Appointment of
Head of English
Be the best tha you can be
at
Contents The School Pastoral Academic Creative Arts Sport The Role The Person Remuneration and How to Apply
6-7 8-9 10-11 12-13 14-15 16-21 22-23 24-25
The School Alton Convent School is a leading independent Catholic day school, located on the outskirts of Alton, Hampshire, welcoming pupils of all faiths. The Preparatory School provides a nurturing yet challenging curriculum to boys and girls from the age of 5 to 11, while the Garden House Day Nursery provides wrap around care from 6 months, 51 weeks a year, 8.00am – 6.00pm. The selective Senior School offers a broadly based academic education for girls from 11 to 18. The school was founded in 1938 by the Sisters of Our Lady of Providence. It is located
in Anstey Manor House on the outer fringes of Alton, a traditional Georgian market town known for its associations with Jane Austen. Nineteen acres of grounds offer extensive playing fields, adventure playground, woodland walks and traditional gardens. Formerly a boarding school, the school now attracts over 550 pupils from the Farnham, Haslemere, Winchester, Petersfield, Midhurst, Hook and Basingstoke areas. Our students are encouraged, enthused and expected to ‘be the best that they can be.’
“Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” Albert Camus
Pastoral We are committed to the personal and spiritual growth of all pupils based on Christian values, academic excellence and high quality pastoral care. The life of the school is rooted in the Catholic tradition with an emphasis on personal faith, tolerance, service, friendship and
respect for others. Pupils of all faith backgrounds are welcomed and nurtured within the school’s community. Pupils are actively involved in caring for others and fundraising for numerous charities, looking beyond themselves to the needs of the wider world.
“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.� Aristotle
Academic Central to the purpose of any school is the vibrancy and diversity of its academic life. Alton Convent School teaches the full range of disciplines delivered by subject specialists and maintains high levels of attainment for all. Small classes foster a confident and independent attitude, ensuring individuals are educated, cultured and have a zest for learning. In the first three years in the senior school girls follow a common curriculum, including modern languages, Latin, and
individual sciences. In year 9 students choose from a range of GCSE options. Our Sixth Form enjoy an experience which fuses the new and traditional. A wide range of courses is offered and taught by specialist teachers within small classes, helping students to achieve the best possible results. Pupils maintain a consistent and very high standard of both GCSE and A level examination results in all subjects. These excellent results reflect the hard work and dedication of its staff.
“Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.� Cecil Beaton
Creative Arts A broad and imaginative approach in the arts studio and extensive enrichment programmes ensure that no pupil is untouched by the creative arts. Pupils have every opportunity to be brave and challenged in music, art
and drama. The Creative and Performing Arts building accommodates the expanding provision to foster talent from Nursery to Sixth Form and we currently hold the Gold Artsmark award.
“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.� Vince Lombardi
Sport PE focuses on traditional team and individual sports. Expectations are high with pupils regularly representing their school, county, and in some cases, their country at a host of sporting activities, including cross country and
athletics. Equestrian sport has traditionally played an important role in the annual sporting calendar with regular regional and national success for our teams and individual riders in show jumping and eventing.
