Background Information: Teacher of ICT and Computing
Shavington High School
The School
Shavington High School is a smaller than average comprehensive school for pupils aged 11-16, serving the villages and conurbation
to the South of Crewe. Our catchment includes Wistaston Church Lane, The Berkeley, Shavington, Weston and Wybunbury Delves
Primary Schools, but as we gain in popularity, pupils are coming from a diverse primary school intake.
In September 2011, the school became a Cooperative Trust School, and also earned the title ‘Most Improved School in Cheshire
East’ for 5+ A*- C including Maths and English. In terms of Cooperative Trust status, the emphasis of the trust is its community
dimension, and we hope that the Trust will evolve to support other schools over time and to build greater collaboration with
primary schools. A trust school is its own admission authority and owns its land and assets. In 2012 we became one of ten high
schools in Cheshire East to form the Chimney House Teaching School Alliance. Being a member of a teaching school has many
benefits for teachers across the Teaching School; we both deliver and receive high quality training to support professional
development at all levels, within the partnership.
Results for 5+ A*- C including Maths and English were 63.2% in 2011, and maintained at 61.6% in 2012, despite issues with both
Maths and English marking of examination. In 2013 our English results dipped significantly and have impacted on the whole
school figures for 5A*-C including English and Mathematics. However, November results for the cohort of 2014 show that we are
well on the way to returning to our former results.
Despite the setback in 2013, we feel that we are a school “on the up” and this judgement was validated by the OfSTED Inspection
of November 2012. The report was an accurate reflection of the school’s provision, I believe. We have made rapid progress since
then, particularly in teaching, and have the capacity to improve further and to sustain that improvement. The OfSTED report
judged behaviour, leadership and achievement to be good. This was the sixth external review of behaviour since November 2010,
and all external reviews judged behaviour to be good and outstanding. SEN has recently been restructured to focus provision so
that it impacts on literacy, numeracy and behaviour in addition to supporting the physical and medical and needs of children with
a statement of educational need. During the Inspection in November, we had more responses on Parent View than many schools
twice our size, with over 90% endorsing the education we provide.
The ICT Department
The ICT Department is ably led by Mrs Emma Serventi, who has been in post as Curriculum Leader since 2011. Mrs Serventi has
introduced the Cambridge Nationals to the school. ICT is a core subject in Key Stage 3 and 4 at Shavington and as such, our aim is
for every pupil to achieve an ICT qualification, by the end of Key Stage 4.
The curriculum at Key Stage 3 and 4 is engaging, and has been praised by OfSTED, for its contribution both to the Personal Health
and Social Education (PHSE) curriculum and to pupils’ Social Moral Spiritual and Cultural development. We are excited by the
possibilities of Computer Science and wish to develop this element of the ICT Curriculum, for a curriculum that is more
personalised across the ability range.
The ICT team is staffed as follows:
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Curriculum Leader:
ICT Teacher and Curriculum Leader for Geography
Mrs Emma Serventi
(Acting Curriculum Leader during Mrs Serventi’s maternity leave):
Mr Peter Rhodes
Mr Robert McMeeken
Mr Ciaran Ellis
ICT and Mathematics Teacher:
ICT and Design & Technology Teacher:
ICT resource across the school is led and managed by Mr Rob Darch, Network Manager and Mr Gary Davies, Data and ICT
Technician.
Resources
The department benefits from five ICT rooms, three of which are housed together.
It would be advantageous, although not essential if the successful candidate was also able to teach Mathematics.
The Mathematics Department
The Mathematics department has undergone a period of significant change, and we are looking to appoint an excellent
practitioner who can join our Maths specialists in September and support a trajectory of rapid improvement.
The Mathematics department aims to build on the progress pupils have made in their previous school and extend their
understanding, enjoyment and success in their lessons. By placing pupils in academic sets from early in year 7, we aim to meet
the needs of each individual pupil. We will provide programmes of study appropriate to each set, looking to extend the most able
and to support those pupils who are not yet confident with the subject. We monitor the progress of each pupil and set challenging
targets for Key Stage 3 and for GCSE. The new Edexcel GCSE Linear specification gives the opportunity for all students to develop
their understanding of mathematic concepts and apply these to problems.
In 2013 the department achieved 58% A*-C in Mathematics, which is a slight decrease from 2012. However, progress has been
made in the attainment of KS2 Middle students and the narrowing the gap initiative. To help ensure that the students continue
to progress, and attain above the national average, the department is currently developing its assessment progresses, student
tracking and quality of teaching and learning.
The Maths team is staffed as follows:
Mr M Oakes joined the school, after May Half Term 2013, as Assistant Head with strategic responsibility for STEM subjects. He is
a former Advanced Skills Teacher in Maths and Curriculum Leader of Mathematics.
At the start of this academic year, we were joined by Miss V Taylor, as Assistant Curriculum Leader of Mathematics.
September also saw the arrival of Mr Ledwards and Mr McMeeken, both of whom are beginning their careers as Mathematics
specialists following their training at schools with excellent Mathematics departments.
Applications
To apply for the post, please complete the school’s application form (Curriculum Vitae will not be considered). In your letter of
application, please outline your experience, personal qualities and the contribution you believe you can make to Shavington High
School, in no more than two sides of A4.
The post Teacher of ICT & Computing is offered on a full- time and permanent basis, to make a significant contribution to the ICT
Department. The post is available from Easter or September and would be suitable for a newly qualified or experienced teacher.
Applications should be returned to the school by 4pm on Friday 31st January. Should you decide to apply, and I encourage you to
do so, you will be joining the school at an exciting stage in our development.
Thank you for your interest in Shavington High School.
Carol White
Head teacher