The Royal Alexandra and Albert School
Head of Science
Start date: Sept 2015
Salary: Main scale or UPS as appropriate and TLR
The Role
To develop, lead and manage the exceptionally effective delivery of an outstanding
Science curriculum to ensure all our pupils make excellent progress.
Key Responsibilities
 Be held accountable for the progress of all pupils in Science learning across the
school

Constantly improve the quality of teaching and learning, where necessary holding
teachers to account

Lead the design and implementation of Science curriculum and assessment
including controlled assessment and internal assessments

Lead Health and Safety across the department

Be a role model of outstanding teaching in the department


Observe, mentor and provide guidance to teachers in the department
Line manage, lead and support the Science technicians
Teaching and Learning
 Plan and teach engaging and challenging lessons that pave the way for success
in school and life

Meet the needs of all learners by consistently planning and teaching carefully
differentiated lessons

Set and mark appropriate prep

Use regular, measurable and significant assessments of their teaching

Complete all reporting on time

Closely monitor progress and attainment of their pupils and use it to inform their
teaching

Provide content for and where necessary deliver high quality pupil interventions
with direction from SLT

Ensure that all pupils achieve or exceed targets

Maintain regular and productive communication with parents about their child’s
progress, behaviour and development, including attending after school parent
meetings as required
Leadership of subject
 Develop innovative schemes of work which are inspiring for learners and
teachers alike and feed into standards based assessments


Work closely with the Seconds in Department
Work closely with the Science Technicians

Ensure assessments are moderated internally

Ensure assessments reflect each pupil’s overall level

Analyse progress and attainment data to make data-driven changes to curriculum
design, and pupil interventions
Work in collaboration with colleagues to ensure pupils receive high quality
interventions






Through regular observation and feedback, mentor subject teachers to ensure
excellent teaching and learning in all lessons
Ensure that classroom teachers are utilising best practice for the teaching of
science
Lead departmental inset and inset across the school to share good practice
Conduct evaluations of the quality of teaching and learning of individual classes
and as a department, agreeing implementing and holding teachers to account to
changes to teaching and learning
Create and sustain a positive department culture, where staff feel collectively
supported and developed.
Other
 Undertake professional development as agreed with school leaders

Perform additional duties and tasks required for the effective operation of the
school

Undertake other various responsibilities as directed by the Headmaster
Person Specification: Head of Science
Criteria
Qualifications
Experience
Essential
 Good Honours Degree

Recognised Teaching
Qualification

Experience of successful
teaching science to A level
and GCSE
Excellent classroom
practitioner
Experience of raising
attainment



Experience of using data to
track and enhance
progress

Experience of supporting
other staff to enhance
teaching and learning
Desirable
 Further Graduate
Qualification



Ability to teach up to A Level
in Physics and or Chemistry
Experience of leading and
developing a team
Experience in more than one
school


Leadership
and
management







Teaching and
Learning




Personal






5.2.15
Evidence of continually
improving the teaching and
learning of their subject
Evidence of preparation for
a middle leadership post
Effective team worker and

leader
High expectations for
accountability and
consistency
High expectations of self
and others
Ability to create and lead
departmental development
plan aligning with the
School Development plan
Ability to manage change
Ability to enable others to
achieve success
Motivation to continually
improve standards and
achieve excellence
Excellent classroom
practitioner
Has good communication,
planning and organisational
skills
Demonstrates resilience,
motivation and commitment
to driving up standards of
achievement
Commitment to regular and
on-going professional
development and training to
establish outstanding
classroom practice.
Hardworking
Enthusiastic
Resilient
Ability to inspire and lead
others
A strong team player
Good sense of humour
Undertaken leadership
training
Head of Science
The Vacancy
We are looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic Head of Science to lead and
further develop the department
The science department teaches across the whole age range for Year 3 to
Year 13. We offer both GCSE Core and Additional GCSE and Biology, Physics
and Chemistry single science GCSE. At A level all three subjects are offered.
The post would suit an experienced science teacher with some leadership
and management experience possibly gained as Second in Science. Any
subject specialism considered though we have a preference for Physics.
Current Staffing
Staff
Sarah Leeton
Role – relevant details
Head of Science
Noelle O’Connell
Second in Science
(KS5 responsibility)
Victoria Fifield
Second in Science
(KS3 responsibility)
Dai Stephens
Specialism
Biology/Chemistry
and Physics
Physics
Biology
Biology
Willem Truter
Head of Gloucester House
Chemistry
Ingrid Rolland
Gifted and Talented Co-ordinator
Physics
Hannah Capstick
Gary Bendall
Biology
Senior Assistant Head
John Weaver
Amanda Ayling
Suzanne Taylor
Senior Science Technician
Science Technician
Science Technician
Biology/Chemistry
Accommodation
 7 Science labs fitted with networked multimedia systems.
 Two prep rooms.
 Staff workroom.
Teaching
Key Stage 2
All pupils have one 50 minute lesson per week in Key stage 2 with s
science specialist and further science lessons with their class teacher.
Key Stage 3
All pupils currently have four 50-minute lessons of general Science per
week. We track students regularly and set across half year groups, which
are flexible and constantly under review.
Key Stage 4
In Y10 all pupils do core and additional science (six lessons per week), with
pupils able to opt for triple science (three extra lessons per week), subject
to their end of year 9 level. We follow the AQA specifications. Across key
stage 4, all sciences are taught discretely in fixed blocks, by a subject
specialist where the timetable allows. There are currently 42 pupils in Year
10 doing triple Science and only those achieving a high NC level in Year 9
are allowed to opt for Triple Science.
GCSE Results 2014
Core Science
Additional Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
A*- A
3%
2%
44%
33%
31%
A* - C
54%
45%
97%
97%
95%
Key Stage 5
We have AS and A2 courses running in all disciplines, with two groups in
year 12 for Biology and Chemistry and one for Physics. We follow the OCR
specification for Biology and Chemistry, and AQA for Physics.
Sixth Form Results 2014
AS Biology
A2 Biology
AS Chemistry
A2 Chemistry
AS Physics
A2 Physics
A-E%
78%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Requirements of the Teaching Post and Leadership
We assume that all candidates can teach outstanding and inspirational
lessons at all levels.
Candidates should specify which subject or subjects they can offer to Alevel. The ability to teach up to A-Level Chemistry and/ or Physics is a
requirement.
Accommodation on site may be available in return for boarding duties. No
experience or understanding of boarding is required as full training will be
provided.
Paul Spencer Ellis
Headmaster
February 2015