St Mary’s School, Calne
Headmistress: Dr Felicia Kirk, BA (University of Maryland),
MA and PhD (Brown University)
Teacher of Classics
Full-time (Part-time considered)
(to cover a period of paternity leave)
1st November 2016 – 22nd March 2017
St Mary’s is an independent boarding and day school of approximately 350 girls aged 11-18, with
a very strong academic reputation. Almost all of the girls go on to university, several each year
to Oxbridge, to read a wide variety of subjects, and results in public examinations are
consistently excellent. Extra-curricular activities and opportunities beyond the classroom are a
vital and integral part of life for girls at St Mary’s, who are encouraged to strive for excellence in
a wide range of spheres. We pride ourselves on the superb quality of our pastoral care and our
focus on individual needs.
We are seeking to appoint a dynamic, highly motivated and inspirational teacher with excellent
communication skills, to teach potentially throughout the school. The position would suit an
enthusiastic, committed and forward looking Classics graduate, possibly an NQT.
St Mary’s is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils. Due to the
nature of the work involved, the successful applicant will be required to undertake an
Enhanced DBS check.
The School: its Ethos and Aims
St Mary’s believes in excellence in all respects. As a school community, we thrive amidst a
culture of high expectation and the education which we seek to provide nurtures and develops
the concept of high performance.
The principal aim is to develop well-rounded pupils who are equipped to excel as adults. Whilst
the achievement of top quality examination results is a central tenet, since these will be a key
passport for the girls in the path to their future careers in the modern world, we seek to
encourage everyone to strive for excellence in a wide range of spheres.
We aim to inculcate habits for life, enabling the girls: to relish the prospect of hard work; to
develop and deploy the necessary qualities of perseverance and determination; to learn how to
do well; to acquire the belief and self-confidence that they are capable of high performance and
success – both in the short term and in the future; to instil a sense of desire and an appreciation
that the future, indeed their future, lies within the grasp of their own efforts.
Extra-curricular activities and opportunities beyond the classroom are a vital and integral part of
life for girls at St Mary’s. They are woven into the timetable during the day, in the evenings and
at weekends. We believe that both boarders and day girls benefit from all aspects of the strong
boarding ethos of the school.
Expectations of Academic Teaching Staff
Most importantly, we are looking for an enthusiastic, energetic and well-qualified teacher who
will inspire his/her pupils and who can engage sympathetically with young people. He/she will:
make an active contribution to the department; stretch pupils of all abilities to achieve their
potential; encourage pupils to learn by making the subject taught both interesting and accessible;
be innovative and dynamic in order to ensure the effective delivery of the curriculum. Our
pupils’ success in acquiring new abilities, skills and understanding depends crucially upon the
quality of teaching which we are able to offer.
St Mary’s School has an innovative approach, incorporating Connected Teaching and Learning.
This is based around the seven attributes of a St Mary’s learner which seeks to encourage the
girls to be: Proactive Learners; Inquisitive Learners; Creative Thinkers; Confident Learners;
Collaborative Learners; Robust Learners and Reflective Learners. These attributes are
interwoven into all areas of school life. Members of the teaching staff are expected to embrace
this culture of being at the forefront of girls’ education through, amongst other things, attending
regular CPD sessions and demonstrating an openness to new ideas.
The Classics Department
The Classics Department at St Mary’s currently consists of six teachers, two of whom are part
time and two have significant other roles. Latin, Greek and Classical Civilisation are offered to
both GCSE and A Level. The teaching is shared throughout the school.
Results in recent years have been very strong. In most years there are a number of pupils who
apply to Oxbridge and other universities to read Classics. In recent years four girls have been
selected to read Classics at Oxford and one girl to read Classics at Cambridge. Other Classicists
have gone to UCL, Warwick, Durham and Bristol.
The Department possesses a good range of resources, from books to DVDs and other visual
materials, CD Roms, and installed computer programs. There is also a wide selection of
resource books in the Bodington Library. ICT skills are incorporated into teaching whenever
appropriate.
