Closing Date for Receipt of Completed Applications Is

Leader of ICT and Business Studies

Application Pack

Closing date for receipt of completed applications is

9am on Monday 28 April 2014

Dear Applicant

Thank you for expressing an interest in applying for the role of Leader of ICT and Business Studies at University of Chester Academy Northwich (UCAN).

UCAN was opened in January 2012 to create a strong working link between ourselves and our sponsor University of Chester. This partnership aims to provide unique learning opportunities for our entire learning community and is just one of the many strategies we have employed to enable our academy vision of ‘aspire; achieve; excel’ to be realised.

University of Chester Academy Northwich is an innovative and forward thinking place of education and we are constantly looking for ways we can secure our students future personal success.

We are committed to providing outstanding learning opportunities for all our students and offer unrivalled support and guidance to them so that this can be achieved. Everyone within the academy contributes to our students’ success and it is only by us all working together can we achieve our aims.

Please read the information available about both University of Chester Academy Northwich and the specific role you are interested in applying for and complete the Application Form found on our web site ensuring you detail your experience to date and your suitability for appointment to this role.

If you require any further information or would like aspects of the role clarifying do not hesitate to contact UCAN and we will respond accordingly.

Thank you again for showing interest in working at University of Chester Academy Northwich and I look forward to receiving your application in the near future.

If you have not heard anything from us within 10 days of the closing date then your application will have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Yours sincerely

Matthew Wood

Principal

UNIVERSITY OF CHESTER ACADEMY NORTHWICH

Shipbrook Road

Rudheath

Northwich

Cheshire

CW9 7DT

Tel: 01606 42515

Fax: 01606 46053

E-Mail:

LEADER OF ICT and BUSINESS STUDIES (TLR 2a)

Required from 1 September 2014.

UCAN is seeking to appoint an inspirational and creativeLeaderof ICT and Business Studies to work within our thriving academy and to further develop ICT within and across the curriculum (including E-learning and E-safety).

The successful candidate will be an outstanding practitionerable to deliver exciting, relevant and challenging lessons to students of all abilities within both Key Stage 3 and 4.

Interested applicants should apply by completing a covering letter and the application form which can be found at:

Please direct any enquiries and return completed applications to Lesley Griffin, Personal Assistant to the Principal, at / 01606 338609.

Closing date for receipt of completed applications is 9am on Monday 28 April 2014. Interviews will be held soon after this date.

The University of Chester Academy Northwich is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Successful applications will be subject to an enhanced CRB check. Applications will only be considered when submitted on a fully completed application form. All applicants will be considered on the basis of suitability for the post regardless of age, sex, race or disability.

TLR Outline – IT/Business Studies (TLE 2a – £2,560)

In addition to the main teaching responsibilities, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:

ICT Within and Across the curriculum

The academic outcomes for students within ICT and Business Studies
To develop an ICT strategy vision and ensure its implementation
To develop computing, IT and Business Studies Schemes of Work and plans for short, medium and long term goals
To ensure that ICT learning capabilities are developed and evident across all aspects of the curriculum
To ensure consistency in the delivery and use of ICT learning and teaching

E-Learning

To lead on the implementation and development of an academy wide e-Learning strategy
To measure the impact of e-Learning on student outcomes and improving standards across the academy

E-Safety

To ensure the academy meets statutory requirements for e-safety
To develop an academy wide e-safety education programme to be delivered during registration and other times as appropriate.

Training and Development

To provide training to staff, students and other stakeholders on ICT and associated development/improvement areas.

ICT Support

To work with and support the academy’s ICT Technicians to ensure that systems and structures support students’ learning and progress

TEACHER OF ICT and BUSINESS STUDIES

Job Description and Person Specification

Responsible to:Curriculum Area Leader (as Teacher) /Progress Leader (as Personal Progress Tutor)

Responsible for: The provision of a full and rich learning experience and support for students

Main Purpose of the role:

To fulfil the Teachers’ Standards, as a teacher of ICT and Business Studies, working as part of a departmental and a pastoral team
To inspire, motivate and challenge students through the development and delivery of an appropriately broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum
To promote, monitor and support good student progress and development, academically and pastorally
To ensure a learning experience which provides students with the opportunity to achieve their individual potential

Principal Responsibilities:

A Teacher of ICT and Business Studies at University of Chester Academy Northwich is responsible for meeting all the requirements as appropriate of the Teachers’ Standards.

