TEACHER OF CLASSICS
JOB DESCRIPTION
The School
Founded in 1876 Edgbaston High School for Girls is the oldest independent day school for girls in
Birmingham. The School is very pleasantly situated next to the Botanical Gardens, 1½ miles from the
city centre. There are over 920 girls aged 2½ to 18 divided into 3 departments working together on
one site. Continuity of education is a feature of EHS, but girls can join at all stages.
The School attracts girls both from the immediate neighbourhood and all over the West Midlands.
They come for the high academic standards, the lively programme of extra-curricular activities and
for the individual attention and flexibility of approach.
Pupils enjoy a broadly based programme which substantially fulfils the requirements of the National
Curriculum and much more. Examination results are very good with high grades distributed across
both Science and Arts subjects. Staff and parents work closely together so that each girl can develop
her individual gifts to the full.
The Council which is the School’s governing body actively supports and encourages the work of the
School. In the last six years over four million pounds have been spent on major development and
refurbishment programmes. A major development to create a new Sixth Form Centre, Library,
Reception area and Fitness Suite was completed in March 2011.
The Headmistress is a member of the Girls’ Schools Association and the School of the Governing
Bodies of the Girls’ Schools Association and the Independent Schools Council.
The Classics Department and Curriculum
This is a thriving and friendly department consisting of 2 full time and 1 part time members of staff;
this position has arisen as a result of an internal promotion. Each year we welcome into our
department a Classics trainee from the King Edwards Consortium to train with us. We relish the
opportunity that this gives us to discuss and reflect on our teaching and learning.
The Department is extremely well resourced with books, DVDs and digital teaching resources,
including the Cambridge Latin Course E-learning resource. Both Classics rooms are equipped with a
computer, interactive whiteboard and a television, video and DVD player. In addition, the School has
extensive ICT resources. Sixth form students and Year 9 pupils have their own Ipads; in addition
library sets can be booked in advance for lessons. The department is progressive in its use of ICT and
we even have our own Classics Twitter account! The Library is also very well stocked with a wide
range of resources and supports the Department in encouraging students to cultivate their
independent learning skills. As a department we are actively involved with J.A.C.T. and encourage
and support colleagues in working with external bodies such as examination boards.
All girls in Years 7, 8 and 9 have two lessons of Latin per week and we follow the Cambridge Latin
Course. As a department we offer: GCSE Latin and Classical Greek and A Level Latin, Classical Greek
and Classical Civilisation. A number of girls then choose to continue to study Classics or a related
subject at university. At GCSE we teach the OCR Specifications. In Latin we study for the Roman
Sources and Verse Literature modules and for Greek we choose the Verse and Prose options. Greek
is taught in a compacted timetable “ab initio” from Year 10.
At A Level we continue with the OCR Latin and Greek Specifications offering flexibility as to which Set
Texts are studied, enabling us to adapt our teaching to the needs and interests of our students. We
follow the AQA Classical Civilisation specification studying Homer’s Odyssey and Greek Art and
Architecture at AS and Greek Tragedy and Roman Epic at A2.
The Classics Teacher Post
We are looking for someone to join our team who has the ability to motivate and inspire students to
pursue their learning beyond the classroom. We wish to appoint a well-qualified, forward-thinking
and dynamic classroom teacher who is passionate about Classics and the important role classical
study plays in a student’s intellectual development.
The successful candidate will be required to teach Latin across the school, including 6th form. The
ability to teach Classical Greek will be a considerable advantage. Experience of teaching Classical
Civilisation at GCSE is also desirable. Each year a keen group of students chooses from the range of
options available at both GCSE and A Level. The successful candidate will possess the expertise to
nurture talent and to maintain the Department’s strong academic record; in 2013 and 2014, 100% of
students scored A*/A in Latin GCSE.
All staff have the use of an Ipad for administration, teaching and planning. We integrate ICT into our
Classics curriculum and would expect the successful candidate to be competent and innovative in
keeping pace with interactive technology as a teaching and learning tool.
We take full advantage of any museum exhibitions or theatrical productions to enhance the girls’
understanding of the Classical world and the successful candidate would be expected to support
these visits. We are also looking for someone who would be willing to lead Classical trips both
within Britain and abroad. There is considerable opportunity for the right candidate to take on
leadership roles within the department; either as a mentor, running our Classical Society, liaising
with University Departments, or in Sixth Form enrichment programme.
The successful candidate will contribute not only to the Department but also to the life of the school
as a whole. The job description of a classroom teacher is attached.
Candidates who are interested or who have any queries are welcome to contact, on an informal
basis, the Head of Classics, Mrs Clare Whitney. This can be done by telephoning the school (leaving a
contact number) or by e-mail at whitneyc@edgbastonhigh.co.uk.