Head of Humanities

HADLOW RURAL COMMUNITY SCHOOL; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Salary

Staff Wellbeing Champion

Free Parking

Health Insurance

Pension Contributions

Job summary

Hadlow Rural Community School is seeking a dynamic Head of Humanities to lead a strong department and drive high standards in teaching and learning. The postholder will develop the curriculum, support staff development, and work with the Headteacher to align the subject with the School Improvement Plan.

The role requires a strong track record in secondary education, leadership experience, and a commitment to safeguarding and inclusion within a rural school setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level degree and CPD evidence are required.
• Active involvement in school beyond your subject is expected.
• Ability to lead CPD for others and contribute to school improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Humanities department to achieve high standards.
• Develop and review the curriculum to ensure progression across key stages.
• Monitor pupil progress and use data to inform the school development plan.
• Collaborate with SENCO to align curriculum with SEND needs.
• Promote careers education and the value of Humanities across the school.
• Support teaching staff with resources, planning and CPD to raise attainment.
• Ensure safeguarding guidelines are followed within the department.

Skills

Organisational ability

Flexibility

High expectations

Teamwork

Data analysis

Education

Good Honours Degree (2:1)

CPD / Professional Development

Job description

The Trustee's and Senior Leadership Team at HRCS are very aware of the significant contribution that colleagues bring to the school and the importance of providing a positive, supportive and productive working environment. This is epitomised through our vision and values and the daily interactions between staff, students and parents. Student conduct is exemplary and based on high expectations and mutual respect; poor behaviour is not tolerated. Career development and progression for those staff with leadership aspirations is prioritised and the school has a strong track record of supporting colleagues in achieving their career goals. All staff are highly valued, with wellbeing represented as a standing agenda item on all meetings, and working groups regularly meeting to review common practices and workload considerations., This job description is in addition to the responsibilities of a teacher and will be reviewedannually. In light of any changes in the requirements and priorities of the School,responsibilities may also be amended at any time in discussion with the Headteacher .

Main Purpose

• High-quality teaching
• Effective use of resources
• Improved standards of learning and achievement for all, Strategic direction
• Develop and implement policies for Humanities in line with our school's commitment to high-quality teaching and learning
• Promote the subject, its importance, and the value that it brings across the school
• Have a good understanding of how well the subject is being delivered and the impact it has on pupil achievement
• Use this understanding to feed into the school development plan and produce an action plan for the subject
• Promote pupils' spiritual, moral, social, cultural, physical and mental development alongside British values in the teaching of the subject
• Consult pupils, parents and staff about the subject and its effectiveness, and assess the feedback against the school's values, visions and aims
• Work with the special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) to ensure the curriculum matches the needs of different pupils, such as disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)
• Promote careers education through the subject and ensure that teaching and learning illustrates how the subject might lead to career opportunities
• Use additional staff in the subject area to ensure there is a framework for deployments and that teaching assistants are deployed effectively
• Liaise with our feeder primary schools on the transition of the subject to secondary school to ensure that progression is built into the curriculum
• Liaise with WKSATA within subject groups on subject-related events, projects and activities
• Evaluate own teaching critically to improve effectiveness
• Ensure the effective and efficient deployment of classroom support, Leading the curriculum
• Develop and review regularly the vision, aims and purpose for the subject area
• Oversee the planning of the curriculum content, ensuring it is well sequenced to promote pupil progress
• Ensure the planned curriculum is effectively and consistently implemented across the school
• Make sure there is an effective system of assessment that oversees the progress of pupils to ensure the curriculum has a positive impact on pupils' learning
• Have an overarching responsibility for pupils' achievement and standards in the subject areaLeading and managing staff
• Establish an effective team and hold regular meetings on the subject to keep staff informed on any developments or changes
• Provide support to staff regarding teaching and learning, resources, and planning in the subject area
• Monitor teaching and learning by visiting lessons, scrutinising books, and talking with pupils to assess how well the subject area is being implemented and how well it is delivered across the school
• Provide feedback to staff based on the above observations to identify training needs and provide continuing professional development (CPD) in the subject area
• Coach and model team teaching
• Liaise effectively with exam boards to ensure that teachers understand and are familiar with the syllabuses that are being delivered
• Support teachers to make accurate assessments, manage internal and external moderation, and complete external moderation exercises
• Take responsibility for performance management for your team, appraising staff in line with the school's appraisal policy
• Contribute to timetabling and manage setting pupils into attainment groups
• Efficient and effective deployment of resources
• Provide support with textbooks and library books in your subject area
• Create a safe, welcoming environment and take care of the classroom accommodation, ensuring classroom displays are stimulating, of high quality, and inspire curiosity in pupils
• Audit, check and manage resources to ensure they are up to date and match pupil and curriculum needs
• Safeguarding: Work in line with statutory safeguarding guidance (e.g. Keeping Children Safe in Education, Prevent) and our safeguarding and child protection policies
• Work with the DSL to promote the best interests of pupils, including sharing concerns where necessary
• Promote the safeguarding of all pupils in the school

Please note that this list of duties is illustrative of the general nature and level ofresponsibility of the role. It is not a comprehensive list of all tasks that the subject leaderwill carry out. The postholder may be required to do other duties appropriate to the levelof the role.

