Application Pack: Head of Sixth Form Application Pack Head of Economics & Business Closing date: 29.11.17 Apply online at www.trinity-school.org/vacancies 1
Welcome to Trinity School The distinguishing mark of Trinity is that it has a friendly and relaxed atmosphere whilst maintaining high expectations in terms of academic achievement and pupils behaviour. Sixth Form parent Thank you for your interest in working at Trinity School. Exceptional teaching is fundamental to our mission and we look forward to welcoming an outstanding candidate to join our team. Trinity School is an HMC independent day school with c.1000 students, aged 10-18. The school is all boys up to Year 11 but since September 2011 we have welcomed girls into a thriving co-educational Sixth Form. The school is one of three governed by the Whitgift Foundation (founded in 1596 by the then Archbishop of Canterbury, John Whitgift), the others being Whitgift School for boys and Old Palace School for girls. Trinity has been on its present site since 1965, when it moved from the centre of Croydon to a new complex of buildings and playing fields in the Green Belt. The grounds are some 27 acres in extent, and there are additional playing fields in Sandilands, ten minutes walk from the school. The resources of the Whitgift Foundation enable the School to offer outstanding facilities. The original 1965 building has been greatly extended, including the Berthoud Centre for Music, the Mitre Theatre and the Shaw Building, which houses the Art, Design and Sports departments. Most recently we completed a new multimillion pound classroom block, a first class Performing Arts venue in the Trinity Concert Hall, a refurbished swimming pool, a state-of-the-art Sixth Form Centre and a Sports pavilion. Our next project is a new music block with more extensive rehearsal facilities and a larger recital room. The main ages of admission are 10, 11, 13 and 16. Entry is by competitive examination and each year there are about 800 applicants for 180 places. Parents whose income falls below a specified threshold are eligible for a bursary and this enables the School to attract pupils from a wide range of backgrounds. Some 50% of the student body receives some form of fee remission. Apply online at www.trinity-school.org/vacancies 2
Working at Trinity The School is divided into the Lower School (Years 6 to 8), Middle School (Years 9 to 11) and the Upper School (Sixth Form) with each Year Group overseen by a Head of Year. Core subjects at GCSE are English, English Literature, up to two Modern Languages, Mathematics, and three Sciences. These and three or four other optional subjects are taken at the end of the Fifth Form. Most students in the Sixth Form study three or four subjects to A level, alongside a broad Skills and Service programme. Many also take an EPQ. Over the past 8 years just over 90% of all grades at A level have been at A* to B, with 25% of grades at A* in 2017. At GCSE this year, 58% of grades were A* and 88% of grades were A* or A. Almost all students go on to further education, with normally around 10% of the Upper 6 th gaining offers from Oxford or Cambridge. Trinity has a vibrant co-curricular life. There is a generous staffing ratio, and all members of the teaching staff assist with activities, of which there is an exceptionally wide range. Members of the support staff can also contribute their skills and enthusiasms in this way. Music at Trinity has an international reputation, and each year the Trinity Boys Choir is involved in a varied programme of demanding professional work. Drama flourishes and the school has two fully equipped modern theatres as well as a drama studio. There are also many societies for students of all ages, and regular visits are arranged to concerts, plays and exhibitions. There is a CCF, and large numbers participate in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. The School s sporting reputation is very strong, with regular national and international success. The main sports we offer are athletics, cricket, cross-country, hockey, football, netball, rounders, rugby, squash, swimming, tennis and water polo. The School has also recently built a climbing wall, and golf, sailing and cycling are popular. Trinity is a member of the Trinity Group, comprising twenty-two leading Independent Schools in the South- East, whose Heads of Department and other senior staff meet annually. We are very committed to teacher training running our own Trinity Graduate Training Programme and we host students each year from the Institute of Education. Professional learning The School has its own salary scale which is well above the National Scale, and we are often able to provide staff accommodation. Lunches are provided free and many of the facilities of the school are open to staff and their families during holidays as well as term time. Sons and daughters of members of staff may be educated at Trinity for one-third of the school fee and sons or daughters educated at Whitgift or Old Palace for two-thirds of the fee. Further details about Trinity may be found on our website www.trinity-school.org. Apply online at www.trinity-school.org/vacancies 3
