Additional Information for teaching candidates applying to Ashlyns School
Maths Teacher - Required for September 2013
Full-time/part-time
Could you be the exceptional Maths teacher we are looking for, with the personal drive, ambition and
motivation to play your part enthusing our students and raising standards in Maths? We are looking to
appoint an outstanding colleague to teach across all three secondary phase key-stages for September 2013.
This document provides potential candidates with some additional information to help inform the application
process. Interested candidates are also encouraged to read the 2012 Ofsted inspection report, alongside the
Headteacher’s letter to parents following the publication of the report, located on the school’s website
(www.ashlyns.herts.sch.uk) This will support candidates in gaining a view of the school’s development and
recent successes, alongside an understanding of the next stages needed to secure continued improvement.
Appointing the right person for the post is our paramount objective; applications are welcomed from
outstanding NQTs and excellent, experienced teachers. We will also consider applications from candidates
looking to teach part-time.
Magnificent Site
Ashlyns School is located on the edge of the small market town of Berkhamsted in south-west Hertfordshire.
Our Georgian style listed building is an impressive sight. Built in 1935 as a foundling hospital, it is steeped in
history; its very fabric has an ethos of looking after children.
Standing in a magnificent 40 acres of green belt land we have ample space for a variety of sports and space
for developing new facilities. We encourage links with the community; the local squadron of the Air Cadets
have their Headquarters on our grounds. In 2010, we completed the construction of a full sized Astro turf
pitch in partnership with a local community football club; a new briefing room was completed in Summer
2012. Our building and site offer great potential.
Excellent Students
As an upper mixed ability school in the three-tier system operating in Berkhamsted, our students currently
enter in Year 9. The school liaises closely with the two main feeder (middle) schools in the town to work
towards a balanced curriculum through Key Stage 3. The school was judged to have an improved track
record of progress, attainment and provision at its last inspection and forecasts for this year’s GCSE cohort
indicate this improvement will continue. 67% of our students attain 5 A*-C GCSEs including English and
Maths.
Over 65% of students stayed on after Year 11 last year to enter the sixth form. Students perform well in our
sixth form (at A level the APS entry is 218 points) with a high percentage going onto further education
including Oxford and Cambridge.
The students’ contribution to the school and the wider community was judged as outstanding at the 2011
inspection.
Extra Curricular Activities
The range of activities on offer is excellent and includes: World Challenge expeditions; Duke of Edinburgh
Award Scheme; fantastic music concerts and school shows; a wide range of team games and fixtures; an
extensive and broad range of curriculum based visits; sports leader and maths leader programmes and
numerous charity events.
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Future Opportunities and Priorities
Ashlyns will be moving into the two-tier system from September 2013 providing an exciting opportunity at
leadership level to manage the transition from an Upper School to an 11-19 Secondary School with 13001400 students.
Ashlyns School has lots of potential and it is an exciting time to be part of this, helping to deliver on our key
priorities. These are: improving the quality of teaching and learning across the school to ensure at least
good, if not outstanding provision is the norm; raising academic standards so that our students have choice
and freedom of opportunity when they leave us to make their way in the world as well as securing and
shaping the future long-term strategic development of the school.
Maths Department
‘In Mathematics, students make outstanding progress’ – Ofsted report February 2011
The Faculty consists of experienced staff (full and part-time) who teach across the age and ability range.
Years 9 to 11 are arranged in sets across two half-year bands. Setting is continually reviewed in response to
students’ progress and needs.
Students study the EDEXCEL Linear GCSE. Students in the two top sets are entered for their GCSE in
November of Year 11 and then study either FSMQ (OCR) or level 3 Algebra (EDEXCEL) to be examined in
the May/June of Year 11. Students in the lowest two sets are entered for the Foundation Tier GCSE in
May/June of year 10 and are then given the opportunity of improving their grade sitting the Higher Tier
GCSE in May/June of Year 11.
Maths and Further Maths are popular choices at A level with numbers increasing each year. Students follow
the OCR A level course. At AS they study Core1, Statistics and Probability1 and Core2. At A2 they study
Mechanics1, Core3 and Core4. The A level Further Maths course is the OCR (MEI) specification. At AS
students study Decision1, Numerical Methods and Further Pure1. At A2 they study Statistics2, Mechanics2
and Further Pure2. The Faculty makes active use of the Further Maths Support Programme and subscribes
to the MEI resources network.
The Faculty actively seeks opportunities to enhance the mathematical experiences of their students,
regularly participating in the UKMT maths challenges, both individual and team, and attending the stimulating
‘Maths in Action’ presentations. Students in Year 12 and 13 have the opportunity to follow the ‘Maths
Leaders’ programme, providing in-classroom support within the Faculty and running extracurricular events
for Gifted and Talented students in Years 4 and 5, in our feeder schools.
Our Core Values
At its heart, Ashlyns has a well-motivated and reflective staff and governing body with a shared purpose, and
students who are warm, positive and engaging. The school blends traditional values of respect, trust,
honesty and hard work with forward thinking teaching and innovation. Our aim is simply that we provide the
best opportunities and support for every student to flourish and succeed. The successful candidate would
share the Headteacher’s expectation of wanting and expecting the best from, and for, all students.
Ashlyns is a thriving school working towards a bright and successful future and we welcome all applications
from talented and ambitious professionals who would like to play their part in shaping the school’s future.
Further information on application process continued on the next page.
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Application Guidance for all Teaching Posts
Candidates should be aware that there are 3 components to the application.
1. HCC teaching application form
2. HCC person specification form
3. Covering Letter (should not exceed 2 sides of A4 – font size no smaller than point 10)
All parts of each section should be completed. CVs will not form part of the application process and should
not be submitted.
References will be taken up before interview. When nominating referees, please provide a telephone number
and email address. One of these must be the Headteacher of your current school if you are currently
employed as a teacher. Please note that if you are short-listed your references will be taken up before the
interview day.
If you are appointed, you will be required to complete a disclosure application which will be sent to the
Criminal Records Bureau. All posts in schools are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act; this
means you must declare all convictions, including those which would generally be regarded as ‘spent’.
Further Information
Applications for the post of Maths teacher from September 2013 should be submitted by 3pm on Tuesday
19 March 2013 and marked ‘Application (Maths) – For the attention of the Headteacher.’
Applications may be posted, delivered by hand or sent electronically to twhelan@ashlyns.herts.sch.uk (with
the subject line: ‘Application (Maths) – For the attention of the Headteacher’.) Candidates are encouraged to
apply electronically.
Applicants are invited to visit the school by prior arrangement. Please contact Mrs T Whelan on 01442
863605 to do so.
James Shapland
Headteacher
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