Mandarin Language Teaching Assistant
- Job title: Mandarin Language Teaching Assistant
- Job Type: Full Time (35 hour/week) to include between 14-16 hours of tuition or classroom support
- Salary: £20,729 - £24,400
- Department: Modern Foreign Languages
- Reporting to: Head of Mandarin
- Location: Highgate Senior School, North London
- Start: September, 2024
- Closing Date: 3 June 2024 at 5:00 pm
Highgate School is currently seeking an enthusiastic, well-qualified Mandarin speaking assistant to join its large and successful Modern Languages department. Applicants should be excellent linguists with a first-rate command of Mandarin, either with a background in the language or with high-level skills acquired through suitable academic study. Candidates from Mandarin-speaking backgrounds with qualifications in any suitable academic discipline are warmly encouraged to apply, regardless of specialism.
The successful applicant will share our vision for education and, importantly, enjoy working with young people. Applicants should be passionate advocates for the study of Mandarin and exhibit an ongoing commitment to language learning generally. They will be able to articulate to pupils and their parents the value of learning their subject and are likely to be lively, pacey, and imaginative teachers who work well within a set programme of study, certainly, but equally enjoy their own independence designing and leading sessions. They will set an inspiring personal example of scholarship.
The Department
The Highgate curriculum offers five modern languages (French, German, Mandarin, Russian, and Spanish) in years 7 to 13. The Mandarin department is long-established, and the subject is extremely popular with pupils. The department offers a rich and varied programme of talks, academic societies, clubs, trips, visits, and exchanges over the year. Pupils were able to take part in a trip to Taiwan this year and will be heading to China in 2024-25.
The Modern Languages department boasts some twenty specialist classroom teachers, ably supported by nine language teaching assistants. Our teaching space is set in modern, well-resourced classrooms at the heart of the school.
Highgate has built a strong culture of language learning at all key stages and each year we support a sizeable number of year 13 students applying for courses in Chinese, Oriental Studies, and other similar disciplines at university. The department and its pupils have enjoyed considerable success in local and national speaking competitions.
A language assistant’s role typically involves working one-on-one with sixth form pupils, for instance providing tuition and support on a range of A-level topics or coaching small groups of pupils on improving their speaking skills in key stages 3 & 4. Successful applicants should expect to be involved with pupils at all points of the school, supporting our classroom teachers in helping our pupils build confident and accurate speaking, as well as other, language skills.
- The energy, dynamism, and stamina to contribute fully to the life of a busy co-educational independent day school.
- Willingness to contribute to the extensive range of activities provided for pupils and to support them in their co-curricular pursuits.
- Capacity for industry and initiative in both independent work and as part of teams of colleagues in academic work, pastoral care, sports, and co-curricular activities.
- Profound and continuing interest in the academic subject / s to be taught.
- 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’s 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.
- Capacity to deal sensitively with problems raised by pupils, in line with Highgate’s pastoral policies and sanctions system, working in partnership with Highgate’s designated staff i/c 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 diffuse 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.
Benefits
Location | Highgate Village, adjacent to Hampstead Heath, with quaint shops and easy connections across London.
Pension | AVIVA workplace pension scheme offered – 26% employer contribution, with the ability to flex up to 16% of this as additional non-pensionable salary, employees contribute a minimum of 5%.
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 including hot meals, sandwiches, salads, fresh fruit and dessert.
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 dependant 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:
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: 3rd June 2024
- Timing of interviews: w/c 10th June
Contact: Recruitment Team are 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.
Apply hereInclusion
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 KCSIE 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. DBS Privacy Policy
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. DBS Code of Practice
In accordance with the latest guidance from KCSIE, we shall be conducting online searches on any candidates who are shortlisted.