The Economics Department Economics and Business are both very popular and successful A level subjects at Trinity, and the department is second only to Maths in terms of Sixth Form cohort size. Numbers of students for September 2017 indicate a continuation of the recent averages of over 50 Economics students (five sets) and around 20 Business students (two sets) in the Lower Sixth. There are currently five full-time members of staff, all of whom teach both subjects, as well as the Senior Deputy Headmaster, who is an Economics specialist, and a further part-time teacher. There is a strong emphasis on teamwork, mutual support and the sharing of teaching and learning opportunities as well as resources. A part-time departmental assistant also provides administrative support, including maintaining our corridor displays and filing invoices and budget reports. Resources & Accommodation The department is accommodated in purpose-built classrooms with a spacious adjoining office/resource room. Each room is equipped with an interactive whiteboard and there is a class set of touchscreen Windows hybrid devices which form part of a strong emphasis on the use of IT in both teaching and learning. This is supported by the Firefly Virtual Learning Environment, which gives students access to a large library of electronic resources that is regularly added to and updated by members of the department and through purchase of new materials. We are also fortunate enough to have a wealth of text books and photocopiable resources as well as a small departmental library of up-to-date reading materials. Curriculum & Teaching We follow the Edexcel course for Economics and AQA for Business, taught as fully linear two-year courses with all external examinations at the end of the Upper Sixth. Students receive eight 35-minute lessons per week, split evenly between two members of the department. There is a strong focus on making lessons academically challenging and using real-world application and current events to bring the subjects alive, but staff are given the flexibility to use and refine their own style of delivery rather than following a set formula or plan. A mix of traditional and innovative methods is positively encouraged and this is supported by the collegial nature of the department. The most able students are stretched well beyond the syllabus via weekly after-school Advanced Economics lessons during the Spring Term, which introduce undergraduate level concepts and analysis to better prepare them for tackling the subject at University. Co-curricular Provision The department has a substantial co-curricular programme targeted at both our own students and the rest of the School, and any candidate would be expected to take an active role in leading this. School-based activities include the biennial Dragons Den competition, which attracts entrants of all ages, and the regular Economics Society. Externally, we have had notable success in national competitions including Young Enterprise, BASE, the Student Investor Challenge and Target 2.0 as well as several essay competitions. Our annual Classroom to Boardroom programme offers Sixth Formers the chance to act as consultants to real corporations that in the past have included Salesforce and KPMG, culminating in presentations to board members at the companies headquarters. Our focus on real-world application also takes us on visits both domestic (including trips to the Mini and Caterham factories and the Bank of England) and international (including to Krakow, Prague, Frankfurt and New York). Apply online at www.trinity-school.org/vacancies 4
Training and Professional Development At the heart of all that happens in the School is exceptional learning so it is fundamental that there should be the best possible training and professional learning opportunities for all our staff. Above all we want to create a culture in school where creative, innovative and talented teachers can listen to other practitioners, reflect on their practice, and so inspire our students. For those new to teaching we provide both initial teacher training and statutory NQT Induction. We will support, both financially and in terms of time, those wishing to take a PGCE whilst we will do the same for those seeking to develop their knowledge and skills via academic qualifications. The School makes a considerable financial commitment each year to staff development. There are regular training opportunities run in school, mostly led by our own staff, and teachers can take part in research for learning projects or apply for our teacher development posts. Equally, we value the role of students in creating the best teaching and learning environment, and we expect all staff to engage with their students in this way. The teachers have a real understanding of how to get the most out of my son and they are incredibly encouraging and inspirational. He comes home happy every single day. Parent Apply online at www.trinity-school.org/vacancies 5
The Post: Head of Economics & Business We are seeking to appoint a well-qualified, enthusiastic and dynamic teacher to lead this very successful and well-resourced department. The successful candidate will have a dynamic, collegiate management style and the ability to lead a team that embraces a blend of traditional and innovative teaching. They will also be willing and able to lead the department s co-curricular provision and guide students applying for related university courses, including running the Economics and PPE Oxbridge programmes. Reports To Director of Teaching & Learning Terms and Conditions The Whitgift Foundation Salary scale is substantially above that of the maintained sector A generous budget is allocated to Professional Development and a variety of internal training courses are provided A commitment to the extra-curricular life of the School is expected of all staff and expertise in one or more activities will be an advantage Membership of National Teachers Pension Scheme Accommodation may be available if required Further benefits can be found on the Whitgift Foundation website Please note that Trinity School is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children, young people and adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants will be required to comply with all safeguarding procedures including an Enhanced DBS check. Apply online at www.trinity-school.org/vacancies 6
