ALTRINCHAM GRAMMAR SCHOOL FOR BOYS
APPOINTMENT OF TEACHER OF ENGLISH
INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
1.
The School
Altrincham Grammar School for Boys is a six-form entry 11-18 selective
Academy School. It caters for boys who have been selected for grammar school
education from a wide area of South Manchester and North Cheshire. Pupils
travel to the school from Wilmslow, Knutsford, Lymm, Warrington, Sale,
Urmston, Old Trafford and Cheadle Hulme.
The number of boys in the school has been rising steadily in recent years as the
popularity of the school has increased. In January 2011 there were 1230 boys in
the school of whom 309 are in the Sixth Form. The school is very popular with
parents and in the current year received 885 applications for 168 places.
The academic results are outstanding and they place the school in the top 50
maintained schools. Our GCSE results are strong in respect of A*/A grades and
our ‘A’ level results in respect of A/B grades. The 2007 Ofsted Report graded
the school as ‘outstanding’.
An investment of £4M in improved sports facilities has been completed and the
Maths Department has benefited from a new 6-classroom block.
2.
The Locality
Altrincham Grammar School for Boys is situated a mile from Altrincham town
centre within the Parish of Bowdon. Bowdon with the surrounding parishes of
Hale, Altrincham & Timperley, is home to many executives and professionals
employed by the multinational companies based in Manchester and the BBC in
Salford Quays.
Ten miles from Manchester city centre and thirty miles from Liverpool and
Chester, the area is served by an excellent motorway network and the
Manchester Metrolink rail.
Manchester International Airport is sited in the east of the school’s catchment
area, five miles from Altrincham town centre. Wythenshawe Teaching Hospital,
a pioneer in advanced surgery, is sited just outside the catchment area to the
north. The School has strong connections with Manchester University and
Manchester Metropolitan University both through teacher training links and
through links with academic departments.
Manchester is a cosmopolitan centre of international commerce, arts, music,
theatre, opera, ballet, sports, museums and events. The Bridgewater Hall in
Manchester is the home of the Hallé orchestra, there are numerous venues for
major rock concerts, and the city centre theatres regularly host major West end
productions.
Old Trafford, home of Manchester United Football Club and Lancashire Cricket
Club, is within easy reach of Altrincham.
3.
The English Department
In Years 7 to 11, English is taught in mixed ability groups (although as we are a
selective school, the range of ability is narrower than that of a comprehensive
school). In Years 7, 8 and 9 students are taught in form groups. In Years 10 and
11, boys are taught in subject -specific English groups, which are carefully
constructed so as to achieve a spread of ability in each group, based on previous
attainment. In Year groups 7, 8 and 9 group size is between twenty- eight and
thirty; in Years 10 and 11 it is around 23. In Years 12 and 13, again there is no
setting by ability, and the size of group will vary from year to year according to
the number of boys who have elected to study English at AS or A2 level.
At GCSE we followed the AQA Syllabus A in English and English Literature
until this year. The present Year 11, who will have completed their course by
the time this position becomes active, are coming to the end of the final year of
this legacy specification. The present Year 10 are the first year to take the new
modular GCSE courses. They are following the English Language and English
Literature courses from OCR. All boys take both subjects and we offer an
integrated approach to the teaching of the two subjects. All students are
normally entered for the Higher Tier. At AS and A2 we offer two courses. We
follow the AQA Syllabus A in English Literature, and we also teach the English
Language and Literature course from OCR. There is usually at least one group
for each subject; sometimes there are two.
There are five full-time English teachers in the department. In addition, the
Head of PSE/ Citizenship teaches half a timetable of English; we have one parttime teacher; and the Head of Classics teaches English at GCSE level.
The Post
This is a full-time appointment. The person appointed will be an English
graduate, committed to the enjoyment of Literature and to the pursuit of
excellence in the use of spoken and written language. He or she will be required
to teach throughout the school, to at least GCSE level. This will include
teaching Years 7, 8 and 9; a new Year 10 GCSE group; and continuing with a
Year 10 group from this academic year into Year 11. Whether any sixth form
teaching will be available will be determined by the level of experience of the
appointed candidate and other staffing arrangements for next year.
The post is suitable for a teacher beginning his or her career, for someone who
has some teaching experience already, and wishes to work in an academic
school or for someone returning to teaching after a break of service.
Application is by the enclosed form to be accompanied by a supporting letter
addressed to the Head Master. Applications should be received no later than Monday
28th March 2011. Please complete the Equal Opportunities form.
It is anticipated that Interviews will take place shortly after that date.
T. J Gartside
Head Master