8
members of staff in the department
Teacher of Geography
An able, well-qualified and inspiring teacher of Geography is required to join this very successful and innovative department from September 2022.
Applicants should have a degree in Geography, or a closely related subject and excellent grades at A Level, or equivalent. There is some flexibility in the role and we welcome applications from candidates seeking either a part-time or a full-time position. The successful candidate will be required to teach pupils throughout the school, from Year 7 to Year 13. This is an exciting opportunity for either an experienced classroom practitioner who enjoys the company of bright, ambitious and well-motivated pupils or someone wishing to gain experience of teaching in an academically selective secondary school.
The School has considerable experience and success in guiding unqualified entrants to the profession through induction and into established teaching and leadership positions at the school. For all teachers new to Highgate, regardless of experience, there is a strong and supportive framework of induction. The role includes opportunities to contribute to the pastoral and co-curricular life of the school, both of which are valued highly at Highgate. We encourage applications from candidates who experience barriers and inequity due to their ethnicity, gender identity, physical or mental health, sexuality, and/or socio-economic background.
The Department
At Highgate we aim to empower and inspire tomorrow’s adults to become global citizens so that they can participate individually and collectively in shaping the world around them. We particularly want Highgate students to be passionate about environmental issues and to care about the sustainability of the planet and, as such, the Geography Department plays an important role in delivering the school’s environmental action plan. In lessons, we use an enquiry approach to learning, encouraging questioning, investigation and critical thinking about issues that affect people and places, now and in the future.
We also aim to develop many highly desirable transferrable skills through a rich programme of curricular and extra-curricular fieldwork across all key stages. Fieldwork investigations focus on a variety of geographical topics including coastal landscapes, glacial geomorphology, the decline of the high street, London’s air pollution crisis, deprivation within London and the impacts of gentrification & urban regeneration.
The department has a very active Geography society where speakers from top Universities (UCL, LSE and Queen Mary’s) and the world of work are invited to share their experiences of Geography beyond the classroom. Recent highlights have included: ‘The price of the Greenbelt in London’, ‘Forest fires in Indonesia’, ‘Urban challenges within Johannesburg’ ‘The power & politics of flags’, ‘Mosaic consumer classification’, ‘Big data & agriculture’, ‘Carbon capture & storage’ & ‘The Geography of surnames’.
Academic standards are high, with 80% of Year 11 pupils achieving 8-9 grades over the last three years and 82% of A Level pupils achieving an A or A*. Several pupils successfully apply to leading universities for Geography every year, including Oxbridge. An ability to contribute to university application preparation for interested Sixth Formers is a strong recommendation.
The Department is well-equipped. There are four classrooms, each of which has smartboard connected to desktop computer; one of the rooms has been converted into a computer suite to facilitate our use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). There is a designated departmental office, as well as wireless network access and a set of department-based iPads for use both in fieldwork and to support our growing application of e-learning techniques. The subject and department have expanded and changed significantly in the last few years and one of our key objectives is to maintain and boost this development, and to ensure that the highest quality of teaching continues at all levels.
71
pupils studying A Level Geography
Working at Highgate
- Teachers at Highgate enjoy a welcoming, comfortable and exceptionally well-resourced environment and are provided with significant assistance from a range of support staff.
- Salaries are competitive. The School pays the employer’s contribution to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
- Terms are shorter than in the maintained sector.
- Staff have free access to the School’s sports facilities, including a fitness suite and the newly refurbished swimming pool.
- Highgate is strongly committed to inclusion and is an equal opportunities employer. We aim to create a welcoming, respectful and safe environment for all members of our community, from every ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability/disability, religion and background.
More details about working at Highgate can be found here:
Application procedure
Closing date: 8:00am on 1 February 2022 but applications will be considered as they are received.
Click here to complete the on-line application form
James Newton, Deputy Head (Academic) and Mark Beloe, Head of Department are happy to answer any questions about this post.
Criteria for the post of Teacher of Geography
1. Essential professional criteria
| Criteria | How will these be tested or verified? |
| A good honours degree in Geography, or a related subject |
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| Excellent communication skills |
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| The ability to use ICT appropriately to support teaching, or a willingness to learn the skills |
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| The ability to establish good relations with colleagues and pupils. |
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| Sympathy with and knowledge of fundamental British values |
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| Awareness and understanding of safeguarding and welfare of children |
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2. Desirable professional criteria
| Criteria | How will these be tested |
| Experience of teaching academic lessons, either as an employed teacher or during a teaching placement, and an understanding of effective assessment. |
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| A teaching qualification (eg PGCE, GTP) |
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| Knowledge of, and experience of teaching Geography and at A Level |
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| A willingness to be involved in the wider life of the department and school. |
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3. Person Specification
Highgate School seeks to appoint teachers who will have, in addition to the professional qualities outlined above, the following proven personal qualities, or the potential to develop them. At interview, candidates will have the opportunity to demonstrate or give an account of these attributes.
- 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.
- 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.
- Dynamism and enthusiasm to contribute broadly 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.
- Awareness and understanding of matters relating to the personal, social, health and emotional development of pupils.
- 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.
Application procedure
Closing date: 8:00am on 1 February 2022 but applications will be considered as they are received.
Click here to complete the on-line application form
James Newton, Deputy Head (Academic) and Mark Beloe, Head of Department are happy to answer any questions about this post.
Please read before you apply
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 any reasonable adjustments, please let us know when you submit your application whether you have any special requirements.
As this role will have regular unsupervised contact with children you must, if appointed, comply with Highgate’s Safeguarding & Welfare Policy. 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 Policy. A copy of this Policy will accompany all offers of employment.
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.
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