WOODHOUSE GROVE SCHOOL I am Grovian APPOINTMENT OF TEACHER OF ENGLISH September 2019 An Introduction to Woodhouse Grove Woodhouse Grove is situated on a beautiful 70-acre school has a thriving and well respected campus within easy reach of Leeds and Bradford. tradition of performing arts with several major The school provides a first class all-round education productions and concerts throughout the year. for boys and girls, day pupils and boarders alike. Day pupils are drawn from a wide and well-populated Woodhouse Grove is both academically catchment area both within and beyond the West ambitious and academically sensitive. The Yorkshire (Leeds and Bradford) conurbation. The school routinely achieves outstanding results school runs seven bespoke bus services at the start from a non-selective intake, meeting a range of and end of each school day and benefits from a learning needs in its well established Learning recently opened railway station situated across the Support Unit and provides an excellent road from the school campus. academic education that means its leavers regularly succeed in their applications to the Since 1996 the school has grown from 750 to its most successful universities including Oxford current total of 1060 pupils (aged 3 to 18) and has a and Cambridge as well as preparing students sixth form of more than 200 students. It has for more vocational options available at benefited from substantial capital investment in re- colleges of further education. At A level the cent years that has significantly improved the school usually achieves a 100% pass rate with school’s teaching, sporting and performing arts >80% A*-C and >60% A*-B. At GCSE the pass facilities. The recent (March 2017) ISI Inspection rate (A*-C) usually exceeds 90% with >40% A*/ graded Woodhouse Grove as ‘Excellent’ in all areas. A. The school has an enviable reputation for meeting Woodhouse Grove’s junior school, Brontë the needs of a wide range of children including the House, was opened in 1934 and the pre-prep top 5% of the ability cohort and those with specific (Early Years) department, Ashdown Lodge, was learning needs. An acknowledged centre of sporting opened in 1993. Academically our results at excellence, pupils from Woodhouse Grove regularly KS1 and KS2 are consistently well above achieve places in county, regional and even national national expectations and class sizes are kept st teams and recently the school’s 1 XV won the Daily small to give the children the individual st Mail Trophy and the 1 XI won the National T:20 attention that they need. The junior school Schools Cricket Championship. As well as sport, the offers a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities for all the pupils. 1 The Appointment The ENGLISH Department The English Department is experienced, effusive and diverse, with nine members of staff sharing the teaching responsibilities. The department teaches a range of examined courses: AQA English literature and Edexcel IGCSE English language for pupils in Year 11, and AQA English literature (Spec A) and AQA English language and literature at A-level. The department is housed in its own rooms and is well resourced with a wide range of fiction texts and other resources. Pupils are usually taught in mixed-ability forms in year 7 and sets by ability from years 8 to 11. A wide range of skills and texts are taught at key stage 3; pupils enjoy English lessons at the Grove because of their diversity. A-level is a popular subject and pupils often choose to carry on with their English studies at university. The English department plays a significant part in the extra-curricular life of the school. At the moment, the department runs internal speaking/debating competitions such as a Reading and Speaking Competition, House Debating and also enters pupils for national competitions such as‘Poetry by Heart’. The department has a successful in-house publication ‘We Are Book Owls’ including book reviews and articles by both students and staff. There are also plans for a Spelling Bee competition for lower school pupils this summer. The department has offered trips to local and national theatres and places of interest such as the British Library. We are seeking an enthusiastic, dynamic teacher of English. This is an excellent opportunity to join a large, successful and friendly department. The successful candidate will be required to teach English (at least up to GCSE level) and potentially A-level teaching. As such, this post would suit both NQTs and more-experienced teachers seeking to develop their career in a new setting. I am every teacher who has inspired me. I am Grovian 2 Job Description The following are derived, in part, from the professional standards expected of all teachers as set down by the Department for Education and are the minimum standards expected at Woodhouse Grove School. This job description applies to general teacher conduct and the principles of teaching and tutoring, as well as general pastoral approaches as a member of the community that is Woodhouse Grove School. Main Tasks: Personal and Professional Conduct Teachers make the education of their pupils their first concern, and are accountable for achieving the highest possible standards in work and conduct. Teachers act with honesty and integrity; have strong subject knowledge; keep their knowledge and skills as teachers up-to-date and are self-critical; forge positive professional relationships; and work with parents in the best interests of their pupils. Teachers are expected to demonstrate consistently high standards of personal and professional conduct. The following statements define the behaviour and attitudes which set the required standard for conduct throughout a teacher’s career at Woodhouse Grove School. Teachers uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school, by: 1. Treating pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and at all times observing proper boundaries appropriate to a teacher’s professional position 2. Having regard for the need to safeguard pupils’ well-being, in accordance with statutory provisions 3. Showing tolerance of and respect for the rights of others 4. Upholding and promoting fundamental democratic values, including the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs 5. Ensuring that personal beliefs are not expressed in ways which exploit pupils’ vulnerability or might lead them to break the law. Teachers must have proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices of Woodhouse Grove School , and maintain high standards in their own attendance and punctuality. Teachers must have an understanding of, and always act within, the statutory frame-works which set out their profes- sional duties and responsibilities. Teachers are expected to: Set high expectationsw hich inspire, motivate and challenge pupils 1. Establish a safe and stimulating environment for pupils, rooted in mutual respect 2. Set goals that stretch and challenge pupils of all backgrounds, abilities and dispositions 3. Demonstrate consistently the positive attitudes, values and behaviour which are expected of pupils 4. Promote independent learning, perseverance, self-motivation and other habits of work and personal organisation Promote excellent progress and outcomes by pupils 1. Be accountable for pupils’ attainment, progress and outcome 2. Plan teaching to build on pupils' capabilities and prior knowledge 3. Guide pupils to reflect on the progress they have made and their emerging needs 4. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how pupils learn and how this impacts on teaching 5. Encourage pupils to take a responsible and conscientious attitude to their own work and study Demonstrate excellent subject and curriculum knowledge 1. Have an excellent knowledge of the relevant subject(s) and curriculum areas, foster and maintain pupils’ interest in the subject, and address misunderstandings 2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of developments in the subject and curriculum areas, and promote the value of scholarship 3. Demonstrate an understanding of and take responsibility for promoting high standards of literacy, articulacy and the correct use of standard English, whatever the teacher’s specialist subject 3 Job Description continued... Plan and teach well-structured lessons 1. Impart knowledge and develop understanding through effective use of lesson time 2. Promote a love of learning and children’s intellectual curiosity 3. Set high expectations in both lessons and also work set outside of class which will inspire, motivate and challenge pupils 4. Ensure lessons have the appropriate pace so that pupils work at stretch, enabling each individual pupil to maximise his or her achievement 5. Set work and plan other out-of-class activities to consolidate and extend the knowledge and understanding pupils have acquired 6. Set and mark work regularly, including examinations as required 7. Reflect systematically on the effectiveness of lessons and approaches to teaching 8. Contribute to the design and provision of an engaging curriculum within the relevant subject area(s) Adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all pupils 1. Know when and how to differentiate appropriately, using approaches which enable pupils to be taught effectively, teaching according to each pupil’s educational need 2. Adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all pupils, knowing when