Post: Head of Digital Technology and Computing

Reporting to: 1. Deputy Head Academic

2. Headmaster

Prior Park College

Prior Park College is an independent day and boarding school for 600 girls and boys aged between 11 and 18. The school occupies an imposing 50 acre site on Ralph Allen Drive in Bath, combining beautiful Grade 1 listed buildings with more modern, purpose-built facilities. Prior Park College is one of the group of Prior Park Schools which includes our junior school, The Paragon, on a 7.5 acre site in Lyncombe Vale, Bath, and our sister school, Prior Park Gibraltar, opened in September 2016. More information can be found at

The Department and current ICT arrangements

This is a new position and an exciting opportunity to grow a new department, to deliver a new curriculum option at GCSE and A Level and to influence, design and implement a strategy todevelop digital teaching and learning at the College, rolling out new practice to teaching colleagues. Whilst advances and positive changes have been made over the last five years, there is now an opportunity for the right person to introduce new ideas and expertise and strongly drive forward new initiatives.

Since 2012, the ICT department has been run by a dedicated ICT Coordinator who has been responsible for the delivery of ICT and computing lessons to all pupils in years 7, 8 & 9.

All ICT lessons are timetabled into a dedicated ICT suite which is currently equipped with 25 laptops, a teacher’s PC and an interactive smartboard. There is also a bank of laptops that can be used in the Big School Room (BSR).

All pupils in years 7-9 receive 2x 55 minute lesson per two week timetable cycle. Currently, there is no provision for KS4 or KS5 ICT or computing lessons but there are currently 8 students signed up to study computing at GCSE from September 2018. It is suggested that we follow the CIE syllabus but the post holder with have the final say in that matter.

Year 7 & 8 teaching

To date, the pupils in year 7 have followed an ‘in-house’ curriculum which has included aspects of e-safety, word processing, computing (Scratch & JavaScript Blocks Editor for use with the BBC Micro:bit), spreadsheet skills and using databases. There is a full class set of BBC Micro:bits available for use during lessons.

In year 8, there is further delivery of e-safety but the main bulk of teaching focuses on the enterprise project, ‘Cake’ and computing. The cake project incorporates many different aspects of ICT e.g. logo design, website production and advert production amongst other things. The computing aspect of the curriculum is delivered using the BBC Micro:bits in conjunction with the Python Editor.

Finally, the ICT department has recently registered to take part in the 2018 Bebras Challenges with a view to incorporate these into the year 7 & 8 curriculum in September 2018. Over the last few years, the curriculum has changed to incorporate more computer science, but further improvements in the delivery of this aspect of the curriculum would also be beneficial.

Year 9 teaching

In year 9, pupils are prepared to take the externally assessed OCR Functional Skills ICT Level 2 Qualification (09877).

The teaching staff are ably supported by the ICT technical support team. The team consists of the ICT Manager, two full time technicians and a part time junior technician.

Prior Park College: System Summary:

  • Core network based around Windows Active Directory Domain Servers (physical and Hyper-V), Windows 7 & 10 workstations and laptops
  • Network infrastructure based on the Cisco Meraki cloud-managed platform for routing, switching, wireless and security
  • Wireless coverage in every building offering connectivity for domain and personal wireless devices
  • Multi-vlan segmented network firewall to keep domain traffic completely distinct from BYOD access
  • 500/500MB Private fibre Internet access (by Easter 2018)
  • Private fibre WAN connectivity to TPS
  • Cisco-Meraki VPN WAN connectivity to PPSG
  • Microsoft Office 365 as primary platform for storage, email, communication and collaboration on both domain and personal devices
  • Focussing on OneNote and Sharepoint
  • Art and DT areas based around Adobe Creative Cloud, PC based
  • Music Technology based around Logic, Apple based
  • Classroom AV a mixture of Smartboards / Projectors with some Interactive Panels being installed as equipment reaches end of life
  • All teaching staff have an iPad for email, electronic registration and for “beaming” onto class projectors via AirServer
  • Academic and Pastoral MIS is Schoolbase

The Role

Embracing digital learning is a key strategy for Prior Park College in keeping with our recently released Vision 2025. As a middle manager and an enthusiastic computing subject specialist, with a passion for integrating and developing digital learning, you will lead on the formulation and implementation across the school of a digital strategy to support the school’s teaching and learning. This will require you to work collaboratively with teaching colleagues to explore and support digital learning opportunities to enhance classroom practice and transform student teaching and learning outcomes. You will also deliver GCSE and A Level teaching within the Computing curriculum which is not currently offered.

Primary responsibilities:

Strategy

  • To design and implement a digital strategy across the school to support excellent teaching and learning with a culture of e-learning.
  • To keep abreast of new developments and trends in digital education to enhance and improve the learner experience and meet the evolving needs of the curriculum adapting and updating the strategy as required.
  • Advise the Senior Management Team in this regard.
  • As thekey subject specialist, to lead and promote the outstanding use of high quality digital learning across the school.

E-learning

  • To develop a deeply embedded culture of e-learning within this school.
  • To advise and train other colleagues accordingly and keep them updated on new developments.
  • To provide support to curriculum departments in the creation of their own interactive digital teaching and learning resources. This will include coaching teachers in their classrooms in the use of digital technology (on-the-job training).
  • To lead, support and monitor the work and effectiveness of staff and student digital leaders.
  • To ensure the quality assurance of e-learning within the school to ensure compliance with relevant school policies and regulatory requirements.
  • To build contacts externally within the e-learning industry as necessary to ensure that the school is kept at the forefront of new initiatives.
  • To review proposals for new digital initiatives and understand the implications for quality assurance by setting strategies to monitor the performance of these initiatives.
  • To assess the training requirements of teaching staff and pupils and plan and deliver as appropriate and relevant training for staff and students to ensure best use is made for the digital technologies in place.

