Area Lead Applied Science, Biology & Geology
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John Leggott College Area Lead Applied Science, Biology & Geology February 2020 John Leggott College Letter from the Principal and CEO 4 About the College 6 About Sciences in the College 8 Abut the Venn Group 10 Job Description 12 Person Specification 16 How to apply 18 3 John Leggott College February 2020 Dear Colleague, Thank you for the interest you have shown in becoming the Area Lead for Applied Science, Biology and Geology at John Leggott College. I enclose information about the role and our College, which I hope you will find of interest. John Leggott College is a successful (OfSTED Grade 2 ‘Good’), 16-19 Sixth Form College, located on a busy but pleasant site in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire. The College is just ten minutes from the M180 which is fed directly from the M18 and then the M1 – you’d be able to commute here quite easily from most of the towns and conurbations in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, including Pontefract, Doncaster, Sheffield, Grimsby, Lincoln and Hull. The role will be to lead the Applied Science, Biology and Geology area (many Colleges would call this a ‘Faculty Head’), covering A level Biology, A Level Geology, BTEC Applied Science at Level 2 and 3 – highly popular subjects with our students and a significant part of our fantastic College. The whole area has 5 First year groups BTEC Applied Science and second year groups 5 in one of our many growing areas in the college. The main focus in the role will be to continue to drive forward our results and value-added in the Area, improving attainment, achievement and consistency. We are looking for someone who can work with pace and have a relentless focus on student outcomes. We need someone who can get others on board and realise the best from all the members of their team. Our ideal leader will recognise where change is needed, take the necessary action in a firm but supportive manner, always understanding that everything we do is to ensure our students leave us with positive progression opportunities. 4 John Leggott College We are looking for a candidate who will ‘go the extra mile’, who will invest as much in the college as we will in them. We will develop and invest in the right candidate and they will join a middle leadership team who all support one another to share ideas. Being part of the Venn Group (an affiliation of five Sixth Form Colleges in our local area) is also a real positive for the College as it enables the successful post holder to call upon other Area Leads across Venn, to share ideas, solve problems, practice and support one another. John Leggott College was last inspected by OFSTED in May 2018 and confirmed as a Good College that has continued to improve since its last inspection in 2014 when it was also judged to be ‘Good’. The College is also solidly in Good financial health. In terms of overall student outcomes, the College is outstanding – significantly above the 16th percentile. If you would like to know more, please contact Howard Darwin our Assistant Principal on 01724 407106. Visits to the College can be arranged (we would be pleased to see you), answer your questions. I am proud of the performance of John Leggott College, its students and staff. But I know that we are capable of more. Recruiting and selecting an exceptional Area Leader with the right blend of skills, talents, experience and values is crucial as our journey continues. If you feel inspired to help us develop our College and its achievements still further and believe you have the qualities needed to lead the way, then I would be delighted to hear from you. Yours sincerely, Leon Riley Leon Riley Principal and CEO 5 John Leggott College Ofsted inspected the College recently - in June 2018 - and confirmed us as ‘Good’. Ofsted commented that ‘Governors, senior leaders and managers have sustained and improved further the good quality of education… (having) tightened the focus on improving the quality of teaching, learning and assessment. As a result, most learners are making at least the progress expected of them.’ Inspectors noted that ‘Learners benefit from good resources. John Leggott College is one of the longest- Just off the M180, the College is easily These include specialist standing Sixth Form Colleges in the country, commutable from Pontefract, Doncaster, classrooms, laboratories, and is located on West Common Lane, in Sheffield, Grimsby, Lincoln and Hull. workshops and independent Old Brumby, Scunthorpe, North study spaces, and very Lincolnshire, England. We are an inclusive college, a family, and knowledgeable subject we will be with our students throughout teachers. With more than 52 years of supporting their lifetime. You have also provided an students, we are passionate about ensuring We recruit students from a wide appropriate dedicated space that our students achieve their potential geographical area that encompasses for learners aged 14 to 16. You both academically, personally and Lincolnshire, the East Riding and South have ensured that your professionally. We achieve this by focusing Yorkshire, with the majority living in North resources are used effectively, on the individual, from our very first Lincolnshire, but we also have a thriving and as a result learners make meeting with them in school, supporting International Programme – our reputation is good progress with their them to transition to us, throughout their strong enough to attract around 50 studies.’ time at college and preparing them for their international students to the College every onward journey. year. 6 There are 1567 students in the college aged 16-19 There are 477 students studying A levels only There are 463 students studying a mix of A levels and vocational courses There are 555 students studying purely vocational courses There are 59 Level 2 students and 13 Level 1/ entry students. We are currently at the base of a demographic dip. Applications for next year are already ahead of the same time last year. College Outcomes in 2019 have been Maths is outstanding – in English, three out strong: of every four learners increase results by a We have a 14-16 Academy on full grade, on average. site, with approximately 80 to 90 The achievement rates for the college is Other Provision students across two year groups outstanding and 5.5% above the most There is outstanding niche provision in HE doing GCSEs with a choice of recent sector rate. Health Access and Foundation Art, for option courses to fit college Level 3 high grade rates are at an example. specialisms. outstanding level of 67% - high-grade rates in vocational courses are especially strong. A*spire Programme We have approximately 50 Value Added We offer an A*spire programme with students - from East Asia and Value added progress for vocational courses specialist support to stretch and challenge Eastern Europe mainly. They are at level 3, consisting of 58% of level 3 gifted and talented students, and our studying level 3, with a goal of entries, in the top 10% nationally. enrichment provision is growing year on progressing to high status UK GCSE year with exciting opportunities to give our universities GCSE Resit value added for English and students the competitive edge 7 John Leggott College About Applied Science, Biology and Geology Currently in the department we have the following: We have three full -time, permanent staff members. We have two members of staff on part-time, but permanent contracts both on a 0.6 contract. We also have two members of staff who are on a fixed term We have a dedicated teaching block which This area is a large and important contract. houses all of our Science Lessons and our curriculum area for the college; outcomes resources. in the area are generally good, but we are seeking a leader to push the A-Level This is one of the existing buildings in courses towards outstanding value added college and within the block we have a and consolidate or strengthen recruitment Technician staffroom to enable the sharing of in this provision. Retention on all courses is We have a part time technician resources and support across the Area. strong and above sector rates. for the area. The block has small hub areas for students to study. The block has access to IT A – Level Biology (Summer 2019) facilities and projectors. Our mobile IT kit 64 students started the course also enables the complete flexibility to use 93% retention technology in any location, in an instant, if 98.5% pass required. 91.6% achievement ALPS Value Added score of 5 (4 in 2018, 4 in 2017). 8 After their time at John Leggott College, students generally progress to a variety of positive (chosen) destinations. 98% of students (758 of our leavers) went forward positively in 2019, • Apprenticeship and employment-18%-138 • Apprenticeship 7%- 55 • Further Education- 6%- 49 • Higher Education- 67%- 516 • Gap year-3%- 23 • Unable to contact/Unknown- 2%-16 26% started a course in a Russell Group university - well above the sector rate. A – Level Geology (Summer 2019) The successful candidate would have the full 12 students started the course. support of college leaders and staff in 100% retention designing and implementing a strategy to: 1. Lincoln- 88 students 100% pass • Move value added towards top 25% 2. Hallam- 66 students 100% achievement (ALPS 3) in A-Level Biology. 3. Hull - 42 students ALPS value added score of 6 (5 in 2018, 4 in • Reverse the decline in value added for 4. Leeds Beckett- 21 2017). A-Level Geology and increase students recruitment to this area.