Head of Chemistry
Mander Portman Woodward
Kensington and Chelsea
- New
- Salary:
- Competitive + Benefits
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- September 2025
- Apply by:
- 26 March 2025
Job overview
Mander Portman Woodward (MPW) is an independent education provider and one of the best known and most well-respected independent colleges in the UK. Owned by Kaplan International, MPW has built an enviable reputation for top academic results, excellent pastoral care and inspired teaching tailored to the needs of each student.
We are looking for a Head of Chemistry to join our friendly, thriving and successful team at MPW London at our Queens Gate Campus in South Kensington, starting in the Autumn Term, September 2024.
This is a role filled with a great opportunity for progression for an experienced teacher who thrives in sharing best practice amongst colleagues and direct reports.
To register your interest, please apply with your CV now.
About The Role
You will:
- Promote and safeguard the welfare of all students at MPW London
- Write the annual Department Development Plan, assessing and setting departmental targets, as well as write the yearly exam analysis following publication of exam results in August.
- Select the examination board and courses most suitable for MPW students
- Update, print and post Course Notes, ensuring they are ready for distribution to students.
- Plan and hold departmental meetings to foster teamwork, monitor department progress, and embed best practice.
- Support the recruitment and induction of teachers, and ensure all teachers have access to training and professional development courses.
- Conduct lesson observations and provide colleagues with both verbal and written feedback at least once each academic year.
- Assist with Student recruitment, acting as a first point of contact for parents and students, arranging interviews and providing academic advice about the suitability of courses
- Prepare lessons in accordance with the departmental Scheme of Work, general college policies and relevant examination specifications, maintaining up-to-date knowledge of your subject and the relevant means of assessment.
- Teach students in accordance with their educational needs and the guidance provided, using a variety of delivery methods which will stimulate and maximise quality of learning
About You
You have:
- A degree in Chemistry or relevant subject
- Experience of supporting and teaching young people aged 14+, preferably within an educational context
- Experience of Line Management and coaching
- Passion for sharing your knowledge with others, and the ability to devise and implement a range of teaching strategies to promote learning and enjoyment of the subject
- An approachable, friendly, and professional communication style, both orally and in writing
- Confidence in using Microsoft Office, as well as online systems/databases
- A strong knowledge of the EAL practices and curriculum initiatives
- Awareness of the likely developments affecting the delivery of the subject at Key Stage 4 and post-16 levels
- Patience and perseverance, and a commitment to the overcoming barriers to learning
- An inspiring, confident and positive attitude to maintaining student discipline
- A team-focused attitude, and a willingness to support others
The Perks
MPW offer:
- A competitive salary
- Small classes, which allow our teachers to focus on quality teaching
- Ongoing support from our Directors of Studies who uniquely support all students throughout the year and liaise with parents and guardians on behalf of teachers
- A supportive and informal work culture, and bespoke opportunities for training
- Guaranteed Income Protection with payment of 75% of your salary minus state benefits
- Life Assurance with payment of 4 times your salary
- Enrolment in an Aviva pension plan
- Access to Salary Extras, offering discounts on cinema tickets, days out, and purchases with household names.
Commitment to Safeguarding
Mander Portman Woodward is committed to the safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of children and young people. Applicants for the role must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. Further details of what this includes are found in Recruitment, Selection and Disclosure Policy.
Attached documents
About Mander Portman Woodward
Mander Portman Woodward London, commonly referred to as MPW, is one of a group of independent colleges providing GCSE and A-level education for 14- to 20-year-olds. The other mixed, non-denominational colleges are located in Birmingham and Cambridge.
The school was established in 1973 by Robert Woodward, Rodney Portman and Nicholas Mander, which is where MPW gets its name. In 2016, the group was sold by Levine Leichtman Capital Partners Incorporated, a Los Angeles private equity firm, to the education firm Kaplan International.
Principal
Sally Powell
Values and Vision
Mander Portman Woodward believes in giving students as much personal attention as possible, and ensures that there are fewer than 10 students in every class. The college's mission is to work with students to turn their academic aspirations into reality. It takes students from Year 10 and has a particularly strong reputation for its sixth-form provision. It has also forged partnerships with local higher education institutions, and considers pupil entrance to prestigious universities one of its key objectives.
Each Mander Portman Woodward student is allocated a director of studies, whose role is to monitor their general welfare and assist them in making informed choices about their next educational steps.
ISI report
“Students are very well educated and the college successfully fulfils its aims. The quality of the students’ academic achievement and progress throughout the college is excellent. The provision for and achievement of those students with SEND or EAL is excellent and the provision for able gifted and talented students is good. The academic curriculum is broad and flexible timetabling allows individual programmes of study to be developed.”
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