Teaching and Learning

To assist in the development of appropriate syllabuses, resources, schemes of work, marking policies and teaching strategies in the curriculum/learning area
To contribute to the curriculum/learning area development plan and its implementation
To plan and prepare course and lessons to maximise student progress
To contribute to whole Academy planning activities
To assist the Curriculum Area Leader to ensure that the curriculum area provides a range of teaching and learning which reflects the Academy’s strategic objectives
To take part in the Academy’s staff development programme by participating in arrangements for further training and professional development
To continue professional development in the relevant areas including subject knowledge and teaching methods
To engage actively in the Appraisal process
To ensure the effective/efficient deployment of classroom support
To work as a member of a designated team and to contribute positively to effective working relations within the Academy
To maintain appropriate records and to provide relevant accurate and up-to-date information for MIS, registers etc
To complete the relevant documentation to assist in the tracking of students
To track students progress and use information to inform teaching and learning
To take part in marketing and liaison activities such as Open Evenings, Parents Evenings, Review Days and liaison events with partner Academies
To contribute to the development of effective subject links with external agencies
To apply Behaviour Management systems so that effective learning can take place
To teach students according to their educational needs, including the setting and marking of work to be carried out by the student in Academy and elsewhere
To assess, record and report on attendance, progress, development and attainment of students and to keep such records as are required
To provide, or contribute to, oral and written assessments, reports and references relating to individual students and groups of students
To ensure that ICT, Literacy, Numeracy and Academy subject specialism(s) are reflected in the teaching/learning experience of students
To undertake a designated programme of teaching

To ensure a high quality learning experience for students which meets internal and external quality standards
To prepare and update subject materials
To use a variety of delivery methods which will stimulate learning appropriate to student needs and demands of the syllabus
To maintain discipline in accordance with the Academy’s procedures and to encourage good practice with regard to punctuality, behaviour, standards of work and homework
To undertake assessment of students as requested by external examination bodies, departmental and Academy procedures
To mark, grade and give written/verbal and diagnostic feedback as required
To be a Personal Progress Tutor to an assigned group of students
To promote the general progress and well-being of individual students and of the Tutor Group as a whole
To liaise with the Personal Progress Tutor to ensure the implementation of the Academy’s Pastoral/Progress System
To register students, accompany them to assemblies, encourage their full attendance at all lessons and their participation in other aspects of Academy life
To evaluate and monitor the progress of students and keep up-to-date student records as may be required
To contribute to the preparation of Action Plans, progress files and other reports
To alert the appropriate staff to problems experienced by students and to make recommendations as to how these may be resolved
To communicate as appropriate with the parents of students and with persons or bodies outside the Academy concerned with the welfare of individual students, after consultation with the appropriate staff
To contribute to PSHCE and enterprise education according to Academy policy

Quality Assurance

To help implement Academy quality procedures and to adhere to those

To contribute to the process of monitoring and evaluation of the curriculum area/department in line with agreed Academy procedures including evaluation against quality standards and performance criteria. To seek/implement modification and improvement where required

To review from time to time methods of teaching and programmes of work
To take part, as may be required, in the review, development and

management of activities relating to the curriculum, organisation and pastoral functions of the Academy

Working with staff

To communicate effectively with the parents of students as appropriate
Where appropriate, communicate and co-operate with persons or bodies outside the Academy

To follow agreed policies for communications in the Academy

Resource Management

To contribute to the process of the ordering and allocation of equipment and materials
To assist the Curriculum Area Leader/Subject Leader to identify resource needs and to contribute to the efficient/effective use of physical resources
To co-operate with other staff to ensure a sharing and effective usage of resources to the benefit of the Academy, Department and the students.

Other specific duties

To play a full part in the life of the Academy community, to support its distinctive mission and ethos and to encourage staff and students to follow this example.
To support the Academy in meeting its legal requirements for worship
To promote actively the Academy’s corporate policies
To continue professional development as agreed
To comply with the Academy’s Health and Safety policy and undertake risk assessments as appropriate. Safeguard students’ health and safety when they are authorised to be on the Academy premises and when they are engaged in authorised Academy activities elsewhere.
To undertake any other duty as specified by STPCB not mentioned above

Whilst every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post, each individual task undertaken may not be identified.

Employees will be expected to comply with any reasonable request from a manager to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified in this job description.

TECHNOLOGY CURRICULUM AREA INFORMATION

The successful candidate will:

be a specialist teacher of ICT and be able to offer Business Studies and/or computer programming
teach effectively across the age and ability range, including Key Stage 4 courses
be a team player
contribute to the curricular work of the department
contribute to the extra-curricular provision of the department
be a Personal Progress Tutor and contribute to the development and implementation of academy wide academic/pastoral initiatives

Currently, ICT/Business Studies is housed within our Logic Faculty (Maths). This structure is being revised and it is likely that IT will be joined with the English Baccalaureate subjects – Humanities and Modern Foreign Languages.

The academy is acutely aware that on entry to Year 7, many of our students have a reading age below their chronological age. A range of strategies both within the English Curriculum Area and across the academy have been identified to combat this. It is expected that the ICT curriculum will support literacy development and support students’ planning, development and evaluative skills.

