TEACHER OF CLASSICS

RECRUITMENT PACK

January 2014

Ref: REQ000028

Dear Applicant

Thank you for your interest in this post and in the School.

We seek to appoint a talented and dynamic teacher of classics to lead our very successful Classics Department.

BGS has a vital role in and seeks to be the automatic school of choice for bright boys and girls in its extensive catchment area regardless of means.

I hope the information in this pack proves useful and gives you sufficient guidance to pursue your application.

I look forward to receiving your application.

Yours sincerely

Kevin Riley Headmaster

TEACHER OF CLASSICS

Job Title: Teacher of Classics

Reports to: Head of Classics

Any Direct Reports: None

Job Purpose:

All teachers at Bradford are responsible for the delivery of their subject(s) to their allocated classes. In this task, the subject teacher is directly responsible to the Head of Department. In addition, most teachers will be required to be Form Teachers and hence play a central part in the pastoral care of pupils. In this duty, Form Teachers are directly responsible to the Head of Year.

Accountabilities/Responsibilities:-

The duties of the teacher at Bradford Grammar School include:

Subject Teaching

 Preparing and teaching lessons in accordance with the department’s schemes of work.  Setting and marking work carried out by the pupils in accordance with departmental policy.  Assessing, recording and reporting on the development, progress and attainment of pupils.  Maintaining good records of pupils’ work. These records may be inspected periodically by the Head of Department.  Providing work for pupils when possible in the event of the teacher’s absence.  Attending departmental meetings.  Assisting in the development of the department in consultation with the Head of Department.  Helping to provide a stimulating and attractive working environment in classrooms, including displays of pupils’ work.

Professional Development

 Participating in the school’s performance management procedure.  Participating in arrangements for professional development (as appropriate) in consultation with the Head of Department/Senior Management Team.  Seeking guidance from the Head of Department, Head of Year or any member of the Senior Management Team whenever there are matters of professional concern with regard to the delivery of the subject or other duties within school.

Pastoral Care

 Implementing the pastoral policies introduced by the Senior Management Team.  Providing guidance (where appropriate) on matters of educational and social concern to the pupils.  Safeguarding the health and safety of pupils.  Maintaining good order and implementing the school disciplinary procedures at all times. Promoting good standards of conduct towards other members of the school and the wider community.  Reporting concerns about a pupil’s general well-being, work or behaviour to the Form Teacher or Head of Year including misbehaviour both on and off the premises.  Reporting concerns about child protection issues to the Deputy Head at the earliest opportunity.  Promoting good timekeeping and punctuality.  Participating in meetings to promote a pupil’s progress.  Attending school assemblies unless otherwise agreed with the Deputy Head.  Following the school policy governing school trips.

Form Teacher Specific Duties

 Taking responsibility for the care of the pupils within the form group.  Being the first person to whom a pupil may turn for help and guidance on matters relating to school or of personal concern.  Monitoring a pupil’s work and progress with regard to work within school and the commitment to homework.  Promoting good communications with parents regarding matters of general pastoral concern. Attending the relevant information evening as appropriate.  Being part of a team involved in the delivery of Personal, Social and Health Education, Citizenship and Careers Guidance.  Encouraging and monitoring the extent of a pupil’s involvement with extra- curricular activities and achievements.  Assisting the pupil in time-management, study skills and other matters relating to planning and good working practices.  Ensuring the efficient use of the pupil’s work planner.  Advising a pupil with regard to homework detentions, formal detentions and commendations.  Helping to prepare pupil references for school and external use. Developing and maintaining higher education files.  Overseeing the completion of higher education applications. Producing the first draft of the UCAS reference (Upper Sixth Form only).  Registering the pupils twice daily except Wednesday afternoons.  Distributing information of a routine nature to parents via pupils.  Accompanying the form group to year-group assemblies except with the agreement of the Head of Year.

Communications with Parents

 Attending the relevant parents’ evenings.  Completing interim and end-of-term reports in accordance with school policy.  Responding in writing or by telephone or other means to parental requests for information and keeping a record of the main outcomes and communicating these outcomes to the Head of Department and Head of Year.

Miscellaneous

 Providing cover for absent colleagues and to be available for cover during any part of the school day in consultation with the Deputy Head.  Assisting with the arrangements for the entrance examination either in supervision or assessment.  Assisting at Open Days (and Open Evenings).  Attending Founders’ Day and Speech Day.  Attending staff meetings and briefings.  Advising the Senior Leadership Team on matters of whole-school concern.  Invigilating pupils for the purposes of school and public examinations.  Undertaking school duty and detention duty according to the schedule arranged by the Senior Leadership Team.  Contributing to and assisting (as appropriate) with the extra-curricular life of the school.  Assisting in the appointment of new staff in consultation with the Senior Leadership Team.  Assisting in the professional development of teachers and other colleagues as requested and in consultation with the Senior Leadership Team.  Assisting with the induction programme of new staff as requested and in consultation with the Senior Leadership Team.  Undertaking such other duties as may be requested from time to time.

