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THE CASTLE PARTNERSHIP TRUST Executive Headteacher: Sarah Watson THE CASTLE SCHOOL
Head of English
Wellington Road
Taunton, Somerset
TA1 5AU
Headteacher:
Sarah Watson
Tel: Taunton (01823) 274073
Fax: (01823) 274080
www.castleschool.co.uk
Dear colleague, Thank you for your interest in this post. It is always exciting to welcome new colleagues to the school and I always encourage anyone interested in joining us to contact me and come and have a look round if that is feasible. It is very important to me that YOU are happy and that this is the right school for you so that you can thrive and find a sense of achievement. I genuinely subscribe to the idea that interviews are a two way process and that you need to be sure that this is right for you. Our wonderful and long-‐serving Head of English is retiring after a long and happy career here at The Castle School and we are looking for someone to lead the Faculty and build on her success. We do understand that someone new to the role of Head of Faculty will not yet be the finished article and therefore we will invest in you and support you. Potential and enthusiasm is far more important than experience. But ambition for the Faculty is essential. There are substantial opportunities for those who are ambitious and I am interested in talking more about this either at interview or beforehand if that will help you to decide if you wish to apply. Currently we have two Heads of Faculty seconded onto SLT and undertaking whole school responsibilities to prepare them for further career development. There are opportunities to work with SLT or with other schools within the Trust. Somerset is a lovely place to live and especially to bring up a family. Many people come here for that reason and because we are a family-‐orientated school, we prioritise staff children for school places. It creates a family environment and most teachers who have children of school age, have taken advantage of this. The staff are welcoming and warm, and there are regular social events for everyone. They are very good company and have a great sense of humour and camaraderie. Our staff briefings are often full of humour and friendly banter, a good start to the day! Taunton is a lively and bustling market town with its own theatre and is comfortably close to the sea, and nestles between the Quantocks and Exmoor. Exeter and Bristol are conveniently close and the rail links with London regular and speedy. The School Our children are the very best thing about the school. They are polite and have a real enthusiasm for learning. We work very hard to instil a positive learning ethos, students have high aspirations and are appreciative of what we do for them. They know we will go the extra mile for them, and you will hear staff say this on a regular basis. It is our absolute moral responsibility to get them that passport of outstanding results that will take them onto the next phase of their lives but also to equip them with all the qualities, skills and characteristics that will ensure their happiness and wellbeing as well as economic prosperity. We believe in assured success and that students achieve more if they have self-‐belief instilled in them from their families and teachers. All our children participate in learning and enrichment and this is because of the richness and diversity of the offer. In particular we are looking to further that experience for the most able in particular by offering deep enrichment to prepare students who will become the next generation of writers, poets, scientists, mathematicians, and architects as well as the best parents for future generations. We believe in our children and our staff. Our parents are wonderfully supportive and interested, and they know that we do the very best we can for every child who comes to the Trust. There must be no child invisible at The Castle Partnership Trust. Students and parents know that if there is a problem, we will endeavour to deal with it quickly, and to take any action quickly and fairly so children know and trust that we will take care of things, and to go the extra mile with them. If you are able to visit the school before the interview, you will be offered a tour with students. Without fail, visitors tell us that our children are a credit to us. They are articulate and friendly with an interest in others. They are not perfect however. We are a comprehensive school and have students with difficult or troubled backgrounds at times but we work very hard to support them and we are very proud of their successes. As a result of these practices and beliefs, The Castle School has performed consistently highly over a period of years averaging 77% 5A*-‐C including English and Maths. We anticipate exceeding that in September although we are more interested in progress and expect students to make 4 levels progress over the time they are with us. The Castle has always achieved the top attendance rate in Somerset and is in the top 5% of schools nationally for value-‐added. Attendance seems to me to be a good indicator of how much students enjoy school. Partnership and collaboration The Castle Partnership Trust is currently made up of two schools within the Trust itself, The Castle School and Court Fields School, but is part of wider collaborative partnerships with our family of schools within the Somerset Challenge, and as part of the South West Academy Group, which is a network of outstanding academies from all over the South West. This means there are wider opportunities available to work with and in other schools, developing your career if that is of interest. The Castle School is an outstanding school and the sponsor of Court Fields School which has come out of Special Measures in record time since it joined the Trust and is now Requiring Improvement. Court Fields will be at least Good by the next inspection. Exam results