The Role Job Summary: • To manage the English Department • To contribute to the teaching of courses within the Department • To manage the development of English in the school Job Content Main Duties Teaching • To prepare for and undertake the teaching of courses across the ability range to GCSE, AS and A Level • To contribute to departmental schemes of work, coursework moderation process • To keep full records of attendance and achievement/ progress of all pupils taught, including formative and summative assessment • To contribute towards the upkeep and updating of curriculum resources • To ensure appropriate course materials are available for pupils • To ensure individual needs are met through appropriate use of differentiation • To take responsibility for classroom/corridor display as appropriate • To ensure all equipment is in a safe condition, complying with health and safety regulations and ready for use by the pupils • To support numeracy and literacy across the curriculum • To promote the use of IT across the curriculum
The Role (cont.) Role of a Curriculum Group Leader • To lead the English curriculum group • To inspire and instil a love of English across the entire school • To liaise with the Deputy Head on all matters pertaining to Curriculum Group Leadership • To provide curriculum support and guidance for staff in your curriculum group • To organise regular Curriculum Group meetings in line with the meetings schedule and to follow agendas agreed with the Deputy Head • To attend Curriculum Group Leaders meetings and plan departmental and other meetings as required • To set departmental targets • To maintain departmental accountability • To monitor and evaluate classroom practice • To scrutinise work, mark books etc • To manage pupil evaluation/reporting etc • To have an overview of examination entries • To monitor and track pupil performance • To promote the virtual learning environment • To support numeracy and literacy across the curriculum • To contribute to discussions on curricular and extracurricular initiatives • To ensure displays in Curriculum Group areas meet whole school requirements • To review performance annually with the Quality Assurance Group
The Role (cont.) Liaison (in and out of school) • To work as part of a subject team • To liaise with other members of the school teaching staff and keep informed of major changes in the national curriculum • To attend staff, departmental meetings and other meetings as required • To attend/contribute to school working parties/reviews • To attend INSET meetings and courses as required • To support and liaise with specialist teachers as required Pastoral • To act as form tutor to a group of pupils with a range of abilities and needs • To liaise with the Deputy Headmistress and Headmaster as appropriate on pastoral matters • To display commitment to the protection and safeguarding of children and young people General Role • To provide leadership and maintain firm discipline • To undertake lunchtime, break time and other duties as required • To contribute to extra-curricular activities Other Responsibilities • To review performance annually in discussion with the Senior Leadership Team • To adhere to school procedures outlined in the Staff Handbook and Policy documentation • Any other duties as deemed appropriate by the Headmaster
The Department Currently five members of staff are involved in teaching English in the Senior School. They form a lively, hard working and committed team and the department prides itself on its achievements, not only in excellent examination results but also in bringing a fresh, creative and often innovative approach to the teaching of the subject at all levels. It is a happy department. Recent moderators’ reports for A level coursework mention “assessment with consistent care”, candidates being encouraged to “develop their independence” and opinions being “explored with flair and confidence whilst clear logical lines of argument were sustained.” GCSE Controlled Assessments were described as showing “work of an excellent standard, with students engaging their readers in their writing with confident, assured and sophisticated argument.” The schemes of work followed by years 7, 8 and 9 reflect the ethos of the school and are geared to the needs of our pupils with an emphasis on creative work as well as preparing them for the rigours of exam syllabuses which are to follow in later years. A recent innovation is the introduction of debating skills in year 9 (to be certificated at Level 2 by the English Speaking Board). In years 10 and 11 English Language and Literature are taught together in mixed ability groups (the classes are taught in their respective forms). We follow the AQA specifications (syllabus A) for both the new GCSE and the new A level courses. We are particularly pleased that a significant number of students have left us after A levels to read English and related subjects at university. The English teachers are very involved in the life of the school as a whole, including the school’s International programme. Plans for the current term include a concert celebrating Shakespeare in words and music and an evening of poetry, written and performed by our own pupils.
Remuneration Salary
The salary will be commensurate with the significance and importance of the post and the experience of the candidate. In addition school fee remission will be made available to the successful candidate.
How to Apply Please download an application form and complete and return with a covering letter to the Headmaster, Mr Maher, by the closing date. Please refer to the school website www.altonconvent.org.uk for further information or contact Mrs Pigott, the Headmaster’s PA at enquiries@altonconvent.org.uk Closing Date: Wednesday 24 February Interview Date: Thursday 3 March
Alton Convent School, Anstey Lane, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 2NG Tel: 01420 82070 Email: enquiries@altonconvent.org.uk Website: altonconvent.org.uk www.facebook.com/alton.conventschool www.twitter.com/AltonConventSch