Personal Specification:-

 Inspirational, well qualified teacher  Excellent listening and communication skills, both verbal and written.  Demonstrable high level organisational and time management skills.  Resilient, thorough approach with a positive ‘can do’ attitude.  A team-player with the willingness to be flexible and be committed to contributing to a full programme of extra-curricular activities.

Note:

 In common with all staff and pupils, the Teacher of Classics should be aware of the School’s Safety Policy and implement it as appropriate.

 This Job Description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the needs of the School. Any changes deemed necessary will be discussed and agreement sought prior to implementation.

 All roles within the school carry the responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. If in the course of carrying out the role, the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risk(s) to the safety or welfare a child(ren) in school s/he must report these concerns to the Assistant Head (Pastoral), who is the school’s Child Protection Officer. OUR OFFER

This is a key role within the classics department and in return we offer a generous remuneration and benefits package:

 Teachers’ salaries will be in the range of £26,144 to £36,605 (B1-B6), unless progression through the threshold is agreed, where the salary range extends to £40,031. Payment is made monthly, on the nearest working day to the 21st, direct to a bank or building society account.

 Membership of the Teachers Pensions Scheme

 Employee Assistance Programme

 Salary Sacrifice Schemes for Childcare Vouchers, Cycle to Work and School Fees

 Employee Discount Platform

CONDITIONS

Work Permit

All applicants must demonstrate that they have the right to work in the UK. If you are not the holder of a UK/EU passport, the School will need to see documentary evidence of your right to work.

References

Please supply the names and contact details of two referees who can comment on your suitability for this position. One must be your current or last employer.

The school reserves the right to approach any past employer for a reference. Please state on your application if you do not wish us to approach any past employers and wish to discuss this with us prior to references being taken. Please note that we will contact referees if you are short listed for the post and seek references before interview.

In relation to work with children we will seek information about any past disciplinary issues relating to children and/or child protection concerns you may have been subject to. If you have any concerns about this please contact the HR Manager on 01274 553718 to discuss these issues.

All employment is conditional on receipt of references satisfactory to Bradford Grammar School.

Criminal Background Checks

As the job for which you are applying involves substantial opportunity for access to children, it is important that you provide us with legally accurate answers.

Upfront disclosure of a criminal record may not debar you from appointment as we shall consider the nature of the offence, how long ago and at what age it was committed and any other relevant factors.

Please submit information in confidence enclosing details on a separate document which will be seen and then destroyed by the Bursar/Headmaster (as appropriate) or the HR Manager. If you would like to discuss this beforehand, please telephone the relevant person in confidence for advice.

Please disclose any unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings and note that the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are 'protected' and are not subject to disclosure to employers, and cannot be taken into account. Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found at the Disclosure and Barring Service website. www.gov.uk/dbs.

You should be aware that the school will institute its own checks on successful applicants for short listing with the Disclosure and Barring Service and failure to declare any convictions (that are not subject to DBS filtering) may disqualify you for appointment or result in summary dismissal if the discrepancy comes to light subsequently.

By not attaching a separate document you declare that you do not have any criminal offences/records.

Working at Bradford Grammar School

Bradford Grammar School was founded in 1548 and granted its Charter as the Free Grammar School of King Charles II in 1662. Although now a co-educational it was a Direct Grant School until 1975 and the same high standards have been maintained since that date. Entrants are selected by competitive examination, and the school intends to make every effort to maintain its long standing tradition of being accessible to pupils who will benefit from what it has to offer, regardless of parental income. Some 10% of the pupils receive substantial bursaries, many of which are provided by benefactors who wish to see children enjoy the benefits of BGS as they did. Admission to the Sixth Form is by GCSE results and interview. The School has over 1100 pupils, with more than 260 pupils in the Sixth Form, and almost 200 pupils in the junior school - Clock House. Well over 40% of those pupils are girls.

BGS has a significant academic reputation. Most leavers go on to University, many going to the UK Universities ranked in the top 50 globally: Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Imperial, Edinburgh and Manchester. Colleagues are expected to be outstanding teachers in their subject and positive and proactive as tutors. The school offers a wide variety of sports and other activities to pupils and all staff are required to participate in this rich extra-curricular provision. Sport, Music and Drama are a significant part of school life as are numerous other clubs and societies. Outdoor pursuits and trips of differing nature within the UK and beyond all serve to reinforce the principle of a vibrant and productive school community.

