Director of Science

The Oak Learning Partnership on behalf of Hazel Wood High School are seeking to appoint a well-qualified, hardworking and enthusiastic Director of Science who is capable of making a strong contribution to the Science Department.

We believe that Hazel Wood High is a wonderful place to work. This post offers you the opportunity to work in/with:

• A School with a strong will and determination to continue to improve.
• A School that has high expectations of all who work here.
• A School that places teaching and learning at the heart of school improvement.
• A School that is driven by strong values, invests in its staff and students and has a high regard for their welfare.
• A supportive and cooperative teaching staff who are committed to their roles.A School that works effectively with
• all stakeholders
• A caring school where you can make a real difference to the lives of young people.

You will be part of an excellent team and will be given extensive support to ensure that you develop to your full potential both within this role and beyond. 

Applicants must have relevant qualifications and experience, please ensure that you meet the person specification before applying. Early Careers Teachers are also welcome to apply.

We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

Appointment is subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service and references. The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.

Job Description

Normal place of work: Hazel Wood High School, although you may be required to work at any other school within the Trust.

Normal working hours: Full time, 195 days per year, as directed by the Headteacher. This is in line with the most recent Teachers Pay & Conditions document.

Responsible to: Headteacher.

Salary: Leadership Scale 6 – 10, actual salary £47,735 to £52,723 per annum.

Purpose of the Post

• To assist the Headteacher in raising standards of student attainment and achievement within Science, in line with national and school policies / priorities. This will include Leading, Developing and Managing the quality of teaching; monitoring and supporting student progress to raise standards in the quality of learning and making strategic evaluations of teaching, learning, personnel, finance and premises issues in your curriculum area.
• To coordinate the delivery of Science across the curriculum and Key Stages and to liaise with other members of the Extended Leadership / Senior Leadership Team where necessary, to ensure continuity and progression throughout the curriculum.

Duties and Responsibilities

Teaching and Learning

• To be responsible, in consultation with the Headteacher and in co-operation with Colleagues and Governors, for the oversight and development of the faculty throughout the school developing a cohesive and effective long-term plan.
• Review, monitor and evaluate current practice and provide feedback to the SLT & Governors.
• Formulate written guidelines and a policy to ensure the delivery of Science is consistent with expectations, frameworks and guidelines.
• In consultation with the Headteacher, review the curriculum.
• Organise the integration of Science into the school curriculum.
• Devise teaching and learning activities for all Science subjects taking account of the different ability ranges of the pupils;
• To monitor the quality of teaching and learning, in line with school policies.  This may include lesson observations, monitoring of planning and scrutiny of pupil’s work.
• To review long term planning to ensure coverage, progression and a range of learning experiences throughout the school.
• Liaise closely with other subject leaders in the planning of the curriculum.
• To be responsible for the budget allocated to the subject area and prioritise resource needs as indicated in the School Improvement Plan.
• Identify and make links between Science and the rest of the curriculum.
• Setting and maintaining high standards of teaching and learning across the age and ability range.
• Ensuring, in the event of staff absence, that appropriate work is supplied for the use of supply or substitute staff.
• Ensuring the provision of an appropriately broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum for students studying Science in accordance with the aims of the school and the curricular policies determined by the Governing Body and Headteacher.
• Reviewing, developing and refining schemes of work in line with the KS3 Programme of Study and appropriate GCSE/Vocational specifications, and encouraging links where appropriate.
• Leading, reviewing and developing all faculty policies and strategies in line with the strategic aims of the school.
• Leading curriculum development for the whole department/faculty.
• Updating Professional knowledge and expertise as appropriate to keep up to date with developments in teaching practice and methodology, in general, and in the subject area in particular.
• Taking a leading role in promoting learning through out of hour’s activities.
• Develop and enhance the teaching practice of others by developing self-evaluation strategies within the faculty to monitor, evaluate and improve the quality of teaching through:
  • A structured, rigorous and recorded programme of lesson observation for all staff.
  • Providing feedback and advice on improvement as appropriate.
  • Monitoring of medium-term planning.
  • Completing self-evaluation audits to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
  • Ensuring that this process informs improvement planning within the faculty.
  • Developing and formalising arrangements for the scrutiny of pupils’ work.
• Ensuring a high-quality learning environment within the department by managing and improving:
  • The fabric of the classrooms within the faculty area including displays and exhibitions of pupils’ work, with references to levels or GCSE grades on display.
  • Classroom behaviour by ensuring that faculty policies on sanctions are consistent with the agreed school Positive Behaviour Policy and its systems.
• Assisting in the school Performance Management process by being responsible for the line management of teachers allocated teaching time within the faculty, for the purpose of ensuring the continued delivery of high-quality teaching and learning.
• Liaising with Senior Managers to support teachers within the faculty by identifying their professional development needs and which will enhance teaching and learning; induction of new teachers to the faculty, including Early Career Teachers (ECTs), and support of trainee teachers.

