Applications are invited for the above post from 11th April 2016. It is a permanent and full time position. We are seeking to appoint a passionate, talented , experienced and outstanding computing and IT teacher to fill the role of Head of Department. There would also be an opportunity to teach lower school maths.
The Downs School, a Foundation, 11-18 comprehensive school, is a successful, oversubscribed and popular school serving the Downs area of West Berkshire. The roll is nearly 1200 with a well established and successful sixth form. Results at all levels are consistently above national averages and Ofsted described our students as having ‘excellent personal and social skills’ who ‘achieve well academically’.
Students in year 7, 8 and 9 receive a 1 hour lesson of discrete ICT/Computing per week. Their program covers a broad base development of skills in ICT ensuring they are digitally literate as well as introducing concepts from the Computing curriculum.
At GCSE the school offers Computing as an option choice for pupils in Year 10 with pupils studying the OCR GCSE syllabus. The subject is popular with students and the take up at GCSE has been good.
From September 2016 A Level Computing will be offered for the first time by the school as it transitions from A Level ICT. The introduction of Computer Science at A Level is in line with national strategy and will provide the department with plenty of opportunity for the future. Also, in KS4 BTec ICT will be introduced into the curriculum again following a long tradition of teaching this successfully previously in KS5.
The school has invested heavily in its IT resources adopting latest technologies where appropriate. The school employs a high performance core network serving over 500 desktop PCs and offering almost complete wireless coverage available to all staff and students.
Our desktop PCs are typically running a Windows environment (currently Windows 7) with MS Office 2013 and Adobe CS 5.5 together with a broad range of application software. Moodle has been adopted as our collaborative learning tool coupled with Sharepoint for overall school information. The classroom management tool Impero is available in all ICT suites.
Our School
The School Vision is striving for excellence in learning through Resilience, Responsibility and Respect.
The Downs School is a co-educational, comprehensive school serving the scattered rural community of the Berkshire Downs and beyond. The location is situated in the with good road links to Newbury, Reading, Didcot and Oxford – situated 10 minutes from the A34.
We offer a broad and balanced curriculum and are firmly committed to establishing first class standards and are proud of our achievements. Our expectations are high and this is reflected in our very successful academic record. The School was inspected in June 2013 under the new framework and was judged ‘Outstanding’ in all areas.
The Downs School is a stimulating and friendly environment to work in and also offers an excellent established induction and CPD programme to support staff.
As well as the completed and signed application form, we would request that in support of your application you provide a letter or statement indicating how you meet the requirements of the post, giving detailed examples where possible, and outlining what you feel you can bring to the role which would enhance the outcomes of the students at The Downs School.
Please return your applications by 18th January 2015 to Mrs N Kenyon, Personnel Manager at the above address or e.mail her at nkenyon@thedownsschool.org
The Downs School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Successful applicants will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Check though the DBS and provide evidence that they have a right to work in the UK.