Applicant Information Pack Head of Art & DT and Form Teacher
A Foreword from our Principal and Chief People Officer
Berkhamsted has led the way in pursuing a ‘foundation structure’ As a group of six schools, it combines scale of resource with individual attention and development of pupils – and staff We start with our values: we aim for excellence – aiming high with integrity –in all that we do. We are ‘adventurous’, and support development, research, and experimentation in teaching and learning. We ‘ serve others’ – at both pupil and staff level: ours is a non-hierarchical school in which the opinions of all matter, and in which we all share in the support and contribution to our local community.
Above all, we are committed to developing remarkable people, both our pupils and our staff
We are looking for highly committed, ambitious and adventurous people to join a thriving staff body, whom we can support to flourish here, and whom we can help to grow. Our staff are so important that we have a Chief People Officer as one of our most senior members of staff
Our staff are our biggest asset at Berkhamsted, and so investing in not only their professional development but also their wellbeing, is a key priority. We foster a working environment that supports staff both professionally and personally We offer a wide range of staff wellbeing initiatives Colleagues can easily access financial, physical, emotional and social well-being support from school.
We seek to enable all members of the school community to achieve their full potential in an environment characterised by equality respect and opportunity. We work hard at Berkhamsted, but we also know how to come together as a community and enjoy downtime, building relationships which simply last a lifetime.
Richard Backhouse - Principal Tracey Evans - Chief People OfficerHistory of Berkhamsted Schools Group About Heatherton
Heatherton is a close-knit, dynamic and forward thinking school and believes that a child’s education should be inspirational, challenging and nurturing.
Heatherton Girls belong to a warm, friendly and happy community where they feel secure and able to become independent learners who are willing to explore the unknown Highly skilled and passionate teachers inspire our girls through a rich and varied curriculum and an array of extra-curricular activities.
There are currently 158 pupils at Heatherton (aged 3-11).
Part of the Berkhamsted Schools Group
Heatherton is one of six schools that make up Berkhamsted Schools Group. Berkhamsted School is one of the country’s leading independent schools. It has a structure that provides the best in both co-educational and single-sex education, offering small class sizes and appropriate teaching environments for each age group, from age 3 to 18.
The School’s ‘diamond’ structure allows boys and girls to be taught together until the age of 11 (at Berkhamsted Pre-Prep and at Berkhamsted Prep), separately from 11-16 (Berkhamsted Boys and Berkhamsted Girls), before coming back together again in a joint Sixth Form (Berkhamsted Sixth).
Heatherton Girls are provided with the opportunity of progressing to the Girls Senior School by sitting the Berkhamsted entrance exam six weeks prior to the external applicants The School curriculum sits alongside the Berkhamsted Prep and Pre-Prep Schools. As Heatherton is located within easy access to local Grammar Schools, girls are also prepared for sitting the 11 plus
Job Description
Reporting to: Headteacher
Hours of work: Part time, 22 hours per week Monday to Friday term time only (exact timetable to be agreed)
Knowledge and Understanding
Lead the development of the subject across both Key Stages, linking, where necessary with colleagues in the Berkhamsted Schools’ Group so that a shared understanding of expected knowledge and experiences is agreed. Bring the knowledge and skills required to teach Art and DT practises from Nursery to Yr6.
To work with the Art TA to provide pupils work to be displayed Have knowledge and understanding of:
The school’s aims, priorities, targets and strategic plans; The relationship of the subject to the curriculum as a whole; Any statutory curriculum requirements and the requirement for assessment, recording of pupils’ attainment and progress; The characteristics of high quality teaching, learning and achievement for all pupils;
The implication of the Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs for teaching and learning To ensure appropriate monitoring of internal and, where relevant, external assessments and to implement tracking systems to ensure individual and group planning is relevant and effective and the needs of individual children are met.
Planning and Setting Expectations
Lead planning and organisation in the subject to ensure all pupils are challenged by appropriate programmes of study; Set expectations and targets for staff and pupils in relation to standards of pupil achievement and the quality of teaching;
Job Description
Work with the Learning Support coordinator and any other staff with Special Educational Needs expertise, to ensure that plans are used to set subject specific targets and match work well to pupils’ needs; Establish, with the involvement of relevant staff, short, medium and long-term plans for the development and resourcing of the subject which contribute to whole school aims, policies and practices.
Teaching and Managing Pupil Learning
Ensure:
Curriculum coverage, continuity and progression in the subject for all pupils, including those of high ability and those with special educational or linguistic needs;
Teachers are clear about the teaching of objectives in lessons, understand the sequence of teaching and learning in the subject, and communicate such information to pupils;
Guidance is provided on the choice of appropriate teaching and learning methods to meet the needs of the subject and of different pupils;
Effective development of pupils’ literacy, numeracy and information technology skills through the subject;
Teachers of the subject are aware of its contribution to pupils’ understanding of the duties, opportunities, responsibilities and rights of citizens;
Effective development of pupils’ individual and collaborative study skills necessary for them to become increasingly independent when out of school.
