Maternity Cover - Year 2 Teacher

The School

Cottesmore is a leading IAPS co-educational boarding prep school situated in attractive West Sussex countryside between from Crawley and Horsham, within easy distance of Brighton and the coast, Gatwick and London. It was founded in 1894 and has occupied the site at Buchan Hill since 1946.

The ethos of the School combines the best of traditional boarding school care and commitment with the latest in innovation, including a new classroom block and Design & Technology/IT centre. The Staff are well qualified, inspirational and dedicated teachers whose skills go beyond their specialist subjects. Cottesmore aims to produce children with well-developed social skills and an awareness of the needs of others. Within that broad and ambitious vision a strong academic dimension is paramount. Music, Sport, Art and Drama are significant elements of the life of the School and there is a strong and varied programme of activities.

Academic standards are high and pupils enter the Senior School of their choice, either through Scholarship or Common Entrance. Destinations include Benenden, Downe House, Eton, Harrow, King’s Canterbury, Marlborough, Radley, Winchester, Wycombe Abbey and all other major Public Schools.

Job specification:

To carry out those responsibilities usually associated with a Classroom Teacher, and in particular:

• Provide classroom teaching for the appropriate subject and age range.
• Carry out departmental duties involving syllabus development within prescribed curriculum guidelines. This may involve producing schemes of work and materials for use by all appropriate staff as identified and allocated by the Head of department.
• Undertake pastoral duties which fall within the duties assigned to Classroom Teachers.
• Carry out general duties which may include administrative tasks, consultation with parents, contributions to professional discussions at meetings both within and external to the School and such other duties as the Principal and Headmaster may reasonably request.
• Take on responsibility for organising trips and visits for extra curricular activities.
• Have concern and responsibility for the safety of children at all times.
• Be ready to meet, greet and register the children, set up for the morning by 08.00am.
• Be flexible and able, if necessary to teach within the whole of the Pre-Preparatory department.
• Provide cover for colleagues across the whole Pre-prep to Year 3 when requested.
• Develop children’s reading and keep assessments and records of progress and attainment.
• Write full and detailed reports in accordance with the reporting schedule and collate and proof read reports from specialist teachers.
• Know and adhere to the systems and school policies defined in the Staff Handbook.
• Teach a full timetable in the Pre-prep department, following the School’s agreed curriculum and syllabus.
• Be responsible for the regular setting and marking of written work both in class and for preparation.
• Keep full, up to date records of attainment. Monitor the progress of all pupils taught, and take action where necessary to ensure that standards are upheld.
• Write reports on pupil attainment as required, liaising with SEN department, notifying the SENDCO of children requiring early help.
• Keep pupil learning journals up to date.
• Create working plans and save electronic copies on the school's network as directed.
• To embed ICT skills into the curriculum and teach ICT curriculum discretely.
• Be enthusiastic and informative to parents and visitors, always presenting the department at its best to all persons.
• Provide stimulating displays that are regularly changed.
• Take a full part in all school activities as required by the Head of department, the Principal and the Headmaster.
• Ensure that a professional standard is maintained in terms of dress, behaviour etc that promotes the overall professionalism of the school.
• Attend and contribute to Preparatory and Pre-Preparatory meetings and social events.
• Attend Parents’ Evenings, School Events, INSET, Duties, Open Days and such school functions as required by the Principal and Headmaster.
• Contribute to the Pre-prep School clubs, activities and share in the organisation of extra curricular activities, such as theatre trips, outings etc. that fall outside the school day as required by the Head of department and the Principal.
• Adhere to the school policy for assessment and recording.
• To record in the form of daily notes any matters arising in the class relating to pastoral and discipline matters and contact parents where necessary.
• To adhere to the child protection policy and to be vigilant reporting any concerns immediately to the DSL or a deputy DSL.
• To accompany, when requested, pupils to off-site venues for the purpose of educational activities.
• Contribute to the updates, newsletters and websites as and when required.
• All other requests and duties that can be reasonably demanded by the head of department, the Principal and Headmaster.
• To be aware and responsible for all issues regarding Health and Safety both in the class room and other areas around the school as well as all external venues utilised by the school.
• To record as outlined in the school policy all incidents of serious issues and issues regarding Health and Safety.

This job specification represents duties required at the present time and will be subject to regular review and future change.

The Advantages of life at Cottesmore

The staff receive a range of other attractive benefits including substantially discounted fees for their children and free meals.

Applications

Teachers wishing to apply should complete an application form and return to the school, addressed to the Headmaster. The role is from January 2025. Further details about the school may be obtained from www.cottesmoreschool.com where you will find the latest inspection reports.