Assistant Head - Learning and Teaching

AN INDEPENDENT CO-EDUCATIONAL DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOL FOR PUPILS AGED 7 TO 18 IN THE HEART OF SURREY

Assistant Head – Learning and Teaching

Information for prospective staff

About Freemen's

Our mission is to inspire our people to learn, to lead and to make a difference.

We believe that if we can motivate pupils and staff to always give their best, the School will continue to grow and thrive. Community engagement and our impact on the world beyond our walls are at the forefront of everything we do at Freemen’s.

The School was founded in Brixton in 1854 to provide an education for the orphaned children of Freemen of the City of London before moving to the present site, Ashtead Park, in 1926. We have a magnificent site with modern buildings alongside the original Main House set in a stunning 57 acres of parkland. This idyllic setting further supports the wellbeing of our students and staff, as being here, in the park, makes coming to work a pleasure. It looks striking in every season and we are lucky to have a vast array of wildlife living in our woods.

Today, Freemen’s is an independent day and boarding school for students aged 7-18, with a strong ethos of community and service in accordance with the values on which the School was founded.

We are proudly co-educational and have been since 1854, which was radical at the time, and we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with our forward-thinking, progressive approach.

You can expect to be teaching highly able, personable and engaged students who are a pleasure to work with. Whilst stellar exam results and academic excellence are one of the outcomes at the school, that’s not all. Our curriculum ensures each individual finds a path which is appropriate for them, be that in the classroom, on a sports pitch or in one of the many co-curricular activities we encourage our young people to throw themselves into. That curriculum is built upon four branches of the Freemen’s education: pastoral support, House activities, academic achievement, and our varied co-curricular programme (including sport) to ensure every student realises their potential. Crucially, we then spend time helping our students to understand who and why they are becoming the people they are.

Teachers at Freemen's embody our principles for excellent classroom practice, offering innovative and forward-thinking approaches and enabling us to be a beacon of learning and teaching. They are supported with a comprehensive programme of continued

About Freemen's

professional learning so there are always opportunities to develop and we stay abreast of change.

The emphasis in the Junior School is on Kindness, Honesty and Fun and the Senior School picks up that message with a pastoral programme that emphasizes the importance of a strong, supportive community in which every member, staff and student, feels respected, supported and valued. As a result, we support our young people to successfully navigate the tests of life they face every day.

We do all of this in an environment where staff and students are helped to feel like they matter, feel supported, and enjoy access to a community of people and a physical environment which is good for the body and for the soul.

The School is one of four independent schools managed by the City of London Corporation (The City). The City provides financial support in the form of bursaries and scholarships. Other links with the City of London and the Livery Companies are strong, which presents opportunities for staff to attend events at Guildhall and elsewhere in the City, as well as the possibility of gaining the honour of the Freedom of the City of London.

Transport links are good; the School is a mile from Ashtead station with regular services to Epsom and London and south to Leatherhead and Guildford. The M25 junction 9 is a seven-minute drive from the School.

Learning and Teaching

We are looking for a talented, dynamic and committed school leader to take our curriculum delivery to the next level.

Freemen’s is evolving, and the post offers an opportunity for someone to help deliver an education which will last a lifetime for every child who attends the school.

Freemen’s educational offer has developed considerably in recent years; learning and teaching at the school is now underpinned by a well-established framework (our Six Principles) and a clear-sighted mission

We have a coherent approach to assessment, data and tracking which ensures that we prepare students exceptionally well without making tests the focus of their school life.

Our technology base is robust and our staff and students are confident using it. Every student from Year 5 upwards has their own device, either an iPad (KS2-4) or a BYOD device. Likewise, every staff member has an iPad and a laptop or a PC. EWBs are in every classroom, as are Apple TVs. Microsoft 365 underpins our learning, and other systems are in use.

To deliver our mission we know it isn’t enough for students to be taught, or even to learn. We need them to leave Freemen’s able confidently articulate and understand all that they have learned and how they have learned. Such learning is not limited to the classroom and our curriculum is delivered via our four branches, comprising of our house, pastoral, academic and co-curricular programmes.

We believe that schools need to be defined by more than their exam results and should offer a rich, personalised and realised education which every child values and understands. Our Opportunities, delivered via subject-based lessons, are how we think students develop the characteristics we believe are the outcome of a top-quality education. They are the key focus of this role.

