What skills and experience we're looking forWe are seeking an outstanding teacher for this popular subject area. The post wou.....
What skills and experience we're looking for
We are seeking an outstanding teacher for this popular subject area. The post would suit an experienced teacher or NQT. The ability to teach KS3, KS4 and KS5 would be an advantage.
The school offers outstanding an induction, training and career development opportunities through HISP Learning Partnership.
At Key Stage 3 all students study Drama for one hour every cycle. In Year 7 and 8, all students follow a drama curriculum aimed at developing creativity, confidence, analytical and performance skills. They cover a range of topics where they learn about devising, the study of a script and genres of theatre. Through these units of work confidence is nurtured and students work both as team and independent workers to be creative learners. In year 8 students take a mini option within the expressive arts. If they opt for Drama, they complete a foundation year which gives them an introduction to the GCSE and covers key skills preparing them for key stage four.
In 10 year, students begin their GCSE options and they can choose to study OCR GCSE Drama. Within the OCR specification students undertake devising coursework in groups. They also study their set text ‘Blood Brothers’ in preparation for the written exam in year. In year 11 students then complete a scripted examination which is marked by an external examiner which is worth 30% of their grade. Trips are arranged to watch professional performance work. This is something that supports the learning of Drama but provides opportunity to learn how to analyse and evaluate live work in preparation for their written examination for both key stage four and five students. In Key Stage 5, students studythe OCR A-Level in Drama and Theatre. This provides the chance for students to continue to build their knowledge within theatre. Within key stage five students take part in many studio performance evenings which showcases work that explores a range of practitioners, scripted and devised work. Students who study Drama make excellent progress.
There are also opportunities to participate in various workshops with external practitioners. Students are encouraged to become involved in the full school musical production either in a performance role or by helping backstage in stage management, sound or lighting. We offer drama clubs for key stage three and have launched ‘High Definition Drama’ which is a group of key stage four and five students who have been working towards the ‘National Theatre Connections Plays’. Within this project students work alongside a professional director assigned from the National Theatre and have the opportunity to showcase their scripted performance work in a professional theatre. The Drama/ Performing Arts Curriculum area is very well-resourced with a dedicated Performance Hall, including a lighting rig. Drama also shares the use of the Dance studio for Key Stage 3 and 4 lessons.
What the school offers its staff
Highcliffe is a remarkable school with a special atmosphere. We are very highly respected in our community, with whole generations of families coming here for over 50 years from Christchurch and the New Forest. Former students, current students and their parents frequently speak of their powerful emotional bonds to our school lasting a lifetime. Always popular, and usually over-subscribed, in the last two years our identity and success has attracted a rapidly growing number of admissions requests for Year 7. Although we have raised our PAN twice in three years, demand for places still exceeds availability. This is a result of our caring and aspirational ethos combined with our engaging curriculum and excellent extra-curricular opportunities, although our track record of exam success is surely another factor. Our students are lovely young people to work with who respond enthusiastically to good teaching and are keen to learn.
Former students go on to work in international finance, law, education, politics, engineering, medicine, science, and in the Paris fashion houses, or as great chefs, carers, artists, musicians, mechanics, gardeners and much more – but not before they have thrived at Highcliffe academically, creatively and socially. We have an excellent record of success placing students into the top universities in their chosen field. Every year for the last 10 years at least one of our Sixth Form students have, for example, gone on to study at either Oxford or Cambridge universities. We have successful programmes for students accessing careers in medicine, the law and engineering. We are an outwardly focused community with extensive school links in Germany, France, Spain and Japan including a unique exchange programme with a school in Hiroshima.
Our teaching staff are highly experienced, knowledgeable professionals who work together superbly. Our SEND, pastoral, clerical, financial, technical and site staff, who form a good team, are also extremely good at their jobs and committed to the school’s success. We are a friendly, welcoming and supportive environment in which to work or learn, located in a great part of the country. As part of the HISP Multi Academy Trust we offer our team extensive opportunities for professional development; direct collaborative working with Thornden School in Chandler’s Ford and more widely across the Trust region; and career progression routes associated with our development as a regional Hub for school improvement and professional development delivering NPQs, the local ECT programme, the Science Learning Partnership. We are a happy and upbeat school, characterised by warm and trusting relationships between staff and students; one big family. We recently completed a £1.8 million capital project improving heating and hot water, and in December 2022 successfully entered the School Rebuilding Programme to replace 18 classrooms with brand new buildings.
Commitment to safeguarding
HISP MAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share in the commitment. This appointment is subject to an enhanced DBS check, social media check and positive references.