Job Description General leadership and management responsibilities: To lead the promotion and understanding of Economics & Business throughout the school; To work with the Senior Management Team on the future needs, ambitions and progress of Economics & Business including the production of annual departmental development plans, within the framework of the school development plan; To manage the performance of all members of the department including teaching staff and department assistants; To work with the Senior Management Team in appointing new staff and in leading their induction; To hold regular meetings with members of the Department which are focused on high quality teaching and learning; To provide guidance and support on teaching and learning strategies within the department; To ensure that departmental policies and practices are updated and effectively followed within the department according with the school s aims and whole school policies; To manage the use of departmental classroom accommodation to create an effective, stimulating and safe environment for teaching and learning; To ensure the effective and efficient administration and organisation of the department. To draw up annual budget proposals to meet the maintenance needs and development priorities of the department and to ensure the agreed budget is effectively monitored and spent; To represent the subject in various school forums as requested, including Heads of Department meetings and subject choice presentations for Fifth Year students and 16+ entrants; To participate in any marketing initiatives as required; Teaching and Learning To ensure that teaching and learning in the department meets the needs of all pupils in particular to ensure that the able are stretched and the less able supported; To ensure that teaching at A level meets the requirements of the examination specifications and wherever possible goes beyond these minimum requirements to promote scholarship in its widest sense; To promote and support best practice in all aspects of teaching and learning and to celebrate excellent work by pupils and staff; To support staff on issues concerning pupil behaviour and in maintaining high standards of work; To actively monitor and evaluate pupil progress in the subject; To develop the analysis of departmental assessments, examination results and reports, ALIS and other data to inform teaching and learning practices in the department; To monitor and evaluate standards of achievement and the quality of teaching in the Department through lesson observation, examining pupils work, monitoring teachers planning and assessment and other appropriate means; Curriculum To keep up to date in subject knowledge and with developments in Economics & Business; To continue the development of schemes of work that enthuse and interest pupils whilst building skills, knowledge and understanding; To ensure curriculum coverage is based on high expectations and sound progression at every level; To ensure the curriculum contributes appropriately to cross-curricular areas such as literacy, numeracy and ICT and to the social, moral, spiritual and cultural education of pupils; To develop resources in the department, including the use of ICT and other media in teaching and learning; To promote suitable extra-curricular activities to enrich pupils experiences and to maintain a positive profile for Economics & Business throughout the school Staff To develop appropriate strategies for the professional development of all members of the department; To promote an atmosphere of collaborative teamwork within the department in order to share best teaching practice and to provide support and cooperation between colleagues; To delegate suitable responsibilities to each member of the department; To encourage staff to work constructively with other departments and with all members of the school community to promote a lively and positive working environment for the school. Apply online at www.trinity-school.org/vacancies 7
Recent Exam Results Economics A Level YEAR TOTAL A* A B C D E 2017 32 9 12 10 1 0 0 2016 33 6 7 14 5 1 0 2015 40 3 9 15 11 2 0 Business A level YEAR TOTAL A* A B C D E 2017 13 1 8 3 1 0 0 2016 11 0 7 4 0 0 2015 4 0 2 1 1 0 0 Apply online at www.trinity-school.org/vacancies 8
Application Process Timescale for applications Please apply online at www.trinity-school.org/vacancies as soon as possible and no later than Wednesday, 29 th November 2017. Interviews for shortlisted candidates are likely to be held week beginning 4 th December. Trinity School reserves the right to interview and appoint before the published closing date. Contact Details Further enquiries about this position or application process are welcome. Please contact: Mrs Karen Walsh PA to the Headmaster hmsec@trinity.croydon.sch.uk Trinity School Shirley Park Croydon CR9 7AT 020 8656 9541 www.trinity-school.org Apply online at www.trinity-school.org/vacancies 9
Thank you for your interest in Trinity School Apply online at www.trinity-school.org/vacancies 10