Teacher of History
Starting September 2015
About King’s
King’s College is a boarding and day school of approximately 450 pupils. It combines
strong academic achievement, traditional values and excellent pastoral care with a
progressive, modern outlook, providing girls and boys aged 13–18 with the
opportunities, confidence and ability to exploit their potential to the full within a happy
and caring environment.
King’s Hall Prep School (located some three miles away) combines with King’s to
provide continuous education from 2-18 and the two schools are run by one
Governing Body, with many functions (marketing, strategy and finance for example)
undertaken jointly.
King’s College has a sound family and community ethos. About 60% of the pupils
board. A broad range of extra-curricular activities is offered. Good discipline is
encouraged in a firm and positive way within a supportive pastoral framework.
King’s College is strong on manners and social skills. Pupils go on to good
universities and professional careers.
For a relatively small school, King’s College has an enviable recent record of
success. The school has regularly topped GCSE league tables for Somerset in
recent years. The Chapel Choir won the BBC “Choir of the Year” competition, the
girls football team are ISFA national champions at both U15 and U18 levels, and the
rugby team won the Rosslyn Park Sevens Festival trophy a few years ago.
In short, King’s is a purposeful, outward looking, down-to-earth, successful school.
About Taunton
Taunton, the county town of Somerset, is a busy market town with major road and
rail links. It is located between junction 25 and 26 on the M5, 25 minutes north of
Exeter and 35 minutes south of Bristol. The fast West Country train service reaches
Paddington in two hours. Taunton is a growing commercial and residential centre,
has a splendid small theatre, the County Cricket Ground, a successful rugby club, a
delightful museum and the usual shopping outlets.
The Post
History is taught in a large and thriving department by three full-time and one parttime specialist. All pupils in year 9 take History and more than 80% of these opt to
study History at GCSE. At present there are 4 GCSE sets. At A level there are
usually about 25 studying A2 and 35 studying the subject at AS. The department
enjoys consistently good results. In 2014 the A2 level the pass rate (A*-C) was
100%, whilst at GCSE 47% gained A* or A grades. Several history-based EPQs
have been completed in recent years and pupils regularly go on to read the subject
at prestigious universities.
The department currently follows the OCR syllabus at A level and WJEC at GCSE,
and has chosen to continue with OCR from September 2015, when the new linear A
level course starts.
In recent times King’s historians have travelled far afield – St Petersburg, Moscow,
Berlin, Auschwitz, Florence, Rome, Athens, Jerusalem, the battlefields of both 1st
and 2nd World Wars; and regular visits have also been made to London (Army
Museum, Imperial War Museum, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, British
Museum, Tower of London, Banqueting House, House of Commons), Bristol (SS
Great Britain) and Portsmouth (HMS Victory, HMS Discovery and the Mary Rose).
The Keegan History Society meets regularly and exists to promote discussion and
lively debate about a wide range of historical issues. Sixth form historians present
papers at the society and meetings have also been addressed by outside speakers
such as Sir John Keegan, Richard Holmes, Sir Ian Kershaw and Boris Johnson. A
current pupil recently submitted a prize-winning essay about the fall of the Romanov
dynasty to St Hugh’s College Oxford for the prestigious annual Julia Wood History
Essay competition, and he has just been offered a place at the same College.
The department comprises three classrooms, two seminar rooms, and a specialist
history library. Data projectors and PCs are in all classrooms, and an IT suite of 20
PCs is nearby. The department is particularly rich in resources, with collections of
the Illustrated London News and Punch Magazine at the top of the list. Former
pupils and members of staff have generously donated a large number of books and
magazines in recent years. The school library, opened in 2011, also contains an
excellent range of books about a variety of historical topics. The culture of private
reading and independent study is actively encouraged and growing within the school.
What we are looking for
We require an enthusiastic teacher and leader to join this department from
September 2015. The post would suit either a newly qualified teacher or one with
experience. In either case he or she should bring a love of their subject and teach
lessons that pupils enjoy. King’s College has a lively and friendly Common Room of
over 50 full time teachers, all of whom contribute to the school’s outstanding extracurricular programme of sport, music and many other activities. The ability to
contribute in some way to this programme would be a distinct advantage. All full time
teachers also tutor a small number of pupils.
Newly qualified teachers will be supported in completing their initial year at King’s by
the Head of Teaching Strategies, who has vast experience in guiding and training
NQT’s.
Appointment policy
Candidates are expected to have read the enclosed appointment policy and agreed
to the terms within.
How to apply
Please write a brief letter of application and complete the application form enclosed
and email or post to:
The Headmaster, King’s College, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 3LA.
Tel:
Fax:
01823 328210
01823 328202.
e-mail: hmsec@kings-taunton.co.uk
website: www.kings-taunton.co.uk
The closing date for applications is Tuesday 10th February
Interviews will be held in the week beginning Monday 23rd February
Enclosed
 Application form
 Appointment policy
 Assistant teacher job description