During the year the Department organises several outings to local places of classical interest such
as Bath, Caerleon and Cirencester, to the British Museum, and to plays in Bath, Bristol and
London. There is a strong tradition of taking the girls abroad on an annual basis: in 2013 to
Greece, in 2014 to Sicily, in 2015 to Turkey and in 2016 to Pompeii.
Latin
In Year 7 all pupils begin Latin and they continue the subject in Years 8 and 9. The girls follow
the Cambridge Latin Course and the groups are set according ability from MIV onwards. The
lowest set in the UIV studies Classical Civilisation instead of Latin. At the start of Year 10 girls
opt to study Latin to GCSE Level (OCR) from a range of other subject options. Numbers vary
year by year, but 29 pupils will take Latin GCSE in 2015. Most candidates gain Grades A* or A
for Latin GCSE. During this course girls will continue with the Cambridge Latin Course and
this is supplemented by Seigel’s “Common Entrance to GCSE Latin” and John Taylor’s
“Essential GCSE Latin.” For their GCSE set texts they study two works of ancient literature in
the original, one prose and one verse.
In the Sixth Form there is traditionally a strong take up for Latin A Level (OCR). Sets sizes in
recent years have ranged between 5 and 9.
Greek
In Year 9 have the option to take up Classical Greek and follow John Taylor’s book “Greek to
GCSE”. At the start of Year 10 they may opt to continue through to GCSE and will continue
studying same course book. Numbers vary but in the current Year 11 five girls will sit Greek
GCSE. In recent years, all candidates have achieved either A* or A in GCSE Greek.
At A Level in recent years the set size for Greek (OCR) has varied between 1 and 3 girls.
Classical Civilisation
This subject is offered at GCSE to A Level to cater for those who wish to pursue an interest in
the Ancient World but not through the medium of the original languages. The OCR syllabus is
used.
For GCSE the girls learn about Rome, Pompeii, The Odyssey and an aspect of the ancient world
such the Olympic Games. Sets at this level have comprised at least 6 girls.
For A Level currently the girls study the Epic and Tragedy units at AS and the Epic and Comedy
units at A2. Sets have ranged in recent years between 4 and 11 girls.
Personal Specification
Essential
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University Graduate related subject
Qualified teacher with an ability to teach Latin and Classical Civilisation from Key Stage
3 to A Level
Excellent communication skills
Motivation to work with young people
Good IT skills
Willingness to participate in the wider life of a boarding school
The ability to tutor girls and be pastorally aware of their needs
The ability to use initiative and apply common sense
The ability to relate effectively with pupils and their parents
The ability to be flexible and work independently
The desire to develop professionally on a continuous basis.
Desirable
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The ability to offer Greek would be an advantage
Knowledge and experience of the OCR GCSE and A Level specifications.
Further details and how to apply
St Mary’s has its own generous salary scale with benefits, including for a nominal fee,
membership of the St Mary’s Sports Centre, a staff discount on fees of daughters educated at the
school and meals during term time.
Further information about the school may be viewed on the website: www.stmaryscalne.org
An application form may be downloaded from the website or can be sent on request. Please
contact the following:
Miss Kristal Kierstenson
63 Curzon St
Calne
SN11 0DF
Tel: 01249 857300
A fully completed application form, together with a covering letter and a CV, accompanied by
the names and addresses of three referees, should be sent by email to: Miss Kristal Kierstenson,
the Bursary Secretary, on recruitment@stmaryscalne.org
Email is very much our preferred method of receiving applications. If this is problematic,
please contact us by telephone on the above number.
Receipt of an application will be acknowledged as soon as possible.
Closing date for applications: midday Friday 1st July 2016
All members of staff are expected to have proper regard for the school’s safeguarding
policy and procedures, including up-to-date training. The school’s Child Protection
Policy is available on our website and we would expect applicants to have read this if
they are called for interview. A hard copy of this is available on request.