LORETO GRAMMAR SCHOOL A Specialist School in Science and Maths Headteacher: Mrs J.A. Beever M.A Dunham Road Altrincham Cheshire WA14 4AH Tel No: 0161 928 3703 Fax No: 0161 924 1323 Web: www.loretogrammar.co.uk Email: [email protected] October 2014 Dear Applicant, Teacher of Chemistry/Science (Fixed-term Contract for Maternity Cover) Salary MPS /UPS Required for January 2015 Thank you for your interest in the post of Teacher of Chemistry/Science at Loreto Grammar School. I have provided below further details which I hope will provide you with ample information about the post and the school. I am seeking to appoint an outstanding colleague to join this very successful department. The Department: Loreto was designated a specialist school in Science and Mathematics in 2005. This exciting development has allowed further opportunities for radical and innovative developments for Loreto and our partnership schools. In 2011 we were recognised at National level for our work when we received the Chief Executives‟ Award from the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust for making the most significant impact to a family of schools. In 2013 and 2014 we were nominated as the National Teen Tech STEM champions. The appointed colleague will join a Science Department comprising 12 members of Science teaching staff and 3 technicians. The Department is led by Head of Science, Mrs Ruth Harrison, with Head of Chemistry, Mrs Clare Marchmont, Head of Biology, Miss Caroline Romain and Head of Physics, Mrs Philippa Wynne. The department is a cohesive team, with a shared vision to provide the best overall learning experience for all the students in its care and they work hard to ensure this is the case. Collaboration is “the norm”, with expertise being readily shared and colleagues eager to learn from one another. The standards of teaching and learning are very high. All teachers at Loreto have access to four well equipped ICT suites. The curriculum area of Science currently has interactive whiteboards and associated PCs in every laboratory, as well as pupil laptops to enhance teaching. Laboratories are excellently equipped and modern, all having been completely refurbished within the past 4 years. The Science department also has a designated data logging suite, where 24 networked PCs are available in a “dry lab” setting to enable real time data collection as part of the students‟ learning experience. Students in Key Stage 3 follow a broad General Science course which is completed in year 8, with GCSE Sciences taught from Year 9. AfL is embedded into the schemes of work that have been developed “in house” to best suit the needs of our learners, and appropriate emphasis is placed upon students knowing Cherish God’s vocation in you – Mary Ward Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, commonly known as the Sisters of Loreto A Registered Charity their level of attainment and working with staff, through discussion and formative assessment, to progress in line with expectations and beyond. Key Stage 4 students have the option of studying the new GCSE Core & Additional Science course, or three separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. In 2013, 95% of pupils achieved grade A*- B at GCSE in Core Science, with 10% achieving an A* grade. This high level of achievement was also true of Additional Science, where 93% of pupils achieved grade A*- B, and 16% gained an A*. Currently approximately 40% of students take three separate sciences, and many students will continue to study at least one science at A Level. Sixth Form uptake of all Sciences is high. There are currently 4 groups in Year 12 and 3 in Year 13 for both Biology and Chemistry, and 2 groups in each for Physics. Within the A level programme of study, there is a real emphasis on developing the students‟ independent learning skills as well as their intellectual resilience. All GCSE and A Level courses follow the AQA specification. The Chemistry Department participates in many extracurricular events and competitions and Loreto girls frequently perform very highly in such competitions. The vast majority of Sixth Form students continue their education at University, with a significant proportion choosing science based courses. The Science department works hard at providing individual advice and guidance for their students as they plan towards their University applications and interviews; we aim to utilise our many links with higher education to ensure students make informed choices and submit strong applications. The Department plays a major role in the school‟s extra - curricular programme. Students are involved in a thriving BAYS programme alongside Science clubs and tutorials across all year groups. Members of the department also work with community groups in the local area, and this forms part of a thriving BTEC STEM leaders‟ course, which we are accredited to deliver and assess at Key Stage Four. The successful candidate will be a good honours graduate who is an enthusiastic, inspiring and motivated classroom practitioner, with experience of teaching across all Key Stages. He/she will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work in a collegiate and cohesive way under the guidance of the Head of Chemistry and the Head of Science. The ability to contribute to the teaching of Design Technology at KS3 or to STEM activities may be an advantage. Our