11
teachers in the department
Teacher of History
An able, well-qualified and inspiring teacher of History is required to join this successful and innovative department from September 2022. 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.
History at Highgate is buzzy, engaging, and goes beyond the confines of public examination syllabuses. The successful applicant will join a team of ten outstanding History teachers committed to reading the latest histories of the topics they are teaching, exemplifying to pupils the scholarliness and love of learning that we prize at Highgate. Each year well over half of Year 10 choose to study History as one of their subject options, and approximately 40-50 pupils choose the subject for A Level. The person appointed will be required to teach pupils from Year 7 to Year 13, and to play a full part in the Department’s co-curricular provision, which helps pupils to develop their love of History.
The Department
The Department aims to foster an enthusiasm for the study of History and a spirit of academic ambition and independence of thought among the pupil body. We aim to make the experience of learning History exciting and challenging by using a range of approaches and materials in the classroom.
The eleven members of the department share a common ethos and the atmosphere is very positive, productive and supportive. Colleagues willingly share expertise and resources and volunteer for extra responsibilities when necessary. The Department regularly takes pupils to conferences and places of historical interest in London and further afield.
There is a History Society and a Middle School History Society, both of which are extremely vibrant and meet on a weekly and fortnightly basis respectively. The Department is very well-resourced with its own regularly updated library, it has its own office, and all classrooms have interactive whiteboards. The Politics Department is free-standing, but its members can, and do, teach History as required, and some members of the History Department also teach Politics as required.
over 200
IGCSE pupils across Year 10 and Year 11
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 30 March 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 Ben Dabby, Head of Department, are happy to answer any questions about this post.
Criteria for the post of Teacher of History
1. Essential professional criteria
| Criteria | How will these be tested or verified? |
| A good honours degree in History, 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 History 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 30 March 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 Ben Dabby, 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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