Head of Media Studies

Harris Federation; Greater London; Remote; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Teacher development

Flexible working

Competitive rewards and benefits

Job summary

Harris Academy Rainham in London is seeking an ambitious and experienced Head of Media Studies to lead the department and drive high standards across GCSE provision.

You will hold QTS, have a relevant undergraduate degree, and bring successful teaching experience, with a track record of leading change and raising achievement. You will inspire staff and learners within a supportive, collaborative culture within the Harris Federation.

Qualifications

• Hold QTS (or equivalent) and a relevant undergraduate degree, and, ideally, management training.
• Demonstrate successful GCSE teaching at good or better level.
• Experience of initiation and effective management of change.
• Show evidence of raising achievement for groups.
• Knowledge of current curriculum developments in media studies.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and develop the Media Studies department to raise attainment.
• Ensure a broad, balanced curriculum and monitor student progress.
• Teach the subject across age and ability ranges and model outstanding practice.
• Recruit, develop and deploy staff; manage resources and budget.
• Collaborate to provide opportunities for personal and academic growth.

Skills

QTS

Leadership

Curriculum design

Education

Undergraduate degree

Job description

ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY

Are you a passionate teacher looking for your next step? We are looking for a qualified, experienced teacher to join Harris Academy Rainham as Head of Media Studies.

WORKING WITH US

Harris Academy Rainham is a very popular and oversubscribed 11-16 academy which is part of the Harris Federation. We joined the Federation in September 2016 and there are exciting times ahead. We opened a Sixth Form for 400 students in September 2023 and are looking for ambitious and dedicated staff who wish to be a part of our Academy. At Harris Academy Rainham we have a dedicated group of staff who are deeply committed to serve our community. We have built a school on our core values of Belong, believe, Become. These values are at the heart of our school and all that we do. What makes us different: Our values are at the centre of our school and aren't simply a slogan on a website. We have a firm but fair approach to behaviour. This is built on the use of consistent routines and teaching our students how to behave. We deliver a knowledge rich curriculum that is developed by our staff to meet the needs of our students. The knowledge we teach takes our students beyond their everyday experiences and enables them to see the world differently. Our leaders are role models, they lead by example, admit mistakes, welcome opinions and love honest conversations. We are a staff united against educational disadvantage with a fierce determination to show our students the world beyond Havering. What we can do for you: Great career progression both within our Academy and the Federation. Excellent professional development opportunities. As a Leading edge school we have been recognised as being at the forefront of educational thinking and research is central to all we do. Meaningful measures to manage workload – no graded observations, early finish on a Friday, no onerous marking requirements but sensible feedback policies. Bespoke support and line management from excellent leaders across the school. Opportunities for fantastic professional growth as the school develops a sixth from. A school where subjects are ‘front and centre' of all we do. The subject determines our pedagogy.

To learn more about working in our academy and what we can offer you , view our academy page via the “why work at” button.

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

The purpose of your role will be:

• To be accountable for leading, managing and developing the subject area.
• To raise standards of student attainment and achievement within the whole subject/curriculum area and to monitor and support student progress.
• To ensure the provision of an appropriately broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum for students studying in the department, in accordance with the aims of the academy and the curricular policies determined by the Governing Body and Principal.
• To teach the relevant subject across the age and ability range.
• To facilitate and encourage a learning experience which provides students with the opportunity to achieve their individual potential.
• To effectively manage and deploy staff, financial and physical resources within the department.
• To share and support the school's responsibility to provide and monitor opportunities for personal and academic growth.

Your main areas of responsibility will fall under the areas of:

• Operational and strategic planning (including formulating the subject and faculty improvement plans, and leading the development of appropriate syllabuses, resources, schemes of work, marking policies, assessment and teaching strategies)
• Ensuring the delivery of an appropriate, comprehensive, high quality and cost effective curriculum and leading development of the subject and its delivery
• Staff development (including recruiting, building and managing an effective team of motivated staff)
• Student outcomes (including ensuring the effective operation of target setting, monitoring and evaluation systems and the input and maintenance of accurate student data)
• Pastoral system (including being a form tutor to a selected group of students)
• Teaching, including acting as an outstanding role model

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We would like to hear from you if you:

• Hold QTS (or equivalent) and a relevant undergraduate degree, and, ideally, management training
• Demonstrate successful teaching of GCSE at good or better level
• Have experience of initiation and effective management of change
• Show evidence of raising achievement in present post and showing good value added for groups
• Have knowledge of current curriculum developments in subject and their implications
• Have good knowledge and understanding of current educational thinking
• Show good understanding of how children learn and how to raise standards of achievement
• Have good communication skills in speech and writing
• Display excellent organisational skills
• Are able to build and sustain professional standards and relationships with students
• Are able to contribute towards creating a safe and protective environment

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

Teacher Development

At Harris, we have curated professional development pathways that will guide you towards achieving your career ambitions. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. With a strong network of passionate educators, expert development initiatives and a multitude of opportunities for career progression, your journey with Harris could be the most rewarding one yet.

We offer a wide range of high quality teacher professional development programmes via the Harris Institute of Teaching and Leadership. Find out more here.

Flexible Working

We are committed to fostering a positive and supportive working environment for our staff, recognising that achieving a balance between professional and personal responsibilities is essential. We understand that each individual's circumstances are unique, which is why we offer flexible working options that can be adapted to meet the needs of both the academy and our employees.

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includesour Harris Allowance (usually£2,000 for Inner London and £1,500 for Outer London), an Annual Loyalty Bonus , Teachers Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan, Employee Assistance Programme, and many other benefits. Learn more aboutour benefits on our website.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

Please remember to check your junk mail foldersfor our email communications. You will receive a confirmation email once you submit, or save the progress, of your application. Please check your junk/spam folder andadd us to your safe senders list to ensure all future email communication is received. This is important to ensure you are kept up to date on the status ofyour application and to avoid delays in the recruitment process.