Teacher of Science

Nature of the Post:  

Wychwood is a small, academically strong and pastorally outstanding day and boarding school. Pupils take GCSE, IGSCE, A Level, and EPQ qualifications. It has a committed, and supportive staff and engaged and enthusiastic learners. It recognises the importance of continuing professional development and is an environment where both students and staff flourish. Wychwood became a co-educational school in September, has seen significant investment in recent years and enjoyed significant improvements to its site and facilities.

The school has an active and outward looking science department teaching both triple and trilogy sciences at GCSE and all of the sciences to A level. They have a rich and high quality extra curricular science offering and offer both staff CPD opportunities and student activities to schools across the county.

Reporting To:

The Head of Science, Deputy Head Academic and Headteacher

Remuneration: 

• Wychwood School offers its own pay scale

Other Benefits:

•Company Pension Scheme

•Cycle to Work Scheme

•Generous fee remission for children of staff

•Free meals can be taken at school during your working hours

Duties and Responsibilities

Professional Responsibilities:

•To attend INSET and other training courses as required e.g. preparation for inspections and personal professional development

•To attend staff meetings and read the minutes

•To carry out staff duties such as weekend and prep duties

•To attend parents’ meetings for those pupils taught and those meetings where information is required by parents for the next stage of education

•To supply the examinations officer with all relevant and accurate data to allow public examination administration pre- and post-results to be carried out effectively and efficiently

•To prepare and support pupils applying for Further Education

•To share cover for absent colleagues

•To be part of the progress tutor and form teacher teams as required

•To observe all Health and Safety requirements in order to maintain a safe environment

•To follow all guidelines, rules and regulations relating to Keeping Children Safe in Education.

•Be prepared to share in the First Aid cover for the school after appropriate training

•To co-operate in ordering, storing, managing and distributing the subject’s resources

•To take responsibility for keeping and recording detailed accounts for trips and other areas where the member of staff is leading, communicating these accounts to the bursary and the recording and communication of all billing information to the bursary

•To be involved in the extra-curricular life of the school and the elective program.

•To ensure appropriate standards of behaviour of the students in their care at all times

•To attend meetings regularly and to undertake any tasks reasonably required by the Head of Department.

•To undertake any other task reasonably requested by the Head. 

Academic Responsibilities:

•To promote a love and appreciation of science as an academic discipline

•To explain how science can contribute to possible career paths

•To plan, teach, and evaluate excellent lessons in science in accordance with the requirements of the appropriate specifications, assess students and provide feedback to them, in line with the marking, assessment and feedback policy, which furthers their progress and improves outcomes for them.

•To provide whole school assessment data when required.

•To draw up schemes of work, evaluating and amending them in the light of experience

•To adhere to all academic policies and protocols in place.

•To select and use appropriate and varied resources, equipment and techniques

•To keep detailed records

•To produce written course information where it is required

•To encourage pupils to monitor their own progress, and take action to make further progress.

•To promote metacognition.

•To ensure that school assessments and examinations are reviewed after each examination session to help pupils identify and eradicate errors in knowledge, practice or examination technique

•To promote active and independent learning which encompasses Habits of Mind

•To model and encourage the use of a variety of study skills, revision techniques and learning approaches to maximise a pupil’s performance

•To apply the recommendations of IEPs

•To maintain up-to-date knowledge of developments in education especially in their subject specialism.

•To report termly to parents in writing, completing them by the published deadlines

•To mark and comment on entry papers in a timely and professional manner where appropriate

•To organise and lead trips to promote interest in science

•To liaise with other teachers and progress tutors about the pupils’ progress.

Experience and Qualifications

The Teacher of Science will ideally

•have an Honours degree in a subject related to this post

•have a PGCE or QTS or equivalent qualification and/or experience

•have teaching experience in a secondary school

•be familiar with everyday school requirements such as lesson planning, record keeping, report writing, parents’ evenings, etc.

Personal Qualities required:

•be a good team player

•have a good work ethic

•be respectful of and to acknowledge the Christian ethos and heritage of the school

•be committed to the academic and pastoral ethos of the school

•be committed to promoting Wychwood School, Oxford positively by attendance at Open Mornings and Evenings and supporting whole-school, extra-curricular and outreach events.

•Be committed to keeping children safe in education

Skills and attributes:

•be rigorous and professional in their approach

•be able to work well with others

•be able to manage time well so that pressure points such as report writing or examinations are managed effectively

•be prepared to take advice, try out new things, and be able to critically reflect

•understand and act upon the need for timely, accurate communication between staff in school, the SENDCo, the EAL department and parents so that the pupils receive the highest quality, targeted support where necessary

To Apply:

Please visit Work with Us - Wychwood School to download an application form.

For more information or to discuss the role, please email a.stacey@wychwoodschool.org

It is the duty of independent schools and in particular boarding schools to promote and safeguard the welfare of children in their care. Wychwood School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), and online and open social media checks. At Wychwood we are aware that pupils may suffer physical, sexual, domestic, emotional or other forms of abuse either at home or away from the school, or within school itself. There are clearly laid down and recognised policies and procedures for dealing with abuse which are available to see on request. The school follows the DfE statutory guidance given in the latest version of Keeping Children Safe in Education.