This post will also focus on ensuring that the teaching and learning in classrooms (both inside and outside) is of the highest possible quality and helps deliver the school’s mission.

Learn, lead and make a difference

We are looking for someone to work with teachers and middle leaders to help develop their abilities to weave Opportunities throughout lessons, at each key stage. For teachers, delivering both subject content and the Opportunities is a challenge, and they will need training, leadership and trust from you, your team and their Heads of Department.

You will work closely with the Lead Practitioner team, the Deputy Head Academic and alongside two other Assistant Heads, CPL and Co-curriculum.

In addition, the promise of technology remains both exciting and challenging. You will help Freemen’s engage with technology in the classroom, guiding our use of AI and other digital tools to improve outcomes, reduce workload and free students and staff to learn. This work has already begun, and elements of AI are being utilised throughout the school, helping colleagues avoid pitfalls and engage productively will be key. Freemen’s has a strategic committee to guide development and you’ll be a member of the team and will be key to turning its aims into practice.

The role will require you to manage elements of curriculum delivery, overseeing what data is collected and shared and ensuring staff know how to engage with data to support students. You will also share leadership of open events, our Entrance Examination day and what we report to our parents about their children’s progress.

You’ll join a supportive, caring leadership team, who work well together towards a shared goal. Freemen’s is a kind school with a great sense of community and one where the students are a pleasure to teach.

Job description: Assistant Head – Learning and Teaching

Reports to

• Deputy Head Academic.

Purpose of role

• To embed Opportunities through lessons.

• To lead Learning and Teaching.

• To lead the use of technology for learning.

• To oversee some of the educational operation of the taught curriculum.

Line management responsibilities

• Line management of some Heads of Department.

• Lead Practitioners.

• Head of Scholars.

Policy responsibility for

• Assessment, Tracking and Reporting.

• Homework

• Classroom visits and Blinks.

• Learning and Teaching.

• Gifted, Talented and Able (via Head of Scholars).

Shared responsibility for

• Entrance Examination Day.

• Open Events.

Oversee the learning and teaching of the curriculum

• Ensure the Opportunities are provided to all students.

• Ensure excellent learning and teaching practice is present in every lesson.

• With the Assistant Head (CPL) provide teaching staff with relevant L&T training.

• Be visible and present in classrooms, providing staff with feedback and tools.

Develop Freemen’s use of technology

• Sit on the IT Strategy committee, chair its Learning and Teaching sub-committee.

• Develop Freemen’s’ use of AI to improve learning and help manage workload.

• Use technology to simplify and streamline school for students and staff.

• Guide the IT replacement programme. Educational operations

• Oversight of Assessment, Tracking and Reporting and data collection.

• Ensuring staff use data to improve learning.

• Academic reporting to parents.

• KS3 summer assessments.

• Parents’ Evenings.

Job description: Assistant Head – Learning and Teaching

Other

• Contribute to governors’ reports.

• Contribute to the ISI SEF, Strategic Intent, Risk Management and Budget setting.

• Teach up to 12 hours per week.

• Participate in co-curricular activities.

• Contribute to the Duty and SLT Rota.

• Support The City of London Corporation.

• Contribute to our work with partner schools

Pastoral care

• Promote best practice in the safeguarding and welfare of pupils.

Person specification

• Demonstrates a passion for, and expertise in, their subject and uses that to inspire the students whom them teach.

• Should hold QTS and a good honours degree in a relevant subject, ideally a 2.1 or higher.

• Be able to form excellent, productive working relationships with all staff, ensuring that everyone knows they matter.

• To be an exceptional communicator of complex ideas, capable of listening, supporting and inspiring colleagues, students and parents.

• Good time management skills, sufficient to cope with the demands and life of a busy leading independent school.

• Able to work with a team of colleagues and tackle the complexity of school management positively.

• To be skilled at change management and have a proven record of leading whole-school development.

• To be calm, kind and committed.

• To believe in the educational mission and values of Freemen’s.

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Professional expectations of staff

Safeguarding

Staff will be kind, fair and respectful to students and each other, challenge others when they are unkind, unfair or disrespectful and have the highest regard for the students’ safety and their safeguarding duties, whether on or off the school premises.