Recording and Assessment

• Update the Headteacher and Governing Body on the effectiveness of provision for pupils in Science to include an annual development plan.
• Set targets for raising achievement for pupils in Science and feedback to the Headteacher.
• Monitor progress across and throughout Science and ensure appropriate action plans are in place where issues are identified.
• Contribute to the Annual Report to Parents.
• Monitor planning to ensure individual needs are being met.
• Collect and interpret assessment data.
• Being accountable for student progress and development within the faculty by leading, developing and enhancing all assessment arrangements within the department in line with school policy.
• Being accountable for leading, developing, coordinating and monitoring strategies to raise pupil achievement, in line with the school’s ‘Assessment for Learning’ targets, making best use of assessment information.
• Reviewing long term and short-term planning to ensure coverage, provision of a range of learning experiences, continuity and progression for all pupils from one year to the next, and between Key Stages, in line with the school’s ‘Assessment for Learning’ targets, making best use of assessment information to ensure that individual needs are being met.
• Liaising closely with Assistant Directors and Key Stage Leaders to ensure continuity and progression across the Key Stage.
• Ensuring that faculty reports on students are completed to a high professional standard, by the appropriate deadline dates and are consistent with the school’s reporting arrangements.
• Contributing to the termly report to Governors.

Leadership

• Establish good relationships, encourage good working practices as well as support and lead teachers in the subject area.
• Lead staff in developing a wide range of learning and teaching strategies in the curriculum area.
• Plan and organise departmental meetings.
• Lead, support, motivate and direct support staff.
• Lead by example in all areas of the curriculum.
• Liaise with teaching assistants and outside agencies.
• Establishing good relationships, encouraging and celebrating good working practices, supporting and leading departmental staff.
• Being accountable for leading, managing and developing the curriculum area.                  
• Effectively managing and deploying all staff, financial and physical resources within the department to maximise support for the faculty.
• Supporting and maintaining the aims, ethos and core values of the school and their practical expression through agreed policies.
• Being responsible for the production of a detailed annual Faculty Improvement Plan, in line with agreed whole school priorities, setting ‘SMART’ costed, targets for raising student achievement.
• Monitoring progress against the targets and ensuring appropriate action plans are in place where issues are identified.
• Updating the Headteacher on the progress of the Faculty Improvement Plan and its associated targets.
• Planning, and organising meetings on a regular basis in line with the published school calendar.
• Leading, supporting and motivating support staff working within the faculty.
• Contributing to management decisions on all aspects of policy formulation, development and implementation.
• Liaising with Governors, when appropriate, to facilitate their overview of the leadership and management of the school.

Standards and Quality Assurance

• Support the aims and ethos of the school.
• Attend and participate in open/parent evenings.
• Uphold the school's behaviour code and uniform regulations.
• Participate in staff training.
• Participate in Continuing Professional Development.
• Attend team and staff meetings.
• Develop links with governors, LEAs and neighbouring schools.
• Ensure that the department’s quality procedures meet the requirements of the school’s self-evaluation strategy and the Improvement plan.
• Liaising with appropriate external agencies, organisations such as SST, LEA and other schools to ensure the maintenance of high standards within the faculty.