Job description: Subject Leader Humanities TLR 9,194

Transcription

1 Closing date: 9am Wednesday 14 th May 2014 Job description: Subject Leader Humanities TLR 9,194 The Ebbsfleet Academy Location: Swanscombe, Kent The Ebbsfleet Academy is a non-selective Academy, (ages 11-16), that strives to develop independent, determined and self-motivated individuals. Teachers are committed to ensuring lessons are engaging and challenging on the Academy s broad and balanced curriculum, whilst class sizes are small to support this. The Academy is seen as a centre of excellence in sport and physical education and students have access to a wide range of extra-curricular activities from sports to photography and astronomy. Student Voice is very important to Ebbsfleet and the students actively participate in House and Academy council discussions. To further advance students voices, tutor groups comprise of mixed ages to expand student contact across years and give tutors more contact with individuals. The Ebbsfleet Academy prioritises parent communication, always keeping parents up to date, as well as holding weekly surgeries with the Principal. The Academy is well maintained with excellent facilities to provide the highest quality training and resources. For more information about The Ebbsfleet Academy, visit

2 Dear applicant, Thank you for showing an interest in joining The Ebbsfleet Academy at what is a truly exciting time. We opened as a new academy in September 2013 (in a wave of publicity for our exceptionally high standards and uncompromising stance on uniform and behaviour - The predecessor school closed last summer with final results that made it the 25th worst performing school in the country; had OFSTED visited that year the school would have undoubtedly (and deservedly) gone into special measures. I had been put into the predecessor school to support, and a few weeks after arriving became the acting head following the existing head s departure. However, with an extensive background in school improvement I could see that, under new leadership, with a focus on teaching and learning, the highest of standards, rigorous accountability and a clear vision, there was huge (yet wasted) potential in the students and many of the staff. I have been lucky in being able to appoint a stunning new leadership team, all handpicked, to work with me to make The Ebbsfleet Academy the number one school of choice in the local community; eventually we will become outstanding. This is a genuinely exciting time to join the academy, to become part of the team that is going to embed and drive further school improvement. The Ebbsfleet Academy has the highest of academic (and other) standards at its core and will provide hugely rewarding opportunities for teachers who are committed to working hard and to making a difference for our students, all of whom deserve the best education. There are lots of schools, and there are lots of jobs. This specific role requires an intelligent, hardworking professional who will not baulk at a challenge, who is not afraid of hard work, and who likes and enjoys working with children. In return I can guarantee you a rewarding, enjoyable leadership role where you will have genuine responsibility and decision making powers. If you share my simple, common sense approach to how schools improve by focussing on teaching and learning and insisting on high standards in all things; if you enjoy the challenge and reward of leading and driving rapid school improvement; if you would embrace working as part of the wider Brook Learning Trust, benefiting from the support of high quality professionals whilst helping to shape and develop The Ebbsfleet Academy s own distinct identity and ethos; and if you believe that all students can achieve, and achieve well, regardless of background or postcode I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to contact me directly by phone ( ) or (colwella@theebbsfleetacademy.kent.sch.uk) if you wish to discuss this further or to arrange a visit. I also would direct you to read the comments from parents in the letter I recently sent to incoming students, and the comments of Year 11s in their letters of applications to be prefects; they reaffirm what I know about the rewarding journey that we have just begun. Yours faithfully Alison Colwell

3 Subject Leader Humanities TLR 9,194 Purpose: To be accountable for the standards of teaching and learning in all humanities subjects across the academy. Vision: To be an outstanding community school, whose focus is on learning, as well as on personal and social development, and to be ambitious for all regardless of circumstance. General expectations: to demonstrate high professional practice in all areas of work to help progress the academy towards our vision, through a focus on raising the aspirations of students to be an excellent role model for students, commanding respect and being a positive presence around the academy to be efficient and effective, highly organised in all areas of work to promote actively the academy s ethos through actions and words to adhere to the staff dress code to participate in duties as directed. Leadership expectations: to pursue and deliver academy strategies and agreed actions in a positive and consistent manner to be an excellent team leader, capable of building a successful team and getting the best out of colleagues to think creatively about the academy, to be prepared to take risks and to innovate to be an excellent communicator with a high degree of emotional intelligence to have responsibility for the performance and line management of staff. Specific accountabilities: to be accountable for raising attainment and progress in humanities to be accountable for the monitoring and evaluation of teaching and learning within humanities to be accountable for tracking progress within humanities, recognising and acting on achievement and under-achievement and ensuring students realise their potential to be responsible for the co-ordination and quality assurance of all assessment (including internal exams), recording and reporting for humanities to be responsible for subject-based directed time to be responsible for the quality of cover work set in humanities to be responsible for monitoring the quality of humanities homework to be responsible for the curriculum content in humanities, reviewing and modifying as required schemes of learning, and ensuring that the most appropriate courses are followed to be accountable for behaviour, uniform, attendance, punctuality and all matters of student conduct within humanities, supporting teachers in these areas to ensure teachers in humanities are aware of SEND information for all students to be responsible for the physical environment of the humanities area, creating an effective and stimulating leaning environment to monitor the purchase and use of resources within humanities to maintain up-to-date knowledge of developments in humanities to contribute to whole academy discussions on policy to implement and support whole academy policies and ensure all deadlines are met.