BGS enjoys the use of outstanding facilities. It has a secure 25 acre site on the outskirts of Bradford which opened in 1948. The vision the Governors displayed then has been continued to the present day; every physical aspect of the school is maintained to the highest standards. Teachers and pupils benefit from and enjoy a wonderful environment in which to teach and learn.

Bradford is a fascinating city, full of character and culture. In recent years it has not enjoyed the best of reputations but the school is one of its best assets. Bradford District is the fourth largest metropolitan district in the country and has a very diverse population; 41% of it is viewed as some of the most deprived in the country but 11% as the least deprived. One of the only places those communities meet is at BGS. The creation of a happy, racially harmonious and aspirational community is of central importance to the school.

The Alhambra Theatre and the National Media Museum are beacons of cultural excellence and supplemented by other facilities in Leeds, York and Harrogate. There are excellent sports facilities for both spectators and participants within easy reach. Beautiful scenery abounds in Yorkshire and the Dales are less than 40 minutes away. Rail links via the East Coast route are excellent, the national motorway network is readily accessible and Leeds Bradford Airport is rapidly developing its internal and European networks.

Working at BGS offers a wide choice of places to live, either within Bradford, Leeds or Harrogate or farther afield in the Dales. Property prices are generally attractive compared with those elsewhere in the UK. Members of staff receive a non- contractual benefit of up to half fees (pro rata) remission for the education of their children within the school. (All children have to sit and pass the Entrance Examination.) There is a range of quality schools at nursery, primary and secondary level available within the maintained sector.

Further information about the school can be found on our website, www.bradfordgrammar.com

BGS aspires to be world class in all it does; its alumni include , the Brownlee brothers, and Sir Ken Morrison. If you aspire to be an outstanding teacher working with children who want to excel we would love to hear from you.

The Classics Department

The Classics Department teaches Latin throughout the School and Greek from Year 9 upwards. Classical Civilisation is also taught in the Sixth Form to A level. We currently have four full-time Classics Teachers.

Latin is part of the core curriculum for Years 7 and 8. It then becomes an optional subject in Years 9 to 11 leading to GCSE. Thus around 130 pupils start Latin each year, with around a third of the cohort carrying on in Year 9 and around a quarter typically continuing all the way to GCSE. Since September 2007 the Department has used the Cambridge Latin Course in Years 7-10, supported by the e-resources for years 7 and 8. Latin is taught to AS and A2, with four to six pupils opting for the subject in a typical year; this year we have 2 pupils in L6 and 5 in U6.

Pupils can choose to start Greek in Year 9 and can opt to continue it to GCSE. Last year there were 6 GCSE candidates; this year there are 3. The course book is John Taylor’s Greek to GCSE. Greek is taught to AS and A2; currently there are two pupils in each year group.

Classical Civilisation was introduced into the Sixth Form curriculum in September 2008, and is taught to AS and A2 (OCR syllabus). In 2014 we will have 7 candidates for AS and 6 for A2 Classical Civilisation.

Teaching takes place in four dedicated Classics classrooms centrally located within the school. Three of these were refurbished in 2006, and all the larger rooms are fitted with interactive whiteboards. There is also a Classics Tutorial Room/Office. Department resources include an extensive collection of books (supplemented by the Classics section in the school Library), a growing collection of DVDs, and a range of materials in the Classics Shared Area on the school network.

Trips to classical sites are an important part of Department life. Every October a four- day trip to the Bay of Naples is run for Year 8 pupils, and every other year a trip to sites in Italy or Greece is held at Easter for Years 9-13. Trips to Hadrian’s Wall, Bath or the British Museum are a regular feature of the Summer Term. Theatre trips to see classical plays are arranged whenever possible, and we take our Sixth Formers to the Classics Open Days at Newcastle and Oxford/Cambridge.

We are looking for a well-qualified and enthusiastic teacher whose timetable will be shaped to suit their strengths and interests. Although some experience of teaching Classical Civilisation is desirable, it is not essential; the ability to teach Greek, although welcome, is also not essential. All staff at Bradford Grammar School are expected to contribute to the extra-curricular life of the School, and the ability to contribute to sport, drama or music would be an additional recommendation.

Application Procedure

Please complete the online application form. Attention is drawn to the person specification listed above and applicants are asked to provide evidence of their match to these criteria in some detail in their supporting statements.

The closing date for receipt of applications is Wednesday 12 February 2014 and it is intended to interview short-listed candidates during the week commencing 24 February 2014.

Data Protection

All unsuccessful applications are retained confidentially by the School for a period of 12 months, after which they are shredded and disposed of securely.

You are thanked for your interest in this position and the School.