Teacher of Design & Technology

“Saffron Walden County High School is an outstanding school providing an outstanding quality of education for all its students.” – OFSTED 2012

Saffron Walden County High School is committed to providing education of exceptional quality for its local community. That we have been successful in this goal is shown by our examination results, our University successes, by our drama and musical performances, by our sporting activity and by the many and varied activities our pupils are involved in.

Our top priority is to ensure that each student makes the greatest possible academic progress. We want all our students to aim high and fulfil their academic potential. We believe that pupils achieve highly when those around them expect high standards and when they consistently experience teaching which is stimulating, challenging and enthusiastic. Whilst our approach to teaching and learning is both creative and innovative, our expectations around student conduct are explicit and consistent. 

We are a big school - on the outside. It is that which allows us to provide an exceptional range of skills, expertise and resources but we are small - on the inside. We do not lose sight of the individual. Our skilled and professional staff is dedicated to supporting every child in all they do.  This ensures that our pupils are happy and secure in their time with us and that that they achieve their full potential.

Examinations are not the only measure of educational success.  That is why we place so much emphasis on providing extra-curricular opportunities.  Participation in these activities enables our students to develop a wider range of interests and also to acquire essential personal skills which will be of great benefit to them in their future careers. There is something for everyone at County High, from the Duke of Edinburgh Award to Chess Club.  Many pupils learn musical instruments, so we have two orchestras, a Concert Band, a Junior Band, a Jazz Band, choirs and many other ensembles.  Regular concerts provide valuable opportunities to practise musical skills before an appreciative audience. The quality of our drama productions is well documented – all pupils have many opportunities to take part in studio or large scale productions – an immense range of modern theatre is presented.  Art Club, opportunities to perform in dance productions….small wonder that we are one of the few recipients of the Arts Council’s Artsmark Platinum Award.

Saffron Hall, our magnificent auditorium, opened in September 2013.  This offers unparalleled world class opportunities for our students and further enhances our Arts provision.

Sport is a real strength of the school.  The PE department has a strong commitment to providing both competitive and recreational opportunities in all major sports.  Anybody who is keen and wishes to improve their standard is welcome to attend the many sports clubs.  Our Sports Centre provides a rich environment to develop sporting skills.  As with the Arts, excellence of our provision has been recognised by the Sportsmark Gold Award.

County High is an exciting and dynamic place to work.  We are a learning community and seek to develop all of our staff by providing structured opportunities for professional development that improve pupil outcomes.  We have a range of development groups, an active Research Community and an extensive collaborative network of partnerships with other schools, colleges and universities.  Our work in Initial Teacher Education, CPD and leadership development has recently been recognised through the award of National Teaching School status.

County High is a memberl of Saffron Academy Trust which includes Alec Hunter Academy in Braintree, Katherine Semar Infants and Junior Schools and R A Butler Infant and Junior Schools.

This is an enormously exciting time to be joining Saffron Walden County High School.  We were delighted to have the school’s  achievements so overwhelmingly endorsed by Ofsted in May 2012, and are now focusing on the next stage of the school’s development.   We are also greatly excited that the work of the Saffron Academy Trust and the Saffron Alliance (our teaching school network) are bringing considerable professional development opportunities for staff at all levels and the potential to further enrich the education provision for our students.

We hope you will wish to play a leading role in shaping the next stage of County High’s development.  
We welcome your application to join us.