xxxxxxxxx History of Berkhamsted Schools Group

Berkhamsted School is situated in the historic Hertfordshire town of Berkhamsted, a prosperous community surrounded by Chiltern countryside and within easy reach of London Berkhamsted is a leading Independent School for pupils aged 3 to 18 years, the foundation of which dates back to 1541 (when John Incent, the Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, successfully applied to King Henry the VIII for a license to purchase a piece of land for a ‘freescole’).

In 1888 a Girls School was founded in Berkhamsted under the same governing body, and the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools merged to form a diamond school in 1997 The Prep School was also integrated at this stage, and the School became Berkhamsted Collegiate School.

In 2011 the School merged with Heatherton House, a small independent day School for girls in Chesham Bois, and became the Berkhamsted Schools Group. Operating as a satellite Prep School, Heatherton provides a feed of Girls to the Berkhamsted Girls School every year. In 2012 Berkhamsted Schools Group acquired Haresfoot, a small proprietary prep school in Berkhamsted. This site now houses the Berkhamsted Pre-Prep and Berkhamsted Day Nursery Limited, and Berkhamsted Prep takes children from age 7-11.

Berkhamsted is the only School in the Herts, Beds and Bucks region, and one of only a small number of Schools in the country, to offer a ‘diamond’ structure that combines the best of both single-sex and coeducational teaching. Boys and Girls are taught together until the age of 11 (Berkhamsted Pre-Prep and Prep), separately from the age of 11-16 (Berkhamsted Boys and Berkhamsted Girls), before coming back together again in a joint sixth form (Berkhamsted Sixth).

Job Description

Hoursofwork:830am-5pmMondaytoFriday,allyearround

Heads of Departments are appointed by and are directly accountable to the Principal, the Vice Principal and the Departmental Line Manager for the organisation and management of their departments through their SMT line-managers The Head of Department is required to show leadership in securing standards of excellence in teaching and learning and play a key role in developing school policy. They are expected to provide the vision for the department and link key objectives into the School Development Plan. They are expected to monitor, support, appraise and motivate other teachers of the subject, setting high professional standards in all aspects of work with targets for professional development and improvement. It is the Head of Department’s responsibility to make decisions or give advice, but it is hoped that this can be done within a framework of consultation and co-operation, so that other staff in the department gain experience and training for responsibility

General Responsibilities

1. Curriculum - the strategic direction and development of Mandarin within the context of the school’s aims and policies which guides subject policies, plans, targets and practices:

Keeping abreast of developments in Mandarin, teaching methods etc. and attending meetings and CPD courses by arrangement with the Principal and Vice Principal; making use of any opportunities for inter-departmental initiatives and co-operation

Promoting the department in the wider community

Formulating the aims of the department; planning schemes of work for the department within the School’s Curriculum Policy; producing, reviewing and updating the departmental documents, practice and policies as necessary; evaluating new syllabuses.

Overseeing and co-ordinating applications, staffing and the leadership of educational visits within the department.

Job Description

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Being familiar with all the subject requirements for Public Examinations and ensuring proper preparation of the pupils for them.

Hoursofwork:830am-5pmMondaytoFriday,allyearround

Liaising with the Examinations Officer and the Deputy Head Curriculum & Academic Progress in arrangements for Public and Internal School Examinations. Being available and contactable either in person or by email/phone during the examination results periods to advise staff, parents and pupils on examination performance and university entrance.

2. Staff – leading and managing staff to ensure all those with involvement in the teaching or support of the subject receive the leadership, support, challenge, information and professional development necessary to sustain staff motivation and secure improvement in teaching:

Liaising with the Principal and Vice Principal on the recruitment and appointment of new members to the department.

Providing induction for and guidance of new staff in syllabus, resources, procedures for marking, reporting etc.; ensuring effective supervision of probationer teachers within the department

Liaising and collaborating with the Head of French and the Head of Spanish.

Ensuring that ‘good practice’, in terms of both teaching and learning, documentation and professionalism is shared and upheld throughout the department

Ensuring the professional development of all members of the department through in-service training, professional organisations and active involvement in wider school activities. Identifying the training needs of all members in the department and liaising with the CPD co-ordinator.

Encouraging and developing innovative approaches to learning, including online resources. Evaluating the performance of teaching staff and others within the Department as part of the formal Staff Appraisal process, providing assistance with the development of their careers.

