AN INDEPENDENT CO-EDUCATIONAL DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOL FOR PUPILS AGED 7 TO 18 IN THE HEART OF SURREY
Teacher of Art 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 forwardthinking, progressive approach.
You can expect stellar exam results and academic excellence, but that’s not all. The focus within the School is on every individual finding 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. Our mission is built upon four pillars 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 to be able to learn, lead and make a difference. Freemen’s is a place where students are keen to learn and eager to engage in the wider aspects of life at our School.
About Freemen ' s
Teachers at Freemen's embody our principles for excellent classroom practice, offering innovative and forward-thinking approaches, enabling us to be a beacon of learning and teaching. We take risks in the pursuit of excellence by being brave and radical, willing to challenge the status quo. Through our 1-1 iPad programme, we aim to create discerning users of technology, so that staff and students can thrive in the modern dynamic world. We do all of this, in an environment where staff feel supported, by investing in life-long learning through research-led enquiry and building learning communities. 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 are able to support our young people to successfully navigate the tests of life they face every day.
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 sevenminute drive from the School.
Art at Freemen's
The Art Department at Freemen’s is situated in the heart of the School and we are lucky to teach pupils from year 3 to year 13. The department has three specialist Art teachers and two technicians. We are a multidisciplinary department with three large classrooms, a dark room, two kilns, 5 printing presses, screen printing, a laser cutter, photography studio set up and dedicated sixth form work room. All students from year 3 to 9 have an hour of Art a week, with the ever-evolving curriculum designed to cover drawing, painting, printmaking and ceramics/sculpture every year. We benefit from the large school site, including woodlands as a resource for first hand observation. All KS3 and 4 pupils have their own iPads which we have integrated into our curriculum. Artist research is deeply embedded in our teaching and whilst we believe in the importance of a secure understanding of art history, we maintain a contemporary, diverse, curriculum.
We are a busy department, trips and artist workshops are an important part of our offering, with multiple trips for the GCSE and A Level groups. At least once a term we will host a visiting artist after school to run a workshop. We are keen to start a regular life drawing class after school and would be seeking support from the appointee in doing so. All staff run at least one club during lunchtime, recent clubs have included a sketchbook club, garment construction club, watercolour painting club and a ceramics club.
Our students are bright and able and so at GCSE and A Level we offer Fine Art, recognising the value of concept driven art. Our results at GCSE and A Level are very strong and we are seeking to stretch and inspire our students even further, utilising the newly refurbished Main House as a new exhibition space to broaden the scope of the outcomes of our students. This year our A Level students are set to curate their summer exhibition themselves, with ambitions for an interactive show. The school is decorated with student artwork everywhere you look and every year there are at least three exhibitions; a photography exhibition in the Autumn term, open to submissions from all students, a Spring term exhibition which is self-directed by the Lower Sixth artists and a GCSE and A Level exhibition in the Summer term.
The department is well respected and resourced, we have two classes at GCSE and one group each year for A Level, with many of our students going on to read Architecture at university. Areas we are keen to develop include the use of the dark room and ambition of our sculpture offering. We are also seeking to broaden our students’ knowledge of a more diverse range of creative careers.
Information about the role
We are looking for an ambitious Art specialist to join our school as a part-time (approximately 80%) Teacher of Art from November 2024, to cover a colleague’s maternity leave.
General
The teacher is accountable to the Head of Department andhas responsibility for the following:
• Promoting and supporting theSchool’s aims and policies.
Teaching, learning and assessment
• Preparation and planning of lessons in accordance with departmental schemes of work.
• Demonstrating a range of teaching methods and keeping abreast of developments in the subject areaat KS3, GCSE and AS/A level; employing a range of teaching resources includingthedisplay of pupils’ work.
• Carrying out assessment according to departmental and School policies. Recording assessment (grades/reports etc) within deadlines set and keeping clear records.
• Setting and marking of class work and homeworkaccording to relevant School and departmental policies.
• Reporting to parents on progress at parents’ evenings oron reasonable request from parents.
• Setting and marking/moderating examination coursework where appropriate.
• Providing pupils with appropriate challenges.
• Recognition of the specific needs of each pupil and of classes as a whole. Setting an appropriate pace for lessons and adapting teaching methods to the needs of pupils.
• Establishing a structured learning environment conducive to learning and where pupils know that high standards are always required.
• Managing the classroom effectively with appropriate use of sanctions and rewards in accordance with departmental and School policies.
• Motivating pupilsto learn and establishing a rapport with pupils conducive to learning.
• Attending departmental meetings and sharing departmental responsibility; Attending staff meetings and School or departmental INSET; seeking opportunities for professional development; participationin the School Professional Review (appraisal) scheme; participationininduction arrangements.
Other
• Promotinghighstandards of work and behaviour inside and outside the classroom.
• Contributing to the pastoraland co-curricular lifeof theSchool and carrying out therole of form tutor effectively.
• Carrying out thenormal supervision duties as laid down in School policies.
Information about the role ( cont )
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Person specification
• Staff should demonstrate a passion for, and expertise in, their subject and use that to inspire the students whom them teach. They should hold a good honours degree in a relevant subject, ideally a 2.1 or higher.
• To either, hold QTS and demonstrate a track record of success, or possess the willingness and ability become a qualified teacher
• Someone with an awareness of, and a commitment to, the needs of young people in a school setting; someone who shares the School’s commitment to promoting the welfare of and safeguarding children.
• An enthusiastic and dynamic teacher and leader, able to motivate and inspire pupils and staff to achieve the highest standards
• Someone who can build and maintain professional relationships, striking the right balance between formal and informal channels
• Someone with good time management skills, able to cope with the demands and life of a busy leading independent school.
• An effective communicator.
• Someone with good ICT skills and the ability to deal with the administrative routines.
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
For further details of this post and to download an application pack, please visit the School’s website, www.freemens.org Please send a completed application form and a covering letter to the School by email to CLFSRecruitment@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Sending in a digital portfolio with your application showcasing schemes and examples of student learning is encouraged, and a physical portfolio will form part of the interview process.
Application deadline is 9am on Friday 4 October 2024. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interviews that will take place on 8 October 2024
The School retains the right to interview and appoint at any time during the application process. early applications are encouraged.
The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and as part of the selection process applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.
The City of London Corporation is committed to Equal Opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
"Friendly was the single most uttered word used to describe the school by students, while parents report that their offspring are happy. ‘Kind and ‘non-judgemental,’ we also heard, with support on tap."
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.
Campus Map
1. Visitor parking
Reception
Philp House
Science and Technology
Medical Centre
Art and Design
Stable Block
Ferndale Theatre
Dining Hall
Haywood Centre
Junior School (Kemp House)
Boarding (Walbrook House)
13. Music School and Recital Hall
14. Main House
15. Sports Hall 16. Swimming Pool 17. Cricket Pavilion
Tennis and Netball Courts
Astro Pitch
Cricket Nets
Cricket Pitch
Italian Garden
Rugby and Football Pitches
Green Room
25. Fire Assembly Point
Bus Stop
Upper Car Park
Lower Car Park 29. Service Gate (KT21 1JB)
"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
