Head of Physics

The School

“Hoe Valley School is an inspiring environment at the heart of its community where every student’s experience is personalised. Our students will learn to think independently, pursue their ambitions and achieve to their highest potential.”

Hoe Valley School is:

• An oversubscribed secondary school that opened in September 2015 to serve the local community of South Woking
• Rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in March 2024
• Delivering innovative and exciting lessons to years 7-13
• Committed to ensuring our students leave us with excellent academic outcomes, the skills to be ‘work-ready’ and the traits of excellent global citizens
• Following the national curriculum, where Maths and English are taught every day
• A Google School with ICT fully embedded in all curriculum areas
• Growing its new STEAM focussed academic Sixth Form, which opened in September 2023
• Committed to learning which is relevant with links to the ‘real world’ of business, higher education and the local community
• In a state of the art new School completed in September 2018 on Egley Road, Woking
• Committed to supporting our staff to have a good work / life balance by offering longer school holidays, bespoke CPD programmes, minimising paperwork and meetings and ultimately by trusting our staff to deliver excellent outcomes 

The Role

We are looking for a passionate, talented and rigorous practitioner to join our dedicated team as we embark upon our exciting journey to launch our Sixth Form provision. 

The successful Head of Physics will have the exciting and unique opportunity to shape a KS3, KS4 and a new KS5 curriculum, which is bespoke, challenging and fit for the needs of 21st century life.

Our Head of Physics will be an inspirational teacher with a proven track record of leading students to achieve outstanding results, who embraces creativity, innovation and is always looking for the very best practice in teaching.  They will share the School's vision and the belief that all young people can achieve at high levels.  They will adore all areas of Science and be passionate in revealing its importance to all learners, regardless of ability and background.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES (IN ADDITION TO TEACHERS’ STANDARDS)

Leading Teaching and Learning

• To monitor the quality of teaching and learning of teachers within the faculty in partnership with the Head of Faculty.
• To teach all Sciences at KS3 and 4 within the School (within the age range 11-16), although teaching mostly Physics at KS4 is very likely.
• To teach Physics at KS5
• To design and monitor the delivery of the entire Physics curriculum in the School in terms of long, medium and short term planning
• In partnership with the Head of Faculty, to ensure that all students are making good or outstanding progress in the Physics and that teaching and learning of Science is of a high quality
• To contribute to CPD across the School and share best practice via coaching, sharing planning and resources and following an 'open door' teaching policy
• To ensure Science has a high profile across the School through offering vibrant and exciting learning opportunities
• To ensure that resources are organised and available to promote a purposeful environment for teaching and learning to take place, through a mix of traditional teaching techniques, integrating ICT where appropriate and risk-taking and innovative pedagogy.
• Where appropriate, to extend the curriculum through relevant trips, organising exciting visits from relevant speakers and visitors and leading enrichment programmes
• To develop aspects of project led learning, where appropriate, which links to the world of work, further and higher education, primary school liaison or the local community
• To deploy other adults effectively within the faculty and in the classroom, involving them, where appropriate, in the planning and management of student learning

Leading Progress and Attainment

• To ensure assessment, feedback and monitoring is SMART, accurate and clearly moves students’ learning on across all teachers within the faculty 
• To standardise marking with colleagues both within the School and with partner schools
• If appropriate, to hold the team to account via line management meetings, faculty meetings and by following the School’s Performance Management policy
• To rigorously analyse student data to inform planning and intervention programmes 
• To lead and attend internal and external meetings as required
• To feedback to students and parents / carers in line with the School policy 

Leading Behaviour and Safety 

• To collaborate closely with parents to ensure that they are aware of their child's progress, engaged in their development and in supporting them in their vision for the future
• To ensure the absolute safety of all students on and off site 
• To model and enforce excellent standards of behaviour within and beyond the faculty  
• To monitor students’ achievement, attendance, uniform, punctuality and behaviour and to respond promptly to issues in line with the school’s policies

Leading School Improvement 

• To support the School’s marketing and recruitment plan through attending events, contributing to marketing materials and via frequent high quality interactions with feeder primary schools 
• To embody the School’s values both on and off site 
• To contribute to the School’s Development Plan (SDP) and to write specific action plans for relevant aspects of the SDP, with support of the Head of Faculty
• In collaboration with the Head of Faculty, to monitor allocated budgets and ensure value for money at all times
• To coach and mentor colleagues as appropriate 

The above list is not exhaustive and maybe subject to amendment in due course in discussion with the relevant employee.

Applications are considered as they are received; we reserve the right to make an appointment prior to the closing date.

Only fully completed School application forms received by the stated deadline will be accepted as valid applications. CV's will not be accepted as applications. No recruitment agencies.