Head of Physics
The High School of Dundee is seeking to appoint for August 2013, or as soon as possible thereafter, a
Head of Physics of the highest quality to take the learning and teaching of Physics forward through the
next exciting period of development for both the department and the school.
The Post
The main features of the remit include:
 A strategic vision for the development of Physics at the High School
 leadership and management of the Department in
a) learning and teaching
b) methodology
c) assessment and reporting
d) homework policy
e) allocation of teaching staff to classes and management of staff
f) the use of ICT in Learning and Teaching
g) health and safety
h) developing the integrated curriculum
 preparation of pupils for internal and external examinations













leading and managing the staff of the department,
production of the annual departmental improvement plan
quality assurance within the department
maintenance of minutes of departmental meetings
maintenance of records for internal and external purposes
co-ordination of staff development within the department
pupil discipline within the department
meeting with parents as required
liaising with external agencies
participation in whole school issues via Heads of Department meetings
advice to the Rector on school curricular policy with reference to Physics
maintenance and requisition of materials and equipment
submission for consideration by the Rector of annual budget request
The Candidate
Candidates should have a degree or equivalent in a related subject and be registered with the GTC
Scotland, or be eligible for registration. They should also have experience of teaching Physics and
should be able to demonstrate initiative, as well as a commitment to excellence.
The successful applicant should have drive, enthusiasm and a dynamic approach to the teaching of
Physics. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential, as is the ability to interact
positively with parents and colleagues. A good sense of humour is also a useful attribute!
All staff, as a condition of appointment, contribute to the co-curricular life of the school.
About the Department
The Physics Department is a thriving and successful department which achieves excellent results
with large numbers of pupils.
Staffing
The Physics Department consists of four full-time staff, including the Head of Department and 1
dedicated Physics technician. Each of the teaching staff teaches courses from F1 to F6, including
Higher and Advanced Higher.
Accommodation and Resources
The department is situated in four very well-equipped laboratories plus one additional laboratory
dedicated to F6 Advanced Higher investigations, and a dark room. All the laboratories have been
refurbished and upgraded in the last 10 years. The department benefits from a high level of
investment and resources, including first class computer facilities. Each laboratory has a standard set
of equipment required for general teaching purposes. Specialised instruments are located in the
departmental store and Advanced Laboratory. Adequate storage is provided in each of the
laboratories and also in a central store room. Radioactive isotopes are stored and maintained in
accordance with instructions issued by the Scottish Schools Equipment Research Centre. The
department has benefitted from generous donations from the Northwood Trust which has provided
high precision equipment such as a Michelson Interferometer, Pasco optical sets, data loggers and
resources for advanced experiments in radioactivity.
There are a number of computers distributed throughout the department – each teaching laboratory
has at least one computer. The Advanced Laboratory has three computers which are used principally
for project work. All the computers are connected to the school’s network, which allows access to a
department area which contains a suite of programs used routinely for demonstration purposes and
datalogging during class teaching.
Every classroom has a full selection of reference text books. In addition the school library is well
stocked with books and reference material. It also offers Internet access, audio-visual resources, CD
ROM materials and careers information. Each laboratory is equipped with a projector for digital
media. The technician records and stores a large collection of programmes for use by the
department on ‘Clickview’.
Attainment
Performance in SQA examinations is excellent. In 2012 for example, 30% of Higher pupils achieved
90% or above. 1 pupil achieved 100% and was therefore one of the four top-performing pupils in
Scotland. Of the 39 F5 Higher candidates, 59% achieved an A grade. In F4, 95% of the 86 candidates
achieved a Credit award (80% at Grade 1). There were 14 candidates at Advanced Higher, of whom 8
(57%) achieved A grades, and 10 (71%) As or Bs.
Numbers taking Physics continue to be very healthy. In May 2013 there will be 88 presentations at
Standard Grade, 59 at Higher and 16 at Advanced Higher.
Curriculum and Course Outlines
The curriculum in Forms 1 and 2 covers the content as outlined in the Guidelines for Physics within
the ‘Curriculum for Excellence’.
Forms 1 and 2
The Physics courses in Forms 1 and 2 are taught by Physics staff. The time allocation is one double
period (80 minutes) in Form 1 and one double period in Form 2, per week.
In Form 1 Physics is currently taught in one double period per week. The course covers:
 Making measurements
 Forms and uses of energy
 Electricity and electrical circuits.
In Form 2, the course covers:
 Heat: Conduction, Convection and Radiation
 Forces
 Measuring Temperature
 Sound
 Light
Form 3 and 4
In Forms 3 and 4 pupils receive four periods of Physics weekly and the course builds on prior
learning, leading to presentation at Intermediate 2 at the end of Form 4. The department will move
to presentation at National 5 after 2015.
Intermediate 2
The Intermediate 2 course comprises four mandatory units, each subject to a Unit Assessment:
1. Mechanics and Heat; kinematics, dynamics, momentum, energy, heat
2. Electricity and Electronics; circuits, electrical energy, electromagnetism, electronic components
3. Waves and Optics; waves, reflection, refraction
4. Radioactivity; ionising radiations, dosimetry, half-life and safety, nuclear reactors.
Form 5 Higher
The Higher Physics course is delivered in seven periods per week. It reinforces and extends the
knowledge and understanding of the concepts of Physics and related problem-solving skills and
practical abilities acquired at Standard Grade and Intermediate 2.
The course comprises three mandatory units, each subject to a Unit Assessment:
1. Mechanics and Properties of Matter; vectors, equations of motion, Newton’s second law,
momentum and impulse, pressure and density, gas laws
2. Electricity and Electronics; electric fields and resistors in circuits, alternating current and
voltage, capacitance, analogue electronics
3. Radiation and Matter; waves, refraction of light, optoelectronics and semiconductors
Form 6 Advanced Higher
Advanced Higher Physics provides a progression from the Higher Physics course. It offers a
challenging experience for students who wish to study the subject to a greater depth using
mathematical models and techniques for describing the behaviour of nature. An opportunity for
undertaking independent practical research is provided. The course is made up of four mandatory
units:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Mechanics; Kinematics, relativistic motion, rotational dynamics, gravitation, simple harmonic
motion, wave-particle duality
Electrical Phenomena; Electric fields, electro-magnetism, self-inductance, forces of nature
Wave Phenomena; Waves, interference, polarisation
Physics Investigation
Other Achievements and Innovations
The department is actively involved with a wide range of external agencies and organisations linked
to Physics and Science more generally. Over the past twelve months the following initiatives have
been pursued:









Nuffield Bursary award
Head Start placements for 3 Higher pupils
WOSPEG (West of Scotland Physics Education Group)
The award of ‘Affiliated School of the Royal Society’ in recognition of the excellent Science,
Maths and Technology departments
Dundee Science Centre – ‘Sparks and Arcs’ public presentation by pupils and student teacher
F6 Physics pupils visited the British Science Festival
The current Head of Department is a Network Coordinator for the Institute of Physics and
has arranged CPD for secondary Physics and primary Science teachers
Advanced Higher students attended a Royal Society Meeting in Edinburgh for Advanced
Higher students
F1 and F2 pupils visited Eurospace
Additional Information
Salary will be according to the High School of Dundee salary scales which are above the national
rate.
A completed application form and accompanying letter, together with a full CV and the names,
addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses of two referees, should be emailed to:
rector@highschoolofdundee.org.uk
or posted to:
Dr John D Halliday, Rector, High School of Dundee, Euclid Crescent, Dundee, DD1 1HU.
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 6th February 2013