have already improved by 14% since The Castle became involved and is set to achieve its FFTD target again after many years of underperformance. We will of course exceed those in September. We are a committed partner to the Somerset Challenge and are also part of the South-‐West Academy Group, which is a partnership of outstanding academies across the South–West. This group has a strong commitment to staff development and includes opportunities to work with other Heads of Department in outstanding schools. Being part of such strong partnership also means there are very good opportunities for leadership development and promotions for those interested in career progression. We are currently developing a Teacher Exchange Programme for outstanding teachers to get experience in other schools. There is also an ‘Elite’ programme across the South-‐West academies group for the most able students in each school. We already work very effectively at secondary level with other schools as well as those with the Trust and the wider partnership. Our next phase of development is to reinforce the very positive relations with primary and tertiary phases so we have a clear line of progression through the education of our young people. We are looking to work more closely with primary colleagues so that we build on the work done in Years 5 and 6 and to maximise the learning across the phases. The most important thing for our children is their safety. We foster a culture of vigilance amongst staff, students and parents. We always listen to children and take their concerns seriously. The Castle School is committed to safeguarding and all staff have a duty of care towards our young people. All complaints and concerns are fully investigated. Please note that for posts working with children the successful candidate will be required to undergo Criminal Record Bureau Checks in line with the Local Authority and School Child Safeguarding Policy. Further information regarding the post Number of teachers in the Department: 10 Exam results for the last two years: % Achieving 3 Levels 2013 88% 83% English Language English Literature 2014 89% 75% % Achieving 4 Levels 2013 65% 49% 2014 51% 43% English Combined English Language English Literature No. 241 222 Actual 2013 % A* -‐ A % A -‐ C 44% 87% 48% 94% 32% 91% No. 235 215 214 Actual 2014 % A* -‐ A % A -‐ C 30% 87% 33% 95% 27% 80% On a personal note, this really is a fabulous school to work in and it is a pleasure and privilege to work with our students and our exceptional staff. If you like the sound of the school I very much hope you will apply. If you do, please address your letter of application to me, the Headteacher, and include any evidence of impact, such as exam results and progress/value added, and any experience and impact of leadership that you may have had as well as anything else you feel it is important to tell me. We expect all candidates to be IT literate and therefore applications must be electronic. Please do come and look around the school or talk things through with me. I am always delighted to make the time for prospective candidates. I think you will find our students really good company and as they are our best advert, they will show you around but I will also make sure that I am available to have an informal chat. Applications should be emailed to [email protected] or posted to Mr Rob Trowbridge Assistant Business Manager The Castle School Taunton Somerset TA1 5AU The closing date for completed applications is 12 noon on Monday 11th May 2015. Best wishes. Yours sincerely Sarah Watson Executive Headteacher
THE CASTLE SCHOOL
HEAD OF ENGLISH
Responsible for:
Leading and managing the English Faculty
Responsible to:
Deputy Head for Curriculum
Disclosure Level:
Enhanced
Liaising with:
School Leadership Team, the department, other middle leaders,
teaching and support staff, external agencies, organisations,
individuals, parents.
Working Time:
195 days per year.
Terms of employment:
Permanent.
Post :
Head of English
Salary Scale:
TMS/UPR + TLR 1B
Leading the Department
To lead through the high challenge and high support of colleagues within the Department so
that every child achieves, belongs and participates. Building an effective team to raise
attainment and implement appropriate change. The successful candidate will be an effective
manager and will be able to:
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Carry out those responsibilities defined by statute with specific reference to the Core
Professional Standards, the conditions of Employment of Teachers in the DfE (DCSF)
publication ‘School Teachers Pay and Conditions,’ in order to provide a full and rich
learning experience and support for students.
To follow and implement the school’s policies, and to ensure members of the team do
likewise.
To actively promote equality of opportunity to provide the best possible education for
all students, taking into account ethnicity, gender, special-educational needs, English
as an additional language, disability and emotional needs that may affect learning.
Ensure that the health and safety of all students and staff is promoted and maintained
to a high standard at all times in accordance with the school’s relevant policies and
procedures.
To ensure that every child participates in enrichment.
To lead and develop a staff team, attend regular meetings including the Strategy
meeting (Heads of Faculty) and provide a major input into whole school issues.
To contribute to the School Improvement Plan and promote innovation within the
department. As part of the contribution to the School Improvement Plan, to plan and
ensure activities including beyond the classroom that will achieve the aims of the Plan.
To develop and review regularly a Department plan which sets out the way the faculty
will implement the School Improvement Plan.
To be accountable for leading, managing and developing the subject areas within
English.
