Queen’s Road, Ryde
Isle of Wight
PO33 3BE
Tel: 01983 617925
Fax: 01983 564714
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.rydeschool.org.uk
HEAD OF BIOLOGY
Ryde School seeks to appoint a well-qualified, ambitious and innovative graduate to support
and promote this key curriculum area and teach throughout the Senior School.
Ryde School is a fully co-educational school of around 750 pupils between the ages of 3 and 18,
with 500 pupils in the Senior School (140 in the Sixth Form) and around 250 in the Junior School
covering Foundation and Key Stages 1 and 2. There are presently some 60 boarders based at a
separate campus in Bembridge and a smaller number of 6th form boarders will soon take up
residence in a nearby house, the remainder being day pupils from the Island and a smaller number
who commute on a daily basis from the Portsmouth area. The Junior School shares part of the same
site, with Fiveways just across the road accommodating pupils from Foundation to Year 2.
The School aims to serve the local community as a whole which makes for a rich variety of skills
and ability amongst its pupils; last year, for example, seven pupils secured offers at Cambridge and
Oxford universities but other pupils will have over-achieved if they can gain 5 GCSEs at A* to C.
The Headmaster is a member of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference, and the School
is in membership of the Governing Bodies’ Association.
The School is set in grounds of 17 acres in the town of Ryde, with beautiful views across the
Solent. It is within walking distance of the terminals which link Ryde to Portsmouth by hovercraft
(10 minutes) or catamaran (20 minutes). London is two hours by train from Ryde.
The School enjoys an enviable reputation on the Island for high standards both inside and outside
the classroom. Further details may be found in the Independent Schools’ Year Book or on our
website www.rydeschool.org.uk.
The School follows the ISEB curriculum to Year 8 and then prepares pupils for (I)GCSE, A level
and the IB Diploma.
The Post
The successful candidate will have prime responsibility for the quality of learning and teaching of
biology throughout the Senior School, innovation and development of the subject, encouraging and
supporting biology and related subjects beyond the classroom, including preparation for university
entrance, and ensuring cooperation and the sharing of good practice amongst all biology teachers.
He or she will, through the membership of academic committees, be expected to contribute to
whole school curriculum planning.
The Head of Science, himself a biologist, is line manager. A Head of Department job description
can be found below.
Biology is a central part of the education that pupils receive at Ryde School, not only in preparation
for university related courses and careers in biosciences but also as a keystone of their
understanding of the nature of science. The Island’s rich natural history and its industries
specialising in conservation, biotechnology and medicine provide scope for exciting study and
collaboration. The successful candidate will have ideas on how to develop opportunities such as
these, enriching the pupils’ experience of learning biology and inspiring a love of the subject.
In the Senior School pupils are initially taught a science course that is based on scientific enquiry,
focusing on developing key skills and an enthusiasm for a broad application of science in the real
world, before moving on to IGCSE science in Year 9 and subject specialisms in Years 10 and 11.
Pupils are set by ability and the flexibility of the dual/triple award taken at IGCSE plays a major
part in our examination success. Following A level and IB study, many pupils go on to choose
university courses in biological sciences, including medicine, at destinations including Oxbridge
and Russell Group universities. The successful candidate will have a passion for learning and be
open to new ideas, promoting the development of teaching and learning in biology and enhancing
the delivery of the curriculum through leading the department’s development of suitable learning
opportunities, including digital resources, expeditions and enrichment activities, in addition to
liaising with the Head of Science and other heads of department to ensure effective science teaching
across the faculty.
The department currently includes four full-time teachers together with well-qualified technician
support and is accommodated in the centre of the main school teaching block with dedicated
laboratories and an office. The school is embarking on a rolling three year programme of complete
laboratory refurbishment, starting this summer which will result in state-of–the art facilities across
the faculty. It is expected that the successful candidate will play an active role in this exciting phase
of the faculty’s evolution.
Ryde School expects all members of staff to play a full part in the extra-curricular life of the school.
Thus expertise or strong interest in sporting, intellectual or cultural matters would be an advantage.
The school has its own pay scale.
The School is happy to appoint someone from January 2016 but a successful candidate available
and willing to join us in September 2015 would be equally welcome.
Applications should be addressed to Mr M A Waldron, Headmaster, by post or email with a
fully completed Ryde School Application Form, including the names, addresses and telephone
numbers of two referees.
Closing date for applications: midday, Monday 27th April
Interviews to be held in Ryde on Wednesday 29th April