Job Description
Assessment and Evaluation
Where available, analyse and interpret relevant national, local and school data, research and inspection evidence, to inform policies, practices, expectations, targets and teaching methods;
Establish and implement clear policies and practices for assessing, recording and reporting on pupil achievement and for using this information to recognise achievement and to assist pupils in setting targets for further improvement; Ensure that information about pupils’ achievements in previous classes and schools is used effectively to secure good progress in the subject;
Monitor the progress made in achieving subject plans and targets, evaluate the effects on teaching and learning, and use this analysis to guide further improvement;
Evaluate the teaching of the subject in the school, use this analysis to identify effective practice and areas for improvement and take action to improve further the quality of teaching
Establish clear targets for pupils’ achievement, and evaluate both progress and achievement of all pupils, including those with special educational and linguistic needs; Use data effectively to identify pupils who are underachieving and, where necessary, create and implement effective plans of action to support those pupils
Pupil Achievement
Job Description
Establish a partnership with parents to involve them in their child’s learning of the subject, as well as providing information about curriculum, attainment, progress and targets; Develop effective links with the local community, including business and industry, in order to extend the subject, enhance teaching and develop the pupils’ wider understanding; Communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with parents, external agencies and the wider community, including business and industry
Managing Own Performance and Development
Prioritise and manage own time effectively, particularly in relation to balancing demands made by teaching, subject management and involvement in school development; Achieve challenging professional goals; Take responsibility for their own professional development
Managing Resources
To manage the subject budget and ensure effective resourcing of the department; Establish staff and resource needs and advise the Headteacher and senior managers of likely priorities for expenditure, and allocate available resources with maximum efficiency to meet the objectives of the school and subject plans and achieve value for money; Deploy, or advise the Headteacher on the deployment of staff involved in the subject to ensure that best use of subject, technical and other expertise; Ensure the effective and efficient management and organisation of learning resources, including information and communications technology;
Relations with Parents and Wider CommunityJob Description
Maintain existing resources and explore opportunities to develop or incorporate new resources from a wide range of sources inside and outside the school;
Use accommodation to create an effective and stimulating environment for the teaching and learning of the subject; Ensure that there is a safe working and learning environment in which risks are properly assessed
Strategic Leadership
Create a climate, which enables other staff to develop and maintain positive attitudes towards the subject and confidence in teaching it;
Develop and implement policies and practices for the subject which reflect the school’s commitment to high achievement, effective teaching and learning;
Ensure that the Headteacher and senior managers are well informed about subject policies, plans and priorities, the success in meeting objectives and targets, and subject related professional development plans;
Establish a clear, shared understanding of the importance and role of the subject in contributing to pupils’ spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development, and in preparing pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life;
To contribute to the School Development Plan by setting and evaluating annual targets for the department;
To monitor and maintain the schemes of work and conduct a full Subject Review in conjunction with the timings set out in the School’s Monitoring & Evaluation Policy;
To keep abreast of the subject and strategies for teaching it, ensuring that relevant information is disseminated to the subject staff
Job Description
Extra-curricular Responsibilities, Duties, Cover
Extra-curricular Responsibilities, Duties, CoverIt is the nature of the work at the School that tasks and responsibilities are varied Therefore all staff are expected to work in a flexible way when occasion arises, when tasks which are not specifically covered in their job descriptions have to be undertaken. These additional duties will normally be to cover unforeseen circumstances or changes and they will normally be compatible with the regular type of work
If an additional responsibility or task becomes a regular or frequent part of the member of staff’s job, it will be included in the job description after consultation with that member of staff.
To take a full and activepart in the extracurricular life of the school, specifically
To run at least one after-school club per term, as directedby the Headteacher
To attend and assistat least four events duringthe school year that take place on a weekend These might include:
Sporting events, such as sportsdays
Musical and culturalevents, such as fairs and concerts.
Marketing events, such as Open Days.
There is an expectation that staff will attend Schoolplays, productions, and other eventsthat take place in the evenings, as required
School Trips and Visits
To participate in (and lead) educational day visits.
There is an expectation that staff will participate in school residential trips, as required.
To participate in parent-teacher and curriculum meetings, which may be after-school or in the evenings, as required by the Headteacher
To undertake additional duties
To register the attendance of pupils.
To participate fully in arranging assemblies and contributing to the spiritual and moral life of the school.
To supervise children outside lesson time as agreed in the prepared rota, before/during/after school sessions as directed
To provide cover for absent colleagues, as required by the Headteacher
Benefits
Benefits
We boast a competitive salary structure, alongside other benefits, which includes access to a comprehensive pension scheme.
The wellbeing of our staff is a priority. We have a developed programme for staff with initiatives and support in the areas of Economic, Physical, Emotional and Social wellbeing.
Free classes and advisory services. memberships and discounted rates in local establishments, together with cycle to work scheme, free on-site parking, free daily lunch, and fee reduction for staff's children are examples of some of the non-contractual benefits on offer in this programme.
Watch our video
Watch our video and hear from our colleagues why they enjoy working at the Berkhamsted Schools Group. Find out more about what it is really like to be a member of the community.
Benefits
Safeguarding and Protection
Berkhamsted is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and visitors to adopt a child centred and coordinated approach to child protection and safeguarding.
A copy of the School’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy can be found HERE
The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and visitors to adopt a child centred and coordinated approach to child protection and safeguarding. Berkhamsted Schools Group is a registered charity dedicated to education: 310630.
