What skills and experience we're looking for• Job Title: Teacher of English • Responsible to: Head of English/Deputy Head of.....
What skills and experience we're looking for
• Job Title: Teacher of English
• Responsible to: Head of English/Deputy Head of English
• Salary: CST Main Pay Scale, MPS 1 - 6 (£31,650 - £43,607).
• Working Pattern: Full time (part time considered for the right candidate)
• Start Date: 1st January 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter
• Contract: Permanent
Our mission at Bristol Cathedral Choir School is to harness the power of our community, so that we all learn, grow and develop into the best versions of ourselves. This is because at BCCS we are: Gathered together, that all may thrive. We do this by living out our three core values in all that we say and do. These are: Kindness, Courage and Hope.
Applications are invited from charismatic, enthusiastic and suitably qualified teachers for this exciting, and rewarding post within our English department. We particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups, as we seek to ensure our staff body reflects the diversity of our student population. The postholder will be expected to teach KS3, KS4 and KS5. We welcome applications from newly qualified and experienced teachers.
Bristol Cathedral Choir School is an academy that specialises in Music. The academy became part of the Cathedral Schools Trust (a Multi Academy Trust) in 2016. It serves students from all over Bristol and welcomes those of all faiths and none. We are proud of our diverse, tolerant and respectful community, which reflects Bristol’s demographic.
With a comprehensive intake, students present with a large range of additional educational needs. The proportion of students with an EHCP is well above the national average. Similarly the school welcomes a significant number of children who are looked after or previously looked after.
The Sixth Form has approximately 425 students, many of whom join in Year 12 from other schools. Levels of attainment are high. The majority of students progress to university, including Russell group institutions and Oxbridge.
The school is amongst the most oversubscribed schools in Bristol, with a trend of strong results in public examinations at both GCSE and A level.
As part of Cathedral Schools Trust, we are able to offer a coherent and high quality provision of continuing professional development.
BCCS is a special place, dedicated to meeting the needs and aspirations of all our students. We are rich in history, but forward looking. Academic and committed to educating the whole child. Unashamedly values driven, with passionate, talented and enthusiastic staff and governors, united by our mission to be ‘Gathered together, that all may thrive’. A school in the heart of Bristol, for all of Bristol. For those who share our values and beliefs, this is an exciting time to join us in our journey to transform lives through education.
The English Department
The English Department at BCCS is an ambitious and extremely successful department within the school. There are twelve teachers delivering the subject, comprising both full-time and part-time colleagues. The team is well established and extremely supportive of one another. All teachers are capable, independent and resourceful. There is a strong culture of sharing, co-planning and an equally strong culture of personalised adaptation of shared resources. The team is committed to nurturing the success of each and every student in their care. Lessons are typically reflective, calm and creative spaces, in which students are encouraged to explore their thoughts and respond to texts and concepts in meaningful and mature ways.
We are keen to ensure that the English curriculum at BCCS reflects the diverse intake of our school and have spent a significant amount of time reflecting as to how this can be best achieved. As a result, we study a range of diverse texts in Key Stage Three. Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 will study a wide range of thought provoking novels, Somali poetry, Bristol poetry, topical non-fiction and essays on big ideas. They also encounter a wide range of authors such as: Maya Angelou, George Orwell, Robert Swindells, Vanessa Kisuule, William Shakespeare, Mary Shelley and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, to name but a few. In all lessons, it is a crucial part of the process of planning to consider the make-up of the class and ensure the resources are representative and challenging. For this reason, teachers are encouraged to experiment and try out new materials and approaches.
At GCSE level, we follow the AQA specifications for English Language and English Literature. The texts selected for Literature are ‘An Inspector Calls’, ‘A Christmas Carol', ‘Macbeth’ and AQA's Power and Conflict Anthology. However work is underway to diversify our GCSE text choices and we will start to teach the new AQA text ‘Princess and the Hustler’ to Year 10 this year.
Uptake of English Literature A Level is high and we run two classes each year. We follow the OCR specification H472. Currently, we teach Hamlet, The Merchant's Tale, A Doll's House, 1984, The Handmaid's Tale, Jerusalem and Mr Loverman. We also run a popular course in English Language A Level, following the AQA syllabus.
Method of application
To apply please use the online application form.
Please include a letter of application in the online supporting statement section of your application.
Further information about the school can be found on our website www.bccs.bristol.sch.uk
Informal enquiries may be made to the HR Administrator, Daisy Jenkinson, recruitment@bristolcathedral.org.uk
Closing date: Sunday 8th December 2024
Interview date: Wednesday 11th December 2024
Due to the proximity to end of term, we reserve the right to shortlist and interview candidates prior to the formal interview date.
Please read further documents for further details about the role including the job description and person specification.
Please note that we will only consider applications through iTrent and will not consider CVs. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. All staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment. The post is subject to satisfactory completion of all vetting checks including the provision of two strong references and an enhanced DBS check.
Safeguarding Statement
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts at Cathedral Schools Trust are subject to pre-employment checks including, but not limited to, initial and periodic enhanced level checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service.
All staff at BCCS are responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of all pupils and young people within the school.
The School may carry out online searches on shortlisted applicants and all applicants will be required to provide details of their online profile, including social media account names/handles, as part of the interview process.
The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions on a self-declaration form in advance of attending an interview (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.
Equalities statement
Cathedral Schools Trust is an equal opportunities employer and recognises the strength in diversity. Our schools have a wide range of cultural, socio economic and religious influences and we use this to ensure that we broaden our understanding of each other and the world.
Applications are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or religious belief, sex or sexual orientation, gender reassignment, disability or age, and maternity, marital or civil partner status. We particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups, as we seek to ensure our staff body reflects the diversity of our student population.
What the school offers its staff
Cathedral Schools Trust offers you:
• Competitive pension schemes through LGPS;
• Employee Assistance Programme (Health Assured);
• Cycle to work scheme;
• Discounted gym membership (PureGym and Nuffield Health);
• Continuing Professional and Leadership development.
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.