To develop and enhance the teaching practice of others and to ensure that every
lesson is at least Good, taking action where it is not and supporting and coaching other
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staff to outstanding and challenging underperformance in a way that is rigorous and
fair.
To ensure that students make 4 levels progress across 5 years
To liaise with primary schools to ensure that pupils have a solid understanding and
knowledge on transfer to secondary.
To deploy staff from within the Department in consultation with the Head and Deputy/
Assistant HT so that all specialisms are covered and compliment each other.
Promoting Achievement across the Department
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To be accountable for student progress and development within each subject and
overall in the Faculty.
To ensure the provision of an appropriately broad, balanced, and relevant and
differentiated curriculum for students in each subject, in accordance with the aims of
the school and the curricular policies as determined by the governing body and the
Head Teacher.
To track achievement of all groups and ensure 4 levels progress is made in all subjects
within the department.
To be responsible for whole school English extra-curricular provision.
To communicate and cooperate with individuals or bodies outside of school.
To effectively manage and deploy teaching / support staff, financial and physical
resources within the department to support the designated curriculum portfolio.
To demonstrate outstanding classroom practice and innovation and to assure and
ensure that every lesson in the Department is at least Good.
To ensure consistency and shared good practice across the separate subject
disciplines, and to ensure that the English team complement and reinforce skills and
content in each others’ areas.
To mark and assess work regularly and to manage the faculty’s quality assurance
procedures, including work scrutiny and monitoring of marking and feedback.
To monitor student progress and set targets to ensure expected progress is achieved
To listen to students’ views and take account of this when planning, reviewing practice
in the light of student views.
Leading Learning and Teaching
• To make a positive contribution to the implementation of the School Improvement Plan
• To take responsibility for the effective management of the department’s resources,
schemes of work, etc. ensuring that there are schemes of work for each area, and that
these support and promote outstanding teaching and learning, that they are
differentiated and regularly reviewed in the light of student input.
• To help promote and develop a cross-curricular approach within and between the
separate subject disciplines
• To develop the role and be an advocate of English.
• To ensure that every lesson within the area is at least Good, and to challenge and
address underperformance in a rigorous and fair way
• To plan effective CPD for all colleagues.
• To run regular meetings that focus on teaching and learning and give opportunities for
CPD in every meeting, as the School expects and models.
Core job functions: Personal Responsibility
To implement, adhere to and promote all school policies including those
relating to Race Equality, Equal Opportunities and Health and Safety.
To attend training and meetings as necessary and cascade any relevant
information to relevant staff and stakeholders as appropriate.
Be an excellent role model for all members of staff and for students in all
aspects of school life.
To be an exemplar of all school policies and practices. In conjunction with the
Business Manager and Premises Manager, ensure risk assessments
throughout the department meet national guidelines and are updated as
appropriate.
To play a full part in the life of the school community, support its ethos and
encourage staff and students to follow this example. To offer guidance and
support to colleagues.
To support the school in meeting all its legal requirements.
To continue personal development as agreed.
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Core job functions: Teaching and Learning
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To undertake an appropriate programme of teaching in accordance with the
duties of a Main Pay Scale teacher.
To deliver lessons that are at least Good.
In order to lead the department in Teaching and Learning, your lessons must
never be less than Good.
Core job functions: Operational / Strategic Planning
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To lead the development of appropriate syllabuses, resources, schemes of
work, marking policies assessment, teaching and learning strategies in the
Department.
The day-to-day management, control and operation of course provision within
the department, including effective deployment of staff and physical resources.
To actively monitor, follow up on and evaluate student attainment and
progress.
To actively monitor, evaluate and intervene in teacher performance,
supporting and coaching colleagues to ensure every lesson is good, and
challenging, monitoring and intervening according to all guidelines where there
is underperformance.
To meet the standards for Middle Leaders
Specific Responsibilities:
To be established following consultation with the postholder.
This job description is current at the date shown, but, in consultation, may be changed by the
Headteacher to reflect or anticipate changes in the job commensurate with the salary grade
and post title.
It is an important feature that the post holder should be a positive, professional role model. It
is equally important that the Faculty Leader is able to identify his/her own personal and
professional development needs and be able to set and achieve his/her own professional
objectives within a supportive school environment.
Each individual task may not have been identified and outlined within the main duties and
responsibilities above. It would be expected that a Subject Leader would carry out any
reasonable request made to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified in this job
description.
This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and
young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post
is subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure
Certificate.