KS2 Teacher with special interest in STEM and/or Digital Literacy
- Job title: KS2 Teacher with special interest in STEM and/or Digital Literacy
- Job Type: Full time, permanent
- Salary: £37,343 - £62,975 per annum
- Department: Junior School
- Reporting to: Principal of the Junior School
- Location: Highgate, North London
- Start: September 2024
- Closing Date: 29 April 2024 at 8:00 am
An inspiring, creative and versatile teacher is required for this successful and thriving Junior School for September 2024.
Applications are sought from well-qualified teachers with a particular interest or expertise in STEM subjects and/or Digital Literacy. Candidates will need to be able to contribute to a challenging, broad curriculum and have experience of teaching intelligent, lively pupils or an interest in doing so, and the flair, imagination, and people-skills to do so successfully. We are keen to attract applicants with a strong interest in the academic side of school life with the desire to develop their skills and an aspiration to progress into academic leadership in the future. For the right candidate there may be an opportunity to take on a position of responsibility, such as Subject Coordinator of Head of House, in addition to this role; details will be provided at interview.
The person appointed should be both able and willing to teach across different curriculum areas and be flexible in their approach. We welcome applicants from both the independent and state sectors – candidates do not need to have had prior experience of teaching in the independent sector but an interest in teaching in an academically selective school setting.
All staff are expected to contribute to the co-curricular life of the school.
The Junior School
Highgate Junior School is one of the largest Key Stage 2 Independent Junior Schools in the country with 445 pupils from Years 3 to 6 in five classes per year group.
We pride ourselves on providing an innovative curriculum which challenges our pupils to be curious, creative and brave in their learning. Our timetable is designed to incorporate both an intellectually rigorous approach to studies alongside skills-based learning. We aim for our pupils to develop a genuine love of learning whilst acquiring a knowledge of how they learn, how to take responsibility for their learning and how to apply their skills and knowledge in a variety of different contexts.
We have a team of staff dedicated to nurturing our pupils’ wellbeing. To develop a sense of community and belonging from day one at Highgate, our pupils all belong to a form group and one of our four houses. There are over 60 clubs for pupils to choose from in the Junior School, and time is set aside for each pupil to take part in a co-curricular activity of their choice.
We want to nurture in our pupils how to be a reflective and proactive member of the community with a sense of social responsibility and a deep understanding and appreciation of the wide range of heritages, cultures and backgrounds in our diverse society.
The Junior School is located on Bishopswood Road, Highgate, in an outstanding purpose-built teaching environment. The deliberate playfulness of the architecture and the openness to our sports fields is the physical expression of our belief in nurturing childhood playfulness and curiosity.
We seek to appoint teachers who will have the following proven qualities, or the potential to develop them. At interview, candidates will have the opportunity to demonstrate or give an account of these attributes.
- The energy, dynamism, enthusiasm and stamina to contribute fully to the life of a busy co-educational independent day school
- A passionate and positive approach
- Calmness, kindness and consistency
- Willingness to contribute to the extensive range of activities provided for pupils and to support them in their co-curricular pursuits
- Excellent knowledge of the core curriculum subjects in Key Stage 2, and the ability and willingness to contribute intelligently to a challenging and stimulating curriculum
- Particular expertise in Maths teaching and trends in Maths education
- Capacity for industry and initiative
- The ability to be reflective in approach, being open to challenge and growth
- The depth of knowledge and agility of mind to allow flexibility in lessons, adapting delivery as appropriate in the light of pupils’ responses
- Empathy with pupils across the age and ability spectrum at Highgate and the ability to implement a range of teaching strategies to cater for each individual pupil
- Awareness and understanding of matters relating to the personal, social, health and emotional development of Highgate pupils
- General knowledge of Child Protection issues and good practice, particularly relating to professional obligations on safeguarding the welfare of each child and avoiding guarantees of confidentiality in any disclosure
- Sympathy with and knowledge of fundamental British values
- Capacity to deal sensitively with problems raised by pupils, in line with Highgate’s pastoral policies and sanctions systems, working in partnership with Highgate’s designated staff responsible for pastoral care
- Ability to create effective rapport and a sound relationship with pupils, earning their respect and trust but maintaining proper professional boundaries by not deliberately courting popularity or friendship
- Willingness and ability to liaise effectively and professionally between pupils, staff and parents when required, making accurate records of these exchanges
- Patience and thoughtfulness to see any issues that may arise with pupils, parents or colleagues from a variety of perspectives
- The ability to defuse difficult situations using different strategies such as careful listening, sensitive use of humour, praise and recognition where due, utilising the School’s reward system
- Retention of a sense of perspective and, on occasion, the invaluable ability to laugh at oneself
- Criteria
- How will these be tested or verified?
- A good honours degree
- Original degree certificate(s).
- Questions about subject specialisation (and course content for more recent graduates).
- Opportunities at interview to discuss techniques for teaching set topics.
- Excellent communication skills
- Two panel interviews
- A taught lesson
- The ability to use ICT appropriately to support teaching, or a willingness to learn the skills
- Lesson planning and resources
- Opportunities to recount experience and expertise at interview
- The ability to establish good relations with colleagues and pupils
- Opportunities at interview to recount experiences where these skills have been demonstrated
- Questions which referees will be asked as part of the confidential reference request
- Sympathy with and knowledge of fundamental British values
- Questions at interview to test this
- Awareness and understanding of safeguarding and welfare of children
- Questions at interview to test attitudes towards and knowledge of children’s safeguarding and welfare
- Questions which referees will be asked as part of the confidential reference request
- Criteria
- How will these be tested or verified?
