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Teacher of English - Full-time

Gad's Hill School, Rochester

  • Ref:KCC886-6007-203T
  • Posted:11/09/2023
  • Pay:Up to £42,251
  • Start Date:8th January 2024
  • App Close Date:05/10/2023 at 16:00
  • Interviews:w/c 9th October 2023

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Gad's Hill School is seeking a Teacher of English to work in a small but ambitious English department within our independent day school for pupils aged 3 to 16, in Higham, Kent,

Our collaborative English team deliver teaching in Language and Literature to small classes up to GCSE level, drawing inspiration and well-being from our beautiful, leafy setting in the grounds of the home of Charles Dickens.

English teaching in the Upper School is currently delivered by three specialist teachers, who collaborate with colleagues teaching the subject to Lower School pupils. Our work on a single, coherent One Curriculum for the whole school means that English teachers could even be occasionally required to deliver lessons to pupils in the Lower School (Key Stage 2) as well as to our Upper School classes.  The department's classrooms are housed in Gad's Hill Place itself.

We currently follow the WJEC Eduqas GCSE specification.

This department has proved its credentials as a collaborative and close-knit team in which new teachers can hone their craft. We value adaptable and innovative thinking and a commitment to evidence-based research and practice, and so this post may be suitable for an Early Career Teacher open to learning and self-reflection.

Information about the school

Gad’s Hill School operates as three distinct departments within one school. The Kindergarten takes children from age three in our Nursery through to Year 2. Here, alongside the foundation in literacy, numeracy, sciences and humanities, there is a strong emphasis on play, physical education, music and drama with all pupils performing in a number of short productions each year. The school places particular emphasis on communications and therefore pupils from Reception upwards receive twice weekly lessons in Spanish and also Computing.

The Junior School is currently two-form entry from Years 3-6. Our Junior pupils receive a high proportion of lessons with subject specialists; in particular Modern Languages (Spanish), DT, Computing, Art, Music, Science & Games. By Years 5 and 6 nearly all lessons are delivered by specialist tutors. In sport our students have the opportunity to represent the school in fixtures against other schools.

Our school is located geographically within a selective secondary system and historically many of our pupils would leave to attend grammar schools at the end of Lower Shell (Year 6). However, in the last few years, the growing success of our Charles Dickens Scholarship Award, providing financial assistance to the most able pupils from our own Junior School and many from the wider community, has resulted in the development of highly capable and aspirational cohorts at Key Stage 3. Our strength is to make the most of our small class sizes and supportive atmosphere to add significant value to every individual.

The Upper School generally has a two- or three-form entry. The curriculum is relatively broad, with all pupils taking a spread of subjects including Art, DT, Food & Nutrition, Spanish, Computer Science, Music and Drama. Students choose a range of options at the conclusion of Year 8. They follow a core of Maths, English (Literature & Language), Separate or Combined Science and CCF (comprising BTEC Teamwork & Personal Development and Institute of Leadership & Management diplomas). As options they may choose from History, Geography, Spanish, Art, Food & Nutrition, DT, Computer Science, Music, Drama and PE, and in recent years we have supplemented these options with Psychology and Statistics exam courses for our increasingly able cohorts.

At present there is no sixth form education at Gad’s Hill and pupils currently depart for local schools, colleges or other independents. In recent times we have partnered with the University for the Creative Arts and several of our leavers have commenced Extended Diploma courses with them.

Job Contact Information

Documents

Below are documents that have been added to this vacancy.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our students. You are advised that this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and therefore this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Please be aware that schools are also required to undertake online recruitment checks on shortlisted candidates under changes to Keeping Children Safe in Education.