results in 2013 were as follows: Subject A Level, A*- A A Level, A*- B AS Level, A-B GCSE, A*- A 63% GCSE, A*- B 95% Biology 23% 55% 36% 78% 96% Chemistry 35% 48% 33% 61% 94% Physics 50% 75% 44% 80% 96% Science The successful candidate will be expected to teach at all Key Stages. The School: Loreto is a wonderful school in which to learn and work, a school which is rooted in a rich tradition whilst at the same time is very forward looking and keen to keep apace of educational development. We provide an outstanding curriculum, one which is carefully planned and consistently reviewed to meet the needs of the girls at every Key Stage. Our ICT infrastructure is excellent and enables effective and innovative learning. Our 14 – 19 curriculum includes an innovative programme called Life Skills which takes the girls beyond the normal confines of the National Curriculum giving them opportunities to apply their skills and gifts in the real world. We are privileged to have a dedicated and passionate group of staff who are experts in their individual specialist area. The hallmark of my colleagues is their willingness to go the extra mile for the girls and their commitment to this community. The extra-curricular life here is extensive. The girls rise to the academic challenge and appreciate the positive relationships with their teachers. They are reflective learners and engage wholeheartedly with the broader aspects of school life in relation to for example, social justice issues and service towards others. We aspire to fulfil the girls in our care in developing them spiritually, academically and physically in a happy, supportive and enthusiastic environment where each is recognised for their intrinsic worth and valued for their own sakes. Fundamentally, we are a welcoming and happy community. In our Ofsted inspection, a parent described the school as follows: “Loreto is that indefinable element which wraps up duty, care, faith, purpose, example.” The work of all members of our school community is founded in the context of the School Mission Statement and is characterised by „joyful and loving service to others‟ the aim of which should be to encourage „the pursuit of excellence‟ and to enable each student „to realise her full potential in a spirit of joy and creativity‟. Our students should leave Loreto prepared „to meet with confidence the challenges of a changing world‟. It is, in the words of the poet William Butler Yeats more “to light fires than to fill buckets.” We are a Roman Catholic Grammar School for girls with Academy status, situated within the Borough of Trafford. The school number is rising, and there are currently 1035 girls on roll, with over 252 in the Sixth Form. The majority of the girls come from Trafford, with others from the neighbouring Authorities of Manchester, Stockport, Cheshire and Warrington. Loreto is a National Teaching School and a National Support School. The CPD opportunities for staff are many and exciting, including Research and Development projects and accredited Leadership programmes. We deliver the School Direct programme through the Teacher Development Agency and in conjunction with Manchester University. We are a member of the Specialist Schools Trust Leading Edge partnership, a Gifted and Talented network. Our most recent Ofsted report of October 2008 states: “This is an outstandingly effective school……The school provides an excellent atmosphere in which the girls are challenged to think and learn…... It is rooted in the school‟s deeply embedded Catholic ethos within which the students‟ spiritual and moral development is profoundly nurtured.” Our Section 48 report in of November 2013 notes that: “Outcomes for pupils, the provision for Catholic Education, leadership and management in the development of the Catholic life of the school are all confirmed by this Inspection as outstanding. The core values of the school are strongly evidenced throughout in terms of practice, aspiration and relationships all in the context of high academic achievement.” In short, Loreto is an exciting and stimulating professional environment in which to work. Application process: This is a fixed-term contract for maternity leave cover. I hope that the information that I have provided has hooked your interest and I look forward to hearing from you. Should you wish to meet with me prior to applying I should be delighted to do so. Please contact school via email on [email protected] to arrange a mutually convenient time. Should you decide to apply for the post, please refer to the „Guidance Notes for Applicants‟ and complete the application form and Recruitment Monitoring Form, together with a letter of application outlining your vision and philosophy of teaching Science/Chemistry at Loreto Grammar School, your relevant experience and your understanding of current, relevant educational developments. Your letter should not exceed 2 pages of A4 in length. Please note that we do not accept Curriculum Vitae. The closing date is Friday, 17 October 2014 at 12noon. If you have not heard from us by Friday, 31 October 2014, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Due to the large number of applications we receive for our posts, we are unable to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications. Yours sincerely, J.A. Beever J.A. Beever (Mrs) Headteacher
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