- Experience of teaching able pupils, either as an employed teacher or during a teaching placement, and an understanding of effective assessment
- A taught lesson with a lesson plan and resources
- Questions at interview
- A confidential reference request
- Verification of a candidate’s employment history
- A teaching qualification (eg PGCE, GTP)
- Original certificate
- Willingness and ability to teach in all year groups of Key Stage 2
- Opportunities at interview to recount
- A willingness to be involved in the wider life of the school
- Opportunities at interview to recount experience of running or participating in activities or clubs to give ideas for these
- Specialism in a STEM subject and/or Digital literacy teaching
- Opportunities at interview to recount
- A knowledge of restorative approaches to behaviour management
- Opportunities at interview to recount
Benefits
Location | Highgate Village, adjacent to Hampstead Heath, with quaint shops and easy connections across London.
Pension | AVIVA workplace pension scheme offered with a generous 21% employer contribution.
Fee remission | Available on application for qualifying employees.
Personal development | Comprehensive induction support for new staff. Focus on continued professional development for all employees.
Leisure facilities | Free access, at stipulated times, to our sports facilities, including a fitness suite and swimming pool (recently refurbished).
Holidays | Generous holiday allowance of 33 days (including bank holidays) for full-time staff. Most holidays will be taken during school holiday periods.
Lunch | A complimentary lunch.
Help with sustainable travel | Access to the Cycle to Work Scheme and a Season Ticket Loan scheme for public transport.
Family-friendly policies | Highgate appreciates that employees sometimes have family commitments so we try to be as supportive as possible, for example with enhanced maternity pay (8 weeks’ full pay, then 10 weeks’ half pay) and paid dependent leave.
Working at Highgate
A culture of community, kindness and belonging
Highgate is a caring, open-minded community, where we promote kindness, empathy and friendship. Everyone who works and studies with us deserves to feel they are part of a welcoming environment that enables them to be themselves and to thrive as individuals.
Our community extends beyond the school, through partnerships, charity work and our commitment to equality, inclusion and sustainability. All members of our school community are encouraged to look outwards and play an active role.
In a recent ISI inspection (Dec 2021), it was noted that “Pupils show exceptional respect for, and appreciate diversity within the school and wider community, and their own and other cultures, demonstrating sensitivity and tolerance to those from different backgrounds and traditions.”
Staff wellbeing
Highgate is committed to staff wellbeing, which we promote by encouraging a strong work-life balance; trying our best to support flexible working requests; providing a nutritious complimentary lunch in the dining hall; and offering access to sporting facilities including our recently renovated swimming pool.
The Staff Wellbeing Committee, with representatives across the School, meets regularly to drive forward initiatives, and a selection of staff have been trained as Mental-Health First Aiders.
We encourage an open culture throughout our school, with regular staff surveys, action committees and opportunities to feedback. We strive for continual learning and improvement, and staff training and development is paramount. There are opportunities to participate in the wider life of our school, such as taking part in trips or societies and getting involved in partnership projects.
More details about working at Highgate can be found here:
More details about working at Highgate can be found here:
Charitable work and sustainability
As an independent school, we want to use our position as a charity effectively: to make high-quality education accessible to as many children as possible – through our bursary programme at Highgate and through our work with local state schools. We have partnerships with over 60 state schools across 7 London boroughs, and we are the principal educational sponsor for London Academy of Excellence, Tottenham – an academically-selective state sixth form in a community where such opportunities are lacking.
Alongside this, our staff and pupils undertake charitable activities throughout the year. These range from staff giving up their time to neighbourhood schools and charitable organisations, focused fundraising campaigns, to pupils undertaking community work in the local area or further afield.
As a school, we have a central role to play in educating our pupils, staff and parents about the importance of environmental sustainability. We are taking positive action to adapt our operational performance to tackle the negative effects of climate change. We encourage all our staff to reflect upon their personal and professional practices, to support our environmental agenda and to make positive changes wherever possible.
Application procedure
- Closing Date: 29th April 2024
- Timing of interviews: w/c 7th May 2024
Contact: Alison Lloyd is happy to answer any questions about this post.
Early Application: Applications will be considered ‘as and when’ received and we may close the vacancy if we appoint before the closing date.
Inclusion
We know that more diverse teams are stronger teams, and that the more inclusive we are, the more our staff and pupils will feel a sense of belonging and will thrive. To enable us to make reasonable adjustments, please let us know of any disabilities (including neuro-divergence) when you submit your application.
Safeguarding
As this role will have regular unsupervised contact with children you must, if appointed, comply with Highgate’s Safeguarding Policy and Staff Code of Conduct. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety and welfare of our pupils, these concerns must be reported immediately in accordance with the Safeguarding Policy. If whilst in the post, Highgate becomes aware of any safeguarding concerns to staff, pupils or the community; these will need to be followed up in line with the safeguarding policy and code of conduct which is underpinned by KCSE and other legislation. These concerns may need to be shared with other agencies. A copy of these policies will accompany all offers of employment. Training will also be provided to all staff to support Safeguarding practice.
Please read before you apply
Highgate is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service and overseas police check if necessary. Candidates from overseas must provide information about their past conduct, for example, by providing documents issued by overseas teaching authorities.
Please note that this role is ‘exempt’ from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore, you are required to declare any convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings that are not ‘protected’ (i.e. filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide details of all unspent convictions and those that would not be filtered, prior to the date of the interview.
In accordance with the latest guidance from KCSIE, we shall be conducting online searches on any candidates who are shortlisted.