27 September 2013
Curriculum Leader for Humanities
Thank you for your interest in the position of Curriculum Leader for Humanities at our school. I hope that after reading
this letter and the information available that you feel inspired to apply for the post. Please can I also encourage you to
visit our website and ask that you use our school application form together with a formal supporting letter.
Firstly, let me introduce myself. My name is Xavier Bowers and I feel extremely proud to have been appointed
Headteacher of Mount Carmel in September 2011. At the same time I was also extremely fortunate to be able to appoint
Ivan Catlow as my Deputy Headteacher. We are both passionate about Catholic Education and feel privileged to be
leading Mount Carmel on the next phase of its journey, building - ‘A family of faith and learning’.
The Governors have created this new post within the school staffing structure. Currently we have a lead teacher in
Geography and another lead teacher in History. What we would like to do is bring these two discrete subjects together
by forming a Humanities department. How we do that and what the department might look like is very much up for
discussion with the successful candidate. Both subjects have performed consistently well over the last 3 years and
attainment has been well above national averages in a school with well below national average intake on ability. Up take
in both subjects has been good at KS4 but recently uptake has been particularly good in History.
Going forward, the department will comprise of the successfully appointed Humanities Curriculum Leader and existing
lead teacher responsible for Geography. The successful candidate will be expected to teach History across both key
stages and if needed support other non-specialist colleague/s in both subjects.
This post really is a unique opportunity for somebody to build on the very good work of the existing staff by further
raising standards in Humanities and indeed across the school. The post of Curriculum Leader for Humanities combines
National Standards for Curriculum Leaders with the UPS3 Leadership Standards which are focused on supporting and
leading improvement in a curriculum area and across a school.
Ideally we would also like the person appointed to take up post on 1 January 2014 but this may be negotiable for the
right candidate!
In 2012 the school achieved the best ever GCSE results and was inspected by Ofsted 27 - 28 September. We were
delighted that Ofsted agreed with our school self-evaluation and graded us a ‘Good’ school in all categories’. We now
expect a Section 48 inspection from the Salford Diocese in the next 3 – 5 years. The inspection report is a tribute to the
significant and wide ranging improvements we have made as a school in a relatively short period of time. While we are
delighted with this judgement and the commentary in the report we are in no way complacent. In fact the inspection has
very much given us the confidence and determination to secure and consolidate this judgement so we are in a strong
position for a desk top ‘health check’ in 3 years’ time and go on to achieve our aim which is to secure an ‘Outstanding’
judgement in 2017. Unfortunately standards of attainment across the school have fallen slightly in 2013 but expected
levels of progress remain strong, especially in English and Maths and overall as a school we are very confident we can
demonstrate significant sustainable progress.
Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High School is an 11-16 Voluntary Aided mixed comprehensive which is proud to be at the
heart of the Catholic Community in Hyndburn. We are also here for all families who share our values and beliefs and
have recently changed our admissions policy to reflect this. We see each child as an individual with their own unique set
of talents and qualities. It is a very happy school, where everyone is warmly welcomed.
The school is situated in Accrington within the District of Hyndburn. Hyndburn is made up principally from the centres of
Accrington and Oswaldtwistle with the smaller centres of Church, Clayton-le-Moors, Rishton and Great Harwood. The
M65 Motorway has meant that Accrington has become much more accessible, now being only 20 minutes from
Preston/Chorley areas and equally accessible to the picturesque countryside of the Ribble Valley and the Yorkshire Dales.
The teaching and support staff have been fully supportive of myself and my Leadership Team and are fully committed to
meeting the needs of all pupils especially by focusing on all pupils achieving at least expected levels of progress. Our
governors are now very closely involved in shaping the strategic direction of the school and are excited about the
improvements we have made. We have also done much to strengthen our links with all our Catholic feeder primary
schools, our parish priests and our reputation in the local community. This has recently been further enhanced by
creating our own school chapel.
One of our key strengths is the quality of care, guidance and support. On entry a significant number of pupils have
below average prior attainment and many of our pupils live in some of the most deprived wards in the country. Having
said this, visitors regularly compliment our pupils on their behaviour, appearance, their generosity and the warm
welcome they receive. This is one of the reasons I was attracted to work at the school and I have not been
disappointed. Mount Carmel is a great place to work and you really do feel you are making a real difference to the lives
of young people on a daily basis.
Improving learning and teaching is at the heart of everything we do. We are developing a self-reflective culture at all
levels that continually celebrates and recognises success but at the same time asking ourselves, what we can do better.
We provide a curriculum experience that strives to enable that all our students maximise their talents while ensuring
they are well prepared to make a positive contribution to society. Our teaching and learning policy is based on using
clear objectives and outcomes to ensure that the lesson structure facilitates that all pupils make at least good progress
through effective differentiated learning activities and skilled teaching to engage learning and ensure high standards of
behaviour and independent learning activities. All teaching staff receive regular high quality CPD and we have recently
organised a training day by the highly acclaimed Paul Ginnis. (Teacher Tool Kit)
If you believe you are the person to lead the Humanities department at Mount Carmel to the next stage and enjoy all
the challenges and rewards that go with such a post, I would very much welcome your application. You are also very
welcome to visit prior to writing a formal application. If you do apply for the above position and have not heard anything
within two weeks of the closing date please assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion. However if you
would like feedback I am more than happy to do so after the appointment process has been completed.
Yours sincerely
Xavier Bowers (Headteacher)