Use of Technology

  • To workwith the Head of ICT (a support staff position), to design and implement the College’s Bring your Own Device (BYOD) programme and contribute to its upkeep and development.

Development and Delivery of the Computing Curriculum

  • To articulate a clear vision regarding how Computing should be taught, developed and assessed.
  • To develop appropriate schemes of work.
  • To promote the subject within the college and in the wider community – with the aim of being a leading department locally in this field.

E-Safety

  • To support the Deputy Head Pastoral and Head of ICT in matters of e-safety and associated policy and procedure.

Outreach

  • To develop links with KS2 feeder schools in order to promote transition into KS3.
  • This should include our own junior school The Paragon – working closely with the ICT subject leader.

Prior Park Schools

  • In time, with the successful development and implementation of strategy at Prior Park College, to become involved in digital strategy and e-learning initiatives at The Paragon and Prior Park School Gibraltar.

As a classroom teacher, the main areas of responsibility also include:

  • Assessing homework and coursework, setting and marking tests and providing appropriate feedback.
  • Maintaining records and writing academic reports.
  • Attending parents evenings and, where appropriate, holding meetings with parents to discuss student progress.
  • Working to the guidelines provided, planning lessons carefully and regularly setting and marking written work.
  • Acting in accordance with advice from the SENCO, the Medical team and House staff on the best approach to individual students.
  • Participating in the system of cover for absent colleagues. (Note: Full-time staff cover for part-time staff in their absence. Part-time staff are reasonably expected, therefore, to play their part in covering for absent colleagues).

Note:

The duties may vary to meet the changing demands of the school at the reasonable discretion of the Headmaster through discussion and consultation with the member of staff concerned. This job description does not form part of the contract of employment. It describes the way the post holder is expected and required to perform and complete the particular duties as set out above.

Personal and Professional Specification

The successful candidate will be educated to degree level in a computer-related discipline and will be expected to teach Computer Science at GCSE and A-Level as well as working as a Head of Department to develop and implement strategy.

The ideal candidate will also display the following attributes:

  • An excellent teaching record.
  • Evidence of a high level of digital literacy and leadershipin this field, as applied to teaching and learning, and an excellent understanding of current educationalthinking and practicewithin this discipline.
  • Outstanding communication skills.
  • Proven leadership and administrative abilities.
  • A proactive and innovative approach.
  • Proven experience in the continuous updating of knowledge and expertise and a willingness to learn.
  • Willing to make an active contribution to the mission, ethos and values of the College.
  • Keen to take responsibility for professional development and to use the outcomes for their own benefit and that of the school.
  • Able to train, coach and support colleagues, encouraging and motivating others to perform to the best of their abilities.
  • Able to plan (short, medium and long term), prioritise and manage time well ensuring decisions are implemented.
  • Able to seek and adapt to feedback and able to remain positive when challenged or criticised.
  • The ability to negotiate and agree a way forward.

Induction, In-Service Training (INSET) and Appraisal

Teachers are required to:

  • Attend the induction programme as required by the Senior Deputy Head.
  • Participate in the system of appraisal.
  • Identify their own training needs in consultation with their line manager.
  • Ensure they are familiar with the Common Room Handbook and school guidance policies.
  • Be aware of, and act in accordance with, school Health and Safety policies (as set out in the Health and Safety Manual).

Pastoral role and wider contribution

Teachers will:

  • Act as House tutors (unless their other roles/duties preclude this), being part of a team reporting to a Housemaster/Housemistress (HsM) and making a full contribution to the House. This role involves routine registration, monitoring of academic progress and general welfare, conducting and generating pastoral sessions, supervision in House (as directed by the HsM) and supporting House events.
  • Contribute to the extra-curricular programme of the school. For example, it is expected that all teachers run at least one activity per week (4.45 – 5.45pm) every term. Again, support for General Studies, evening events, weekend activities (including occasional Sunday trips), and PDP and the Pastoral Programme is expected.
  • Take part in games and community activities (such as CCF/Prior Concern/D of E, school trips), including contribution to Saturday fixtures and afternoon duties throughout 2 terms.
  • Discharge necessary routine duties, such as Dining Hall and queue supervision, and cover for colleagues and contribute to the good order of the school.
  • Teachers will be expected to lead and co-ordinate morning prayers (and evening prayers in boarding Houses), as a minimum delivering the House or year group prayer at morning tutor group registration.
  • Offer a positive example in all that they do and provide a professional presence at all times.

Salary

Prior Park College operates its own pay scale. The salary will be according to experience.

Teachers are entitled to be members of the teachers’ pension scheme. Free car parking is available. Staff are entitled to use school facilities, eg. gym, swimming pool, tennis courts, etc.

Child Protection

Prior Park Educational Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Data Protection

In the course of employment at Prior Park Educational Trust, staff may have access to confidential information relating to pupils and their families and are required to exercise due consideration in the way they use such information. Staff should not act in any way which might be prejudicial to the School’s interest. Information which may be included in the category covers both the general business of the school and information regarding specific individuals. A strict code of confidentiality must be adhered to at all times. The School is registered under the Data Protection Act 1998 and staff must not at any time use the personal data held by the school or disclose such data to a third person.