Head of Science

A Foreword from our Principal and Chief People Officer

Richard Backhouse - Principal

Berkhamsted has led the way in pursuing a ‘foundation structure’. As a group of six schools, it combines scale of resource with individual attention and development of pupils – and staff. We start with our values: we aim for excellence – aiming high with integrity –in all that we do. We are ‘adventurous’, and support development, research, and experimentation in teaching and learning We ‘ serve others’ – at both pupil and staff level: ours is a non-hierarchical school in which the opinions of all matter, and in which we all share in the support and contribution to our local community.

Above all, we are committed to developing remarkable people, both our pupils and our staff. We are looking for highly committed, ambitious and adventurous people to join a thriving staff body, whom we can support to flourish here, and whom we can help to grow Our staff are so important that we have a Chief People Officer as one of our most senior members of staff.

Tracey Evans - Chief People Officer

Our staff are our biggest asset at Berkhamsted, and so investing in not only their professional development but also their wellbeing, is a key priority. We foster a working environment that supports staff both professionally and personally. We offer a wide range of staff wellbeing initiatives. Colleagues can easily access financial, physical, emotional and social well-being support from school

We seek to enable all members of the school community to achieve their full potential in an environment characterised by equality respect and opportunity. We work hard at Berkhamsted, but we also know how to come together as a community and enjoy downtime, building relationships which simply last a lifetime

History of Berkhamsted Schools Group About Heatherton

Heatherton is a close-knit, dynamic and forward thinking school and believes that a child’s education should be inspirational, challenging and nurturing

Heatherton Girls belong to a warm, friendly and happy community where they feel secure and able to become independent learners who are willing to explore the unknown. Highly skilled and passionate teachers inspire our girls through a rich and varied curriculum and an array of extra-curricular activities

There are currently 158 pupils at Heatherton (aged 2-11)

Part of the Berkhamsted Schools Group

Heatherton is one of six schools that make up Berkhamsted Schools Group. Berkhamsted School is one of the country’s leading independent schools. It has a structure that provides the best in both co-educational and single-sex education, offering small class sizes and appropriate teaching environments for each age group, from age 2 to 18.

The School’s ‘diamond’ structure allows boys and girls to be taught together until the age of 11 (at Berkhamsted Pre-Prep and at Berkhamsted Prep), separately from 11-16 (Berkhamsted Boys and Berkhamsted Girls), before coming back together again in a joint Sixth Form (Berkhamsted Sixth)

Heatherton Girls are provided with the opportunity of progressing to the Girls Senior School by sitting the Berkhamsted entrance exam six weeks prior to the external applicants. The School curriculum sits alongside the Berkhamsted Prep and Pre-Prep Schools Heatherton is located within easy access to local Grammar Schools.

Job Description

The Teacher should endeavour to maintain and develop the character of the school in accordance with the directions given by the Governors and, subject thereto, the direction given by the Principal and Headteacher.

This job description describes, within the terms and conditions of employment, the range of professional duties which are attached to the post It is not a comprehensive definition of those duties The terms and conditions of employment are referred to in the statement of particulars provided in the contract of employment

Subject Coordinators provide professional leadership and management for a curriculum area to secure high quality teaching, effective use of resources and improved standards of learning and achievement for all pupils. The post involves the teaching of pupils in the age range 3-11 years and has additional responsibilities as follows:

Knowledge and Understanding

Lead the development of the subject across both Key Stages, linking, where necessary with colleagues in the Berkhamsted Schools’ Group so that a shared understanding of expected knowledge and experiences is agreed

Have knowledge and understanding of:

a. The school’s aims, priorities, targets and strategic plans;

b The relationship of the subject to the curriculum as a whole;

c. Any statutory curriculum requirements and the requirement for assessment, recording of pupils’ attainment and progress;

Job Description

d The characteristics of high-quality teaching, learning and achievement for all pupils;

Be prepared to teach other Primary School subjects as required – maths would be desirable but dependent on the candidate’s strengths and areas of need or expertise.

The implication of the Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs for teaching and learning To ensure appropriate monitoring of internal and, where relevant, external assessments and to implement tracking systems to ensure individual and group planning is relevant and effective and the needs of individual children are met

Planning and Setting Expectations

Lead planning and organisation in the subject to ensure all pupils are challenged by appropriate programmes of study;

Set expectations and targets for staff and pupils in relation to standards of pupil achievement and the quality of teaching;

Work with the Learning Support coordinator and any other staff with Special Educational Needs expertise, to ensure that plans are used to set subject specific targets and match work well to pupils’ needs;

Establish, with the involvement of relevant staff, short, medium and long-term plans for the development and resourcing of the subject which contribute to whole school aims, policies and practices.

