Full-time, permanent, non-residential position starting September 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Description

A qualified teacher, or ambitious graduate seeking Qualified Teacher Status, is sought to teach English, primarily from Year Seven upwards, including at GCSE (Language and Literature) and potentially A Level English Literature.

Our staff are committed and inspirational, transforming the futures of pupils with literacy and language-related additional challenges, by empowering them.

To lead in transforming the futures of intelligent children who experience Specific Learning Difficulties, Developmental Language Disorder and associated conditions, by empowering them.

Our School Values are: Kindness – Spirit - Responsibility

The School:

Nationally celebrated, More House School provides an exceptional, mainstream education for intelligent boys with Specific Learning Difficulties and weakness in their developmental language skills. Providing a transformative education repeatedly recognised as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted over more than a decade, we offer a specialised learning environment for day and boarding boys from Year 4 to Year 13. Our pupils are taught to recognise their strengths and develop their self-belief so that they achieve independence and extraordinary results at GCSE, BTEC and ‘A’ Level, above the national averages. A majority progress to university.

About the department:

The English department comprises six classrooms in the centre of the campus, with additional rooms used for the teaching of some Key Stage 2 and 5 lessons. There are nine teachers and a department assistant within the department, who share a strong sense of team-spirit, with much collaborative work and mutual support. The department supports the School’s pupils to achieve extraordinary success at GCSE, and A Level English Literature, in spite of pupils’ neuro-diverse learning profiles.

Recently, the School’s library and two librarians moved into a newly purpose-built, much larger space next to the main English department classrooms. This capital project supported the school-wide commitment to developing pupils’ language and literacy skills, and instilling a love of literature in a broad sense. This was recognised and celebrated in our recent Ofsted school inspection report.

Class sizes are small (up to fifteen) and there is ample opportunity for boys and teachers to get involved in the school’s extensive extra-curricular programme. The highly creative and enthusiastic teaching team is keen to support the children in accessing the curriculum and encourages the boys to recognise their academic and extra-curricular potential. A key element of the school, evident through all departments, is the offer of a strong pastoral provision, recognising that the boys may perceive their previous educational experience as a failure, and they therefore need to develop their trust in the school, teachers and themselves.

About this post:

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic, talented teacher - either qualified, or a graduate seeking to commence an exciting career in teaching English - to develop their enjoyment and expertise in delivering the teaching and learning of English and Literature for pupils aged eleven to eighteen, including GCSE and possibly A Level, depending on applicant. There may also be an opportunity to teach Sixth Form students supporting them in their GCSE English Language resit or guiding them through A level Literature. The candidate should be an adaptable and self-reflective professional who is capable of working collaboratively within a supportive team. Above all, the successful candidate will love the study of English in all its many forms, with the ability to communicate that passion to his or her pupils.

In addition to the commitments of the teaching timetable, the post-holder will be a form-tutor within a year-group team, supported and led by a Head of Year. They will also be required to lead an extra-curricular after-school activity on one afternoon a week from 4.30 pm until 5.30 pm during term-time. The post-holder will also participate in the supervision-duty programme, responsible within a team of staff allocated to duties at lunch and break-times, and other times as is necessary. The writing of reports and completion of other documentation, and the attendance at parent consultation evenings is required.

Training:

Teachers with a genuine wish to develop their skills in making learning opportunities successful for neuro-diverse learners thrive at More House School.

The School provides staff with extensive, specialist training in developing practice effective in supporting intelligent pupils with literacy and developmental language weaknesses, and associated special educational needs, to succeed and to transform their futures.

Within their first year, new members of the staff are supported through a programme of weekly induction-training sessions, delivered on Monday afternoons from 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm.

During this first year, staff new to the School also complete the School’s fully-funded and nationally-accredited Level 3 Award ‘Effective SEND Support’; a twelve-week, tutored and supported study course with opportunities for further progression.

This training complements the School-wide, continuous programme of INSET training and preparation days and other ongoing training and development opportunities. The School is strongly committed to supporting teachers’ career development.

More House School offers an Initial Teacher Training (QTS) package to appropriate employees. Where applicable, such an employee would receive close mentoring and support during their first year in the School; after the first year of employment the School will fund, and support the unqualified teacher to complete their PGCE with accredited Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) with Buckingham University, allowing them to progress to the Early Career Framework (previously Newly Qualified Teacher) programme within the School afterwards.

Person Specification

Essential:

Undergraduate English degree or degree demonstrating relevant interest, knowledge and skill.

Strong subject-knowledge, and knowledge of the Key Stage 3 and 4 English curricula, including the syllabi requirements of GCSE English Language.

An ability or potential to teach and differentiate for intelligent pupils with different learning challenges (much guidance and training is provided)

Desirable:

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), or Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS)

Experience of classroom teaching for Key Stage 3 and GCSE English (Language and Literature), including evidence of excellent student progress. Awareness of the syllabi requirements of A Level English with confident subject-knowledge, and experience of delivery.

Experience in teaching and supporting pupils with specific learning difficulties, developmental language disorders and associated conditions

Hours:

8.20 am until 4.30 pm two days a week during term-time and 8.20 am until 5.30 pm one day a week during term-time. Additionally, within the first year only, new staff are required to attend the Monday afternoon induction training programme, from 4.30 pm until 5.30 pm).

(Note: academic terms are typically shorter than those in the state-maintained sector, and School holidays are therefore significantly longer).

Attendance at school events outside these hours from time to time, as well as a few INSET days towards the beginning or end of school holidays. It is expected that some time will be spent during school holiday periods in developing the department and preparing teaching opportunities and materials.

Remuneration and support:

Annual salary, paid in monthly instalments: extremely competitive and in accordance with qualifications, experience and recognised skills;

Pension - (defined contribution scheme with employer’s contribution at 21.3% including Death In Service and Income Protection benefits) – there is a different option: eligible employees may choose to remain in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) but make up the difference in employer’s contribution from a cap of 21.3% to the TPS requirement, through adjustment in salary – further information is available;

Sick-pay;

Employee Assistance Programme;

Cycle to Work Scheme

Free on-site parking within the School’s beautiful grounds;

Excellent lunchtime meals at no cost in the School’s refectory;

Free use of the School’s fitness gym facilities;

Comprehensive induction programme offered including fully-funded and nationally-recognised L3 SEND qualification, and ongoing professional development, including further specialist qualifications, supported through INSET days and training opportunities.

Safeguarding:

This role is deemed to be one of working in regulated activity, meaning that the post-holder may expect to come into unsupervised contact with children and young people frequently in the discharge of their duties on-campus. As such, the expectations of conduct, required of all adults working at More House School, apply to this position, as does a full Safer-Recruitment vetting process of any appointee. A key responsibility of all adults working within the School is that of ensuring the effective safeguarding of all children and young people, through adherence to the School’s policies; full training is given.

To Apply:

Please visit our website and complete the online application form www.morehouseschool.co.uk/vacancies/teaching-and-therapeutic-staff-application-form

Interested candidates are welcome to make an appointment to visit the school for an informal visit in order to learn more about the role and setting.

The School reserves the right to interview appropriate candidates in advance of the above-named dates, and to appoint. Interested candidates are therefore strongly urged to submit their application as soon as possible.

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS clearance and the receipt of satisfactory references before a formal job offer is confirmed.

More House School is firmly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.