VELMEAD JUNIOR SCHOOL
Job Description: Class Teacher (Updated March 2014)
Responsible to:
Headteacher through the Year Leader
The conditions of employment of teachers as set out in the School Teacher’s Pay and Conditions document
2013 and subsequent variations, will apply.
All teachers are expected to meet the requirements of the national ‘Teacher Standards.’
Aims: It is our aim that all members of the school community should : actively promote and expect the highest standards of teaching, learning and social interaction for every
child, fully utilising all resources and in partnership with parents and the community;
 care for others and be committed to taking responsibility for their part in achieving excellence.
Functions: Preparation
a) Establish and maintain a safe environment and good classroom organisation, systems and practices
that support learning and in which pupils feel safe, secure and confident.
b) Implement the National Curriculum in an imaginative way, meeting the needs of the particular class
members, planning effectively for teaching in the short, medium and long term.
c) Plan for and respond to opportunities to contribute to pupils’ personal, spiritual, moral, social and
cultural development.
d) Find starting points from the children’s direct experience wherever possible and select resources that
enable teaching objectives to be met.
e) Set high expectations for all pupils with due regard to individual differences, including ability, gender,
cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
f) Provide opportunities and tasks for pupils to consolidate, apply and extend their knowledge,
understanding and skills of the core curriculum and foundation subjects.
g) Implement the Code of Practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs,
differentiating work appropriately and deploying resources effectively.
h) Set well-focussed homework with clear objectives, to reinforce and develop what has been learnt.
i) Continue to improve subject knowledge through attending in-service training and personal
reading/research.
Teaching
j) Teach to a good or better standard (as expressed in the prevailing OFSTED Framework) at all times
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k) Present curriculum content clearly around a set of key ideas, using appropriate subjectspecific vocabulary and well-chosen illustrations for example.
l) Use a variety of teaching styles and methods appropriately in order to sustain the momentum of pupils’
work and keep all pupils engaged.
m) Clarify and share objectives with the children, structure information well and summarise key points as
the lesson progresses.
n) Use clear instructions and demonstrations and accurate well-paced explanations.
o) Use effective questioning which matches the pace and direction of the lesson to assess and extend
understanding, ensuring that all pupils take part.
p) Listen carefully to pupils, analysing their responses and responding constructively in order to take their
learning forward.
q) Teach pupils effectively to ensure individual progress, taking into account prior attainment.
r) Pay careful attention to pupils’ errors and misconceptions, and help to remedy them.
s) Monitor and intervene when teaching to ensure sound learning and discipline.
t) Regularly mark pupil’s work, providing purposeful feedback on performance and next steps in writing
and verbally.
u) Assess and record children’s progress and attainment regularly, making effective use of the assessment
information in teaching and in planning future lessons and sequences of lessons, and keep parents
informed.
v) Set clear and appropriate targets for pupils’ learning, building on prior attainment and ensuring that
pupils are aware of the substance and purpose of what they are asked to do.
w) Celebrate all children’s success and achievements in a variety of ways including displaying their work
effectively.
x) Liaise with and report to parents on the progress of children
Relationships
y) Create and sustain highly effective working relationships with children, staff and parents.
z) Enable children to develop self-discipline, independence and responsibility, and establish and maintain
a purposeful working atmosphere.
aa) Set high expectations for pupils’ behaviour, establishing and maintaining a good standard of discipline
through well-focused teaching and through positive and productive relationships.
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In addition to the duties of a class teacher, each member of staff will take responsibility for one or more
subject. This requirement does not apply to teachers employed as ‘newly qualified’, in their first year.
These responsibilities include:a) Developing and reviewing subject policies / guidelines and updating these in the light of national /
curriculum changes, as necessary.
b) Making sure their subject contributes to the academic, physical, social, moral, cultural and spiritual
development of pupils of all abilities.
c) Planning the curriculum in the long and medium term, ensuring coverage, progression and continuity
across the Key Stage.
d) Monitoring the quality of short term planning by class teachers, making sure work undertaken by pupils
is challenging, motivating and consistent across the year group.
e) Monitoring the quality of teaching and learning, evaluating the plans to ensure continuous
improvement and informing Senior Management as to findings.
f) Advising on and monitoring the quality, use and recording of assessments.
g) Setting high standards of teaching and learning in their own subject by example,
motivating others.
h) Managing resources effectively, making best use of funds.
i) Keeping up to date with developments in the subject on a personal level.
j) Identifying training needs of colleagues and providing In-service training as necessary.
k) Managing the subject team effectively, making the best use of skills and expertise.
l) Drawing up an annual subject ‘position statement’, using OFSTED criteria, followed by a subject
improvement plan to be incorporated into the School’s Integrated Development Plan, completing the
targets in an appropriate time frame.
m) Liaising with other subject leaders to ensure curricular links are fully exploited.
ADH
March 2014
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