 Page 1

2 Main Duties and Responsibilities: As the leading subject professional, combining enthusiasm, expertise and energy with a clear sense of vision and first rate administrative skills, the Head of Department is central to the review and development of learning and teaching throughout the school. He or she inspires and motivates the members of the department to share good practice and to aim for the highest standards so that all pupils receive an excellent educational experience. Ensuring a close relationship between departmental development and whole school development is a key element of the role. The Head of Department is responsible for the following: To be exemplary in carrying out a Teacher s responsibilities. To contribute to the development of the aims, policies and administrative procedures of the School, to attend Heads of Departments meetings and, in discussion with the department, produce and implement the departmental strategic plan in line with the school strategic plan. To manage the departmental budget, ensuring a close link between this and the departmental strategic plan. To participate in the recruitment of subject staff and to delegate teaching and other responsibilities fairly and aptly throughout the department, encouraging and enhancing professional development through advice and support, both generally and through appraisals. To seek to achieve, through collaborative leadership and monitoring, the highest standards across the department of teaching, learning, formative and summative assessment, report and reference writing. To lead the development and review of stimulating, creative and well-resourced schemes of work which aim to inspire intellectual curiosity and develop academic rigour whilst being in tune with the needs and abilities of the pupils. To pay close critical attention to curriculum developments, especially in the subject, communicating these to the department and to senior leaders; to be aware of developments in learning and teaching strategies, particularly those that help to promote independent learning and the imaginative use of ICT. To promote the sharing of good practice within the department; to hold weekly departmental meetings, circulating agendas and ensuring that key decisions and action points are noted in minutes. Created: May 2018 Page 2

3 To ensure that expert advice about curriculum and Higher Education choices in the subject is available to pupils and parents, and to oversee candidates applying to Oxford and Cambridge colleges. To oversee appropriate promotion of the subject through the school website. To review annually: departmental policies, procedures, handbooks and website pages, amending and updating as required. To liaise with other Heads of Departments where appropriate, and engage in cross curricular activities from time to time. To develop positive relations with pupils, parents, teaching and support staff colleagues and the wider community and to represent the school when reasonably required. To be responsible for the execution of the various tasks listed in Appendix A To carry out any other responsibilities reasonably required by the Head Master. The post-holder s responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people for whom s/he is responsible, or with whom s/he comes into contact will be to adhere to and ensure compliance with the School s Child Protection Policy Statement at all times. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post-holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the School s/he must report any concerns to the School s Child Protection Officer or to the Head Master. Created: May 2018 Page 3

4 Appendix A Key Responsibilities of the Head of Department Ongoing Observe lessons and provide feedback for discussion Participate in staff appraisals Identify opportunities for professional development for each member of the department Check consistency of marking within the department through periodic collection and review of samples of work Update /purchase new resources as necessary Have responsibility for rooms, resources, health and safety, where applicable, and the provision of equipment within the department; ensure that subject displays are renewed/updated when necessary Be responsible for the coordination of visits, overseeing staffing and risk assessments Develop and promote extra-curricular activities within the department Ensure appropriate cover work is set during staff absence Remind the department of report/reference deadlines Advise on departmental staffing needs, help appoint staff and induct staff new to the department. Act as subject mentor for NQTs. Disseminate information from HODs meetings to the department Ensure that the department is kept broadly up to date with, and know how to access information about an appropriate range of university courses in the subject and what is expected of applicants Organise the production and marking of school examination papers in the subject; organise moderation of scripts as necessary Ensure that the correct information on public examination entries and coursework assignments is supplied to the examination boards and to the examinations officer/ib coordinator Organise staffing for open afternoons and all other promotional events including those for existing pupils and parents Participate in school entry procedures as reasonably required Ensure appropriate subject induction for pupils new to any year group Annual Review department handbook Review department strategic plan Review schemes of work All staff are expected to contribute to our Co-Curricular Programme, whether through sport or outward bound activities, or through the many extension classes and clubs on offer. You must also be required to undertake such other comparable duties as the Head Master requires from time to time. Created: May 2018 Page 4

5 Person Specification Qualifications Qualified Teacher Status Good honours degree in a related subject Experience An excellent knowledge of your subject, its place in the National Curriculum, public examinations syllabuses and assessment criteria Skills and Knowledge Able to communicate effectively orally and in writing Able to lead and motivate departmental staff Able to present confidently to a large group of students Effective behaviour management Able to engage pupils in learning through active teaching strategies Experience of managing a budget Excellent IT skills Sound knowledge of the curriculum developments in your subject Evidence of effective professional development in the subject Personal Competencies and Qualities Ability to think strategically and creatively Comfortable communicating with a senior management team Excellent networking, influencing and negotiating skills, including the ability to collaborate and build partnerships Excellent organisational skills Demonstrates a fairness and consistency in all dealings with pupils Energy and enthusiasm Able to demonstrate the positive values, attitudes and behaviour we expect from our pupils Reliability and integrity Willingness to contribute to the co-curricular life of the School A commitment to personal professional development and taking responsibility for it A positive motivation to work with children and young people Ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children and young people Emotional resilience Positive attitude to use of authority and maintaining discipline Essential Desirable Created: May 2018 Page 5

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