4 Application information: Completed application forms should be sent For further information or to download a Teaching Staff Application Form, please visit the Brook Learning Trust website or careers@brooklearningtrust.org.uk. The closing date for applications is 9am Wednesday 14 May 2014.

5 Comments from the Year 11 prefects The best thing about the Ebbsfleet Academy is that the school motto is Aspire, Excel, and I think this is what the student body is encouraged to do. As a student of The Ebbsfleet Academy I can hold my head up high. I think that the school s achievement ladder is a great incentive for people to behave and follow the 3 main school rules correctly. There is a great atmosphere and buzz at The Ebbsfleet Academy wherever you go, whatever lesson you re in, whatever year group you talk to, there s so much positivity. Students like the new rules, we like to feel we are going forward. From what I can see The Ebbsfleet Academy is soaring high above most schools in the area. The best things about The Ebbsfleet Academy are the new staff and rules. They push students so they can do the best of their ability and achieve good grades. The best thing about the academy so far I think must be the rules as classes have become so much calmer. I want to be a prefect more than anything as the academy has improved my chances of being a successful well rounded adult. I am proud to call myself a student of The Ebbsfleet Academy. I believe the change has been the best thing that has happened to my education. The academy has exemplary standards and this has encouraged me to do the same. The best thing about the academy is its impeccably high standards. I love the consistent approach adopted by all staff members as all students are completely aware of where they stand. The teaching has improved since the school became an academy. Being a prefect for The Ebbsfleet Academy would be a privilege. I would be delighted if you were to hand me the prefect badge to wear with pride. The teachers are much more closely monitored to make sure they are providing the highest possible education. I find myself not wanting to settle for statistical averages anymore. It goes further now. Not only do I want to reach my expectations but I want to exceed them, and the academy makes this possible. The best thing about the academy is the fairness in which all students are treated. I may not have the perfect past as a student but I want to have the perfect future as one. At first I thought the rules were a bit harsh but now I realise why they needed to change. There are many things that stand out and what I think are brilliant about the academy, but one thing I really respect from all the staff is the consistency and the high standards. I feel that all staff encourage me to be all I can be and more.

6 Comments from parents, since opening in September 2013 All I can say is that every night he says to me 'I can't wait to go to school tomorrow' which after the stress of last year is music to my ears. Emily and myself were really impressed with your school and the changes you have made. I also take this opportunity to let you know I observed the excellent conduct of the students on their way to and leaving school and how proud they should be of themselves, a credit to their school and you. I feel I must thank you. I had my reservations before viewing the academy. I have read up on the old school and I must say you have had your work cut out. Your high expectations on uniform and behaviour are very impressive and many schools would benefit from you taking over. Both of my girls have changed so much in so little time towards their teaching since the change over. Such a more positive attitude. It's lovely to see a Head Teacher that acts on issues straight away with teaching. Well done to you and your team, you have won my vote. My daughter has been keeping me up to date and she has every confidence in you, the fact you listen to them makes them feel respected and important which is wonderful. You are doing a great job. I came along with a very negative attitude today and really had no intentions of applying for my son to come to you next year. Obviously historically the school, as it was, had an awful reputation and I was probably expecting pretty much the same. However, after attending the school and seeing the planning, effort and new measures you have implemented I certainly changed my thoughts with regards to the academy. The teaching staff have a very good relationship with their pupils, and I was very pleased that the senior staff, including yourself, still have a good interaction with the children. I have to admit to you that before visiting the school I was somewhat sceptical as to what I was going to experience. However, I have got to say that after our visit last Wednesday and quizzing poor Mr Smith at length I was very impressed for a number of reasons - the enthusiasm of the new teaching staff, the facilities the school has to offer, the behaviour of the students, the commitment of the staff to student achievement and the dedicated small class sizes. We are very encouraged by what you have said about the more able children being stretched. My eldest daughter is in year 9 and is doing very well and really enjoys the changes that have happened since the change over. We think that your plans and vision for the future of the academy are fantastic and fully support what you wish to achieve. I feel excited and optimistic for the future of the school and would like to thank you for your obvious commitment in undertaking such a huge challenge. Last evening proved somewhat of a watershed moment for us, as your message about the forthcoming changes at the school resonated with us at every level, the messages regarding uniform, homework, appearance, attitude. Every Child, Every Day, No Excuses is a perfect message. Your personal commitment and passion leaves us in no doubt the pot of gold will be at the end of the rainbow. I wanted to say that I was very impressed with what has been put in place from September for the new academy. As a parent I am behind you all the way.

7 The Brook Learning Trust The Ebbsfleet Academy is part of the Brook Learning Trust. The Brook Learning Trust consists of three secondary phase Academies and is dedicated to its vision of outstanding achievement and progress, raising aspirations and maximising potential. Established in 2010, the Trust recognises the power of education to transform lives and communities, promote social justice and champion learning for all. The Trust s Academies pride themselves in raising, not only educational standards, but also respect, pride and integrity within their students. The Trust s Academies all have distinctive identities and retain individuality whilst benefitting from the support, services and expertise of the Trust. For more information about the Brook Learning Trust, visit