Appearance

Smart professional dress, or appropriate co-curricular clothing, at all times

Availability

Prompt attendance during the School’s operating hours and a commitment to completing School business is expected.

Awareness and use of Freemen’s policies

Staff will be able to access and use policies as necessary, and read and act upon them appropriately.

Behaviour

Staff will establish Freemen’s as a place of learning and will determine clear boundaries of behaviour, based on mutual respect and trust. Staff will have high expectations of students and will manage their behaviour effectively.

Collective responsibility

Staff share collective responsibility for Freemen’s standards, reputation and property, should treat them with respect and care, and insist others do likewise.

Communication

Staff will expect high standards of communication from students and will, in turn, demonstrate accurate, timely and appropriate communication when dealing with students, parents and colleagues.

Ethics and behaviour

Staff will uphold public trust in the profession and the reputation of Freemen’s by maintaining high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside School. They will be respectful and tolerant of the rights of others, including colleagues, and not undermine fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. They will ensure that their personal beliefs are not expressed in ways which exploit pupils’ vulnerability or might lead them to break the law.

Learn, lead and make a difference

Leaders

Staff will be leaders in the School, exercising good judgement and modelling the behaviour and habits that are expected of the students.

Learners

Staff will show and share a passion for their subject or discipline(s). They will seek to develop as professionals and as specialists, will be open to feedback and will seek opportunities to collaborate with colleagues and engage with relevant research.

Planning

Teaching staff will have a sense of where the lesson fits within the scheme of work and plan well-structured lessons using an appropriate range of pedagogies.

Use of feedback

Staff will seek to use feedback for themselves and if appropriate, their students and will complete assessments and reports in a timely fashion in the appropriate manner and style.

How to apply

Applicants should send a letter of application and a completed application form to the Headmaster via CLFS-Recruitment@cityoflondon.gov.uk, by 9.00am on Tuesday 12 March 2024. Longlisted candidates will be invited to interviews that will take place on Wednesday 20 March 2024, shortlisted candidates will be invited to final interviews on Tuesday 26 March.

Candidates are asked to note that Freemen’s retains the right to interview and appoint at any time during the application process. Early applications are encouraged.

Freemen’s acknowledges receipt of all applications, if you have not received confirmation of the safe receipt of your application within two working days please call the School or email CLFS-Recruitment@cityoflondon.gov.uk to check on its status.

The successful candidate must be able to satisfy the City of London’s health requirements and a confidential medical assessment by the City of London’s Medical Officer is required.

The City of London Freemen’s School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.

The successful applicant must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (Enhanced Disclosure).

"This friendly, grounded and well-run school takes the pressure off getting academically bright young things into senior schools and seems to have a knack of making challenging work seem fun."

The Good Schools Guide

Your benefits

Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS)

Contributory defined benefit

Family friendly

Significantly enhanced maternity, adoption and shared parental leave entitlement

Free lunch and refreshments

The option to join Supper Club at a subsidised rate

City of London benefits:

• CityBenefits - discounts and cashback.

• Wellbeing resources.

• Sponsorship to become a Freeman of the City of London.

Sports and Leisure:

• Discounted gym membership.

• Free use of the fitness suite.

• Staff social and sporting opportunities including pilates, yoga and five-a-side football.

• Free staff swimming and weekend family swimming for staff.

Fee remission

Up to 50% fee remission subject to the normal entry requirements.

Cycle to work scheme

Up to £3,000 salary sacrifice

Season Ticket Loan

Free parking on site

Access to on-site facilities

Learning and Development:

• Funding to obtain QTS/PGCE.

• Tailored CPD for all colleagues that includes a thriving internal CPD programme, as well as a range of external opportunities such as Masters and PhD support, Enquiring Teachers Programme and Chartered College qualifications.

Wellbeing:

• Up to 2 days’ paid leave for volunteering.

• Cash back on private health care treatment.

• Access to on-site Medical Centre.

• Staff Wellbeing Committee.

• Confidential Employee Assistance for staff and their families.

• Emergencies-only approach to out of hours email.

"A down-to-earth, friendly school that’s comfortable in its own skin rather than relentlessly trying to show off its most polished side – and is all the better for it. Just the ticket for parents after a high-quality, stress-free route for their academically bright sons and daughters from age 7 right through to 18.

Almost unique around here."

The Good Schools Guide