What skills and experience we're looking forCrestwood Community School is one school, with two campuses serving central Eastl.....
What skills and experience we're looking for
Crestwood Community School is one school, with two campuses serving central Eastleigh. We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and ambitious person as a Teacher of English to start in January 2025. The English Faculty is an exceptionally upbeat, forward-thinking, and innovative department, which is cohesive, team-spirited and collaborative. We are looking for someone who can play an active role in contributing to the already high standards within the faculty, fostering an inquisitive approach to English and inspiring a love of reading.
The English faculty is a key faculty across both campuses. We appointed a new Achievement Leader in April 2023 (following the promotion of the incumbent to Assistant Headteacher) who is a leading practitioner and has links with Winchester University. The Achievement Leader is enthusiastic, approachable and highly supportive. She works with the faculty to promote collaborative planning, enhance teaching and learning, and to drive up standards of achievement and attainment.
The faculty comprises an Achievement Leader working with three Assistant Achievement Leaders, nine main scale teachers and an Assistant Headteacher. They are a cohesive team and have a strong commitment towards the highest standards of teaching and learning through a thematic, coherent and engaging curriculum.
The English Faculty is a leading faculty across both campuses. The faculty teaches both Language and Literature and follows AQA syllabus at KS4.
In English, students will have seven 75 minutes per fortnight. At Key Stage 3, they explore a wide range of topics focusing on a variety of themes over the three years. Within each theme, students study a breadth of texts ranging from Lightning Strike, Rat and The Giver. All Key Stage 3 students also take part in the Accelerated Reader program, regularly visit the library and undertake ‘word study’ to unpick the morphology and etymology of key vocabulary. The faculty frequently take part in author and poet workshops to further broaden students’ exposure to a variety of texts. At Key Stage 4, students study Language and Literature through an interweaving curriculum, focusing on An Inspector Calls, Macbeth, poetry and A Christmas Carol as their GCSE set texts. Students are able to experience these texts through a range of extracurricular trips and visits as well as their study in the classroom.
What the school offers its staff
As a school we take staff well being seriously. We offer staff the following:
• wellbeing weeks, with no commitments scheduled after school
• free lunch every day
• free tea and coffee
• half termly cooked breakfasts
• accrued inset days, taken as twilights, giving staff an additional 4 days off a year
• One wellbeing day per year (during term-time), to be taken at their chosen time (after a qualifying period)
• weekly thank you bulletin
• birthday cards
• heads discretionary leaves of absence for family events
• acts of random kindness
• access to mental health first aiders
Our Ofsted report from February 2024 stated that at Crestwood “there is a welcoming, friendly atmosphere”. They also said that “teachers and support staff, including those in the early stages of their career, are proud to work at the school. They particularly value school leader's careful consideration of their workload and well-being so that they can focus their efforts fully on pupils’ education.” In addition, Ofsted report that “many pupils, staff and parents describe the school as a ‘big family’.
As Head Teacher I have a clear vision and an absolute determination to improve the provision of education across Eastleigh. We care deeply about our school, the staff, the students and the community we serve, we are a school with a heart. We as a school are clear about our improvement agenda and we work cohesively as a school wide team. As this was our fifth consecutive “good” grading it demonstrates that at Crestwood we are continually providing a consistent quality in all we do, against a backdrop of tougher standards and criteria to be judged against.
We care deeply about our school, the staff, the students and the community we serve, we are a school with a heart. We as a school are clear about our improvement agenda and we work cohesively as a school wide team. As this was our fifth consecutive “good” grading it demonstrates that at Crestwood we are continually providing a consistent quality in all we do, against a backdrop of tougher standards and criteria to be judged against.
We have enhanced our campuses significantly over the past few years. We have refurbished nearly all areas across the school. We have had a new crescent area and roof at Shakespeare which has enhanced the building significantly. The Cherbourg Campus is situated between the town’s two post-16 providers. The site is well maintained with specialist facilities in excellent condition throughout, including 5 new Science rooms and refurbished Sports Hall. In totality we are a school continually on the up and have a can-do-more attitude.
As a new member of staff you will be well supported: we have a comprehensive induction process, and you will be given an Induction Mentor and a ‘professional buddy’. We hold the Investors in People Gold standard, and see professional learning as a major strategic priority.
Further details about the role
Your application should comprise a completed Hampshire teaching application form, and a letter in which you should outline your experience to date, the reasons for your interest in the post and your suitability for it. Please include a paragraph on your philosophy of English teaching and what specialisms you could bring to Crestwood Community School.
Please download further details and a Hampshire Teaching Application form from the school website www.crestwood.hants.sch.uk located under the School Information / Vacancies tab.
Applications, with the names and addresses of two referees, should be returned to me, Krista Dawkins, Head Teacher at hr@crestwood.hants.sch.uk.
We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Commitment to safeguarding
Crestwood Community School and Hampshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.