We wish to appoint a dynamic, innovative and exceptional Head of Humanities. The successful candidate will join and lead a strong department and will possess the ambition and expertise to play a key part in the continuing success of the School. The ability to teach a second subject would be advantageous, although not a necessity. This is an exciting post for an excellent practitioner and offers an outstanding opportunity for career progression (70%+ of leadership positions appointed internally in the last 5 years). The role provides the perfect opportunity for a candidate wishing to take their next career steps in leadership within a small and supportive environment or, for more experienced candidates, it will provide the opportunity to take on more responsibilities supporting any potential aspirations for senior leadership in the future. If you feel that you are a highly motivated, inspirational teacher who has the expertise and experience to play a vital part in the future of our School then we would very much like to hear from you.

Qualifications

• 2. Good Honours Degree (2:1) 3. Further Accredited qualifications and CPD Professional Development
• 1. Evidence of relevant CPD
• 2. Demonstrating an active role in the school beyond your own subject
• 3. Evidence of leading CPD for others
• 4. Demonstrating an active role in the wider community

Experience

• 1. Experience of teaching in secondary schools
• 2. Evidence of good teaching
• 3. Evidence of good outcomes for pupils in your care
• 4. Leading teams of staff to unified success
• 5. Evidence of outstanding teaching
• 6. Evidence of outstanding outcomes for pupils in your care

Knowledge & Skills

• 1. Thorough knowledge of your subject's curriculum and as- sessment levels
• 2. Ability to work as part of a team
• 3. Ability to deliver a second subject at KS3 level
• 4. Understanding of equal opportunities issues in an education context
• 5. An understanding of safeguarding and its importance within a School environment.
• 6. Ability to analyse and evaluate data
• 7. Knowledge of effective strategies to maintain and raise achievement

Personal Attributes

• 1. Organisational ability and a reflective practitioner
• 2. Flexibility, enthusiasm and commitment
• 3. High expectations of students and high standards of your own work
• 4. Suitable to work with children.
• 5. An excellent attendance record, We know that applying for a position and starting employment at a new school can be a big step, and therefore it is very important for us that candidates have a goodunderstanding of our school and are able to make a judgement, for themselves, on theexcellent working environment and the support provided at HRCS.

Hadlow Rural Community School (HRCS) opened in September 2013 and offers a unique educational opportunity to students across the Weald of Kent; located within an idyllic 20-acre rural campus, situated in the historic village of Hadlow. HRCS is a popular, oversubscribed School with a current roll of just under 400 students. The School relocated to a £7million new build in 2016 and has developed a strong reputation both locally and beyond for enabling its young people to excel and flourish; providing an exciting, vibrant and dynamic experience in academic and land based vocational studies. The school is heavily oversubscribed and has, for the last four years, achieved one of the highest percentages of preferences for Year 7 places, for non-selective schools, across Kent. The success and popularity of the school has been based on our ethos of providing an educational experience suited to our students and the local community and, whilst academic progress is of the highest importance to us, this is equally matched by our promotion of vocational and enrichment opportunities, ensuring the development of every child as a whole. Positive, productive, and supportive relationships with all stakeholders is a key element of the school and this is further underpinned by maintaining small class sizes of 26-28 students across the school, with many Key Stage 4 option subjects averaging class sizes of 15 students. High expectations are promoted across every aspect of the school and all members of HRCS are expected to be kind, caring and considerate, showing honesty and integrity and applying 100% effort in all their endeavours, supporting our school motto of 'Effort Achieves'.

Benefits

• Working within an idyllic rural setting Headteacher & SLT open door policy
• Welcoming environment SLT Staff Wellbeing Champion
• Competitive Salary Priority within school admissions
• Enhanced M6 & UPS Payscales criteria
• Differentiated Appraisal Targets Access to school car
• Reduced Directed Time (50 hours) Electric Car Chargers
• Staff Loyalty days Free Parking
• Paid leave for key life events Free Duty Meals
• Health Insurance Free Tea and Coffee
• Wellbeing weeks- 3.30pm closure Sick Pay
• Comprehensive Induction Pension Contributions
• Personalised CPD Support Line
• Aspirational Leadership Support Occupational Health Support
• Funded NPQ's/Higher Level training Staff Social Events
• Access to Teacher Training Staff wellbeing & workload group
• Small Class Sizes Kent Rewards