Job Description

Make sure to use Gills Sans Font

Being familiar with all the subject requirements for Public Examinations and ensuring proper preparation of the pupils for them.

Hoursofwork:830am-5pmMondaytoFriday,allyearround

Liaising with the Examinations Officer and the Deputy Head Curriculum & Academic Progress in arrangements for Public and Internal School Examinations. Being available and contactable either in person or by email/phone during the examination results periods to advise staff, parents and pupils on examination performance and university entrance.

2. Staff – leading and managing staff to ensure all those with involvement in the teaching or support of the subject receive the leadership, support, challenge, information and professional development necessary to sustain staff motivation and secure improvement in teaching:

Liaising with the Principal and Vice Principal on the recruitment and appointment of new members to the department.

Providing induction for and guidance of new staff in syllabus, resources, procedures for marking, reporting etc.; ensuring effective supervision of probationer teachers within the department

Liaising and collaborating with the Head of French and the Head of Spanish.

Ensuring that ‘good practice’, in terms of both teaching and learning, documentation and professionalism is shared and upheld throughout the department

Ensuring the professional development of all members of the department through in-service training, professional organisations and active involvement in wider school activities. Identifying the training needs of all members in the department and liaising with the CPD co-ordinator.

Encouraging and developing innovative approaches to learning, including online resources. Evaluating the performance of teaching staff and others within the Department as part of the formal Staff Appraisal process, providing assistance with the development of their careers.

Job Description

Hoursofwork:830am-5pmMondaytoFriday,allyearround

Co-ordinating the programmes for lesson observation and work scrutiny in the departments. Organising regular departmental meetings and ensuring good communication within the department and that all are up to date with identified issues, plans made, actions taken within an agreed timescale.

Where necessary, setting work for pupils if a member of the department is absent and liaising over cover.

3. Resources – ensuring the efficient, effective and safe deployment of Staff and Resources and identifying appropriate additional resources for the department:

Liaising with the Principal, Vice Principal and Deputy Head Curriculum & Assessment, over the annual staffing allocation and matters of staff welfare and development

In conjunction with the other Heads of Languages, preparing estimates for departmental budgets and major equipment at the appropriate time. Managing the departmental budget effectively and informing line managers of any issues.

Creating and deploying learning resources effectively, including digital learning; ordering textbooks and other material within budget provisions and keeping an account of departmental expenditure.

Checking on stock and resources and taking steps to ensure against unreasonable loss, wear and tear

Monitoring the implementation of the School Health and Safety policy within the department, ensuring a safe working environment in line with the Policy for both staff and pupils. Providing and monitoring appropriate risk assessments.

Ensuring that all out-of-school activities are in line with the School Health & Safety Policy and Guidelines.

Job Description

4. Pupils – securing and sustaining effective teaching of Mandarin, evaluating the quality of teaching and standards of pupils’ achievements, setting targets for improvement:

Hoursofwork:830am-5pmMondaytoFriday,allyearround

Aiming to raise expectations and get the best out of pupils with varying needs and abilities. Ensuring that every pupil receives the best teaching and learning experience while in the department.

Encouraging interest in Mandarin and participation in appropriate activities and trips.

Encouraging high standards of work, drawing attention to achievement through classroom displays, exhibitions for Open Days, events, website info etc.

Designing, setting and managing homework, so that it is a valuable extension of class activities and helps pupils to develop independent learning skills. Ensuring formative and summative assessment is meaningful and work set by the department is marked accurately and returned promptly

Contributing to pupils’ core skills of literacy, numeracy and I.T. capability; contributing to pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

Assisting with the admission and induction of pupils into the school where appropriate. Using data to recognise and nurture the quality of practice within the department and in promoting pupils’ progress.

Ensuring reports are individualised and meaningful, providing a valuable form of communication and self-reflection

Job Description

The skills and attributes essential to the Head of Department’s role

Hoursofwork:830am-5pmMondaytoFriday,allyearround

Leadership skills, attributes and professional competence: the ability to lead, manage and motivate people to work as individuals and as a team towards a common goal.

Decision making skills: the ability to solve problems and make decisions.

Communications skills: the ability to make points clearly, listen accurately and understand the views of others.

Time-management: the ability to plan time effectively and to organise oneself well

Administrative skills: the ability to organise and run this large department.

Management skills: the ability to work effectively with Senior Leaders, other Middle Leaders and direct reports.