The academy VLE is constantly being populated and up-dated which will support the Curriculum Area’s focus on the quality of teaching and feed into the academy’s personalised learning agenda. There are good links with our feeder primary schools and ICT has a strong involvement in the academy’s extensive contribution to developing the Arts and Science specialism.

Staff within each subject/Curriculum Area, teach to an agreed Scheme of Work in KS3 and follow Key Stage 4 courses. GCSE courses encourage our learners to be inspired, moved and changed by following a broad, coherent, satisfying and worthwhile course of study. We expect all subjects to prepare learners to make informed decisions about further learning opportunities and career choices; to use language to participate effectively in society and employment; and develop their enthusiasm for reading. The teaching in both Key Stages is reviewed regularly and schemes of work amended accordingly.

Team work has been an essential ingredient of our success; mutual support and the sharing of ideas have been beneficial in the improved standards of attainment over recent months at both departmental and whole academy level.

CRITERIA FOR THE ROLE

CATEGORY / ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE / HOW DEMONSTRATED
Application / - Fully supported in reference
- Well structured supporting letter / Application Form
References
Qualifications / - An honours degree in the subject specialism (ICT and or Business Studies)
- Qualified Teacher Status / - Commitment to continue further study or professional development / Application Form
References
Interview
Experience / - Successfully taught ICT at Key Stage 3 and 4 and Business Studies at Key Stage 4
- Have good, up-to-date working knowledge and understanding of a range of teaching, learning and behaviour management strategies and know how to use and adapt them, including how to personalise learning to provide opportunities for all learners to achieve their potential
- Have secure knowledge and understanding of their subjects/curriculum areas and related pedagogy including: the contribution that their subjects/curriculum areas can make to cross-curricular learning; and recent relevant developments / - Have experience of developing computing within subject Schemes of Work / Application Form
References
Interview
Skills / - Plan for progression across the secondary age and ability range, designing effective learning sequences within lessons and across serious of lessons informed by secure subject and curriculum knowledge.
-Design opportunities for learners to develop their literacy, numeracy, ICT and thinking and learning skills.
-Plan, set and assess homework, other out-of-class assignments and coursework for examinations, where appropriate, to sustain learners’ progress and to extend and consolidate their learning.
-Teach challenging, well organised lessons and sequences of lessons across the secondary age and ability range.
-Use an appropriate range of teaching strategies and resources. / Knowledge and understanding of subject and curriculum / Application Form
References
Interview
Special Knowledge / - Detailed knowledge of the structure and content of the current ICT curriculum for all relevant Key Stages
-Understanding and knowledge of current issues in education / Application Form
References
Interview
Personal Attributes / - A belief in the ability of all young people to achieve success
-A commitment to equality and diversity
High quality care, guidance and support for students and parents
-A good health and attendance record
-Evidence of being able to build and sustain effective working relationships with staff, Governors, parents and the wider community
- Flexibility and adaptability in order to be able to mix and work with a wide range of people / Application Form
References
Interview

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF CHESTER ACADEMY NORTHWICH

UNIVERSITY OF CHESTER ACADEMIES TRUST

OUR ACADEMY AIMS
To encourage and develop a strong partnership between home, Academy and the wider community.

To provide a happy, safe and stable environment in which learning can take place.
To promote high expectations, high quality education and standards of excellence.
To recognise achievement and help students to enjoy learning and participation in creative, social and leisure activities.
To develop lively, inquiring minds and the skills for students to work both independently and collaboratively.
To help students acquire knowledge and skills relevant to adult life and employment in a rapidly changing, technological world.
To develop the core skills of communication, numeracy and information technology.
To promote the development of self-confidence, self-esteem and self-respect.
To encourage students at all times to show care and consideration for others and respect for the environment.
To foster understanding and respect for different religious and moral values and tolerance of other races, religions and ways of life.
To help students understand and respect the community in which they live, the world beyond it and the interdependence of individuals, groups and nations.
To enable students to work, participate and thrive in a democratic society and to develop a positive role within the community.

OUR ACADEMY CONTEXT

University of Chester Academy Northwich (formerly Rudheath Community High School) was opened in January 2012 and is a smaller than average, 11-16 Academy working in close partnership with its sponsor, University of Chester. The Academy buildings have served the area for over seventy years and there is a strong tradition of community involvement. We have excellent facilities for teaching and learning and for a wide range of leisure activities.

The original buildings date from 1938 and major building projects in the late 1970s provided outstanding drama teaching accommodation and a fully equipped stage and auditorium, a spacious sports hall together with a substantial physical fitness suite, a newly built all weather sports facility, a multi purpose hall and modern office accommodation. The sports facilities are used extensively by the community outside school hours. In July 2006 we were delighted to open our Edwin Moss Centre for Performing Arts which provides music and dance suites which support our specialist school for the arts. From January 2012 Science has been added to our specialist status and has enabled the recent refurbishment of some of our Science area to raise the profile of sciences and reflect our local science and technology heritage.