Job Description

Teaching and Managing Pupil Learning

Ensure:

Curriculum coverage, continuity and progression in the subject for all pupils, including those of high ability and those with special educational or linguistic needs;

Teachers are clear about the teaching of objectives in lessons, understand the sequence of teaching and learning in the subject, and communicate such information to pupils;

Guidance is provided on the choice of appropriate teaching and learning methods to meet the needs of the subject and of different pupils;

Effective development of pupils’ literacy, numeracy and information technology skills through the subject;

Teachers of the subject are aware of its contribution to pupils’ understanding of the duties, opportunities, responsibilities and rights of citizens;

Effective development of pupils’ individual and collaborative study skills necessary for them to become increasingly independent when out of school

To organise, prepare and run day trips and a residential trip each year as required

Job Description

Assessment and Evaluation

Where available, analyse and interpret relevant national, local and school data, research and inspection evidence, to inform policies, practices, expectations, targets and teaching methods;

Establish and implement clear policies and practices for assessing, recording and reporting on pupil achievement and for using this information to recognise achievement and to assist pupils in setting targets for further improvement;

Ensure that information about pupils’ achievements in previous classes and schools is used effectively to secure good progress in the subject;

Monitor the progress made in achieving subject plans and targets, evaluate the effects on teaching and learning, and use this analysis to guide further improvement;

Evaluate the teaching of the subject in the school, use this analysis to identify effective practice and areas for improvement and take action to improve further the quality of teaching.

Pupil Achievement

Establish clear targets for pupils’ achievement, and evaluate both progress and achievement of all pupils, including those with special educational and linguistic needs;

Use data effectively to identify pupils who are underachieving and, where necessary, create and implement effective plans of action to support those pupils

Job Description

Relations with Parents and Wider Community

Establish a partnership with parents to involve them in their child’s learning of the subject, as well as providing information about curriculum, attainment, progress and targets;

Develop effective links with the local community, including business and industry, in order to extend the subject, enhance teaching and develop the pupils’ wider understanding;

Communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with parents, external agencies and the wider community, including business and industry.

Managing Own Performance and Development

Prioritise and manage own time effectively, particularly in relation to balancing demands made by teaching, subject management and involvement in school development;

Achieve challenging professional goals;

Take responsibility for their own professional development.

Job Description

Managing Resources

To manage the subject budget and ensure effective resourcing of the department;

Establish staff and resource needs and advise the Headteacher and senior managers of likely priorities for expenditure, and allocate available resources with maximum efficiency to meet the objectives of the school and subject plans and achieve value for money;

Deploy, or advise the Headteacher on the deployment of staff involved in the subject to ensure that best use of subject, technical and other expertise;

Ensure the effective and efficient management and organisation of learning resources, including information and communications technology;

Maintain existing resources and explore opportunities to develop or incorporate new resources from a wide range of sources inside and outside the school;

Use accommodation to create an effective and stimulating environment for the teaching and learning of the subject;

Ensure that there is a safe working and learning environment in which risks are properly assessed.

Job Description

Strategic Leadership

Create a climate, which enables other staff to develop and maintain positive attitudes towards the subject and confidence in teaching it;

Develop and implement policies and practices for the subject which reflect the school’s commitment to high achievement, effective teaching and learning;

Ensure that the Headteacher and senior managers are well informed about subject policies, plans and priorities, the success in meeting objectives and targets, and subject related professional development plans;

Establish a clear, shared understanding of the importance and role of the subject in contributing to pupils’ spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development, and in preparing pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life;

To contribute to the School Development Plan by setting and evaluating annual targets for the department;

To monitor and maintain the schemes of work and conduct a full Subject Review in conjunction with the timings set out in the School’s Monitoring & Evaluation Policy;

To keep abreast of the subject and strategies for teaching it, ensuring that relevant information is disseminated to the subject staff.

This job description may be reviewed annually, and it may be modified or amended at any time during the year, after consultation with the postholder

Benefits

We boast a competitive salary structure, alongside other benefits, which includes access to a comprehensive pension scheme.

The wellbeing of our staff is a priority. We have a developed programme for staff with initiatives and support in the areas of Economic, Physical, Emotional and Social wellbeing.

Free classes and advisory services. memberships and discounted rates in local establishments, together with cycle to work scheme, free on-site parking, free daily lunch, and fee reduction for staff's children are examples of some of the non-contractual benefits on offer in this programme.

Safeguarding and Protection

Safeguarding and Child Protection

Berkhamsted is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and visitors to adopt a child centred and coordinated approach to child protection and safeguarding.

A copy of the School’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy can be found HERE

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and visitors to adopt a child centred and coordinated approach to child protection and safeguarding. Berkhamsted Schools Group is a registered charity dedicated to education: 310630.

Application and Next Steps

The closing date for applications is 14th April 2024

This role commences on 1st September 2024

It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children; applicants must be willing to undertake a number of safeguarding checks including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring (DBS). This post is also subject to receipt of written references which must be satisfactory to Berkhamsted Schools Group along with documentary evidence of qualifications

Successful applicants will need to provide confirmation of permission to work in the UK. Please note that under the Immigration Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, the school has an obligation to ensure applicants have the right to work in the UK prior to commencement of employment. (If it is found that those documents do not meet the legal requirement, an offer of employment will be withdrawn)

Where the successful candidate has worked or been a resident overseas in the previous five years, such checks and confirmations as the school may require in accordance with statutory guidance

We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race.

Candidates with a disability who are invited to interview should inform the School of any necessary reasonable adjustments or arrangements to assist them in attending the interview

If you have any questions relating to this role please contact the HR department at recruitment@berkhamsted com

Early applications are encouraged, and interviews may take place on a rolling basis. We reserve the right to extend or close the deadline