The BLUESCHOOL
Information for Candidates
Welcome to The Blue
Applying for a new job is an important step so it’s vital that you learn as much about us as you can to decide whether this will be the right place for you. This information booklet attempts to provide you with an insight into life at The Blue School, to try to convey the things that are important to us, the strengths that we have and the areas that we are looking to develop over the coming years.
When visitors spend time with us, and when new staff join the school, their first impressions are often related to the quality of the students, the commitment of the staff and the calm environment in which we operate (most of the time!). Our aim is to achieve the best that we can in all aspects of school life and we firmly believe that the culture of the school is such that this is a realistic goal for both students and staff.
Details about the school
The Blue School is an 11 to 18 Church of England coeducational Academy with nearly 1500 students. As the only state secondary school providing 11 to 18 education in the area, our students are drawn from the city of Wells and its surrounding villages and they provide us with a genuinely comprehensive intake. We enjoy a good reputation in the community and, consequently, we are regularly over-subscribed. Whilst being an Academy enables us to have greater autonomy in the management of the school, we still retain strong links with Somerset Local Authority and work closely with other local schools.
The history of the school
The history of our school dates back to 1641 when it was established as a charitable foundation as a result of a local churchman Ezekial Barkham’s legacy. The name was attached to it over time as a result of the blue uniforms that were provided for the original pupils. Today’s students are encouraged to take pride in the school’s history, which is celebrated by each Y7 in a Founder’s Day Service each year, and to value the traditions which have contributed to the development of their school.
The original links with the local church community are continued today through some of its governors and the contribution of local clergy to some school events. As a Church of England School, we try to apply Christian values in our interactions with each other and in our assemblies, whilst recognising the differing religious backgrounds of our school community.
The school staff
We value the contributions that all staff make to the effectiveness of the school. The importance of staff is reflected in our school structures, in our approach to training and development and in our daily interactions with each other. New staff often comment on the high expectations that we have of each other, the professionalism with which we approach everything and the care and support that is a prominent feature of the school. We achieved Investors in People status in 1999and three subsequent reviews have been successful.
At all levels within the school, we invest significant amounts of time and money to support and develop our staff. We have a well established induction process for Newly Qualified Teachers which introduces them to important features of the school and which provides opportunities to discuss ideas and any concerns on a regular basis. They are supported throughout the year by a subject mentor and by one of our Senior Professional Tutors. In addition to this, all staff have access to individualised training to develop their own expertise and to enhance the work of their team. Specific areas of training are formally agreed during the annual Performance Management reviews with Team Leaders, but we respond to needs as they arise throughout the year whenever possible.
As a result of becoming a Training School in April 2008, more opportunities have become available for staff to undertake research and to gain accreditation for their learning and training. A major feature of the school is our commitment to training people to work in different roles within schools and the wider community.
One of the features of the school is the strength of each of its many teams. Each of the curriculum, pastoral and support teams has a Team Leader who provides the vision and direction for their particular area, often with the support of a Deputy or an Assistant Team Leader. In such a large school, these teams are vital in creating opportunities for staff to share ideas and experiences and to develop networks of support.
The Leadership Team of the school consists of the Headteacher, three Deputy Headteachers and the Business Manager. Whilst having their own specific role and responsibilities, each one is also linked to particular teams within the school and is actively involved in evaluating and supporting the work of all staff
Each year we recruit well qualified staff who settle in to the school well and who quickly contribute to school life. There is a condition which we affectionately call “The Blue School Syndrome” which describes the experience of many of us who join the school with the intention of moving on after a couple of years but who become reluctant to leave the staff and students at The Blue. Our past record of developing new staff into positions of responsibility with the school contributes to the continuity of staffing that we enjoy. Having said that, staff find it easy to gain promotion in other schools as a result of their experience with us and several move on to new positions each year.
The students and their learning
One of the reasons for the success of the school is the nature of the students and the support that we receive from their families. Students join us from our 11 partner primary schools in Y7, as well as from outside of our traditional catchment area, and are placed in mixed ability tutor groups for their time in the school. Tutors stay with their group for the duration of Key Stages 3 and 4, working under the leadership of a Pastoral Team Leader.
In Y7, students are taught in mixed ability groups for all subjects, except for Mathematics and English. As students progress through the school, more setting occurs with departments making decisions about the most effective ways for students to experience their subjects. There are a wide range of extra-curricular activities for students and we are always looking for ways of extending that provision. All students also have the chance to be part of the School Council which has a considerable impact on school life.
Our school population is genuinely comprehensive and will give you the rewarding opportunity to work with youngsters with a wide range of abilities and individual needs. New staff often find the emphasis placed on student learning in the classroom refreshing and rise to the challenges that this brings. Although the majority of our students engage effectively and willingly with the learning ethos of the school, there are some who are less inclined or able to do so, which means that working at the school ensures that the full range of teaching and learning skills can be practised and further developed. The inclusive nature of the school is very important to us and it is something which is recognised by those who work with us to support the learning of more vulnerable groups of youngsters.
Students achieve outstanding results at Key Stage 3 and in the Sixth Form whilst standards at Key Stage 4 are good. One of the priorities for us is to review the provision and progress of some less able students during their GCSE years so that the excellent progress by the end of Y9 can be sustained by all students.
All staff in the school work hard to enable students to succeed. This includes the large number of support staff who contribute to the learning of students by providing high quality administrative, financial, catering, premises and IT services, or by working directly with them in classrooms and around the school.
The school environment
The quality of our environment is a source of pride for us, and one which we believe contributes to the orderly atmosphere of the school. Our campus is a most attractive one, with approximately 32 acres of playing fields and a superb view across the city which creates a very green and spacious feeling to the place. In recent years we have redeveloped the buildings to create a Learning Resource Centre, a Design and Technology Centre, a Business Studies Suite, new dining areas, a Sports Centre, a new Science Block and, most recently, a Training Kitchen. Whilst there are still areas of the school that would benefit from being redesigned and refurbished, facilities for students and staff are of a high quality and plans are in place to attend to specific areas of the school in the future.
In September 2003, the school achieved ScienceCollege status. Significant investment has been made in refurbishing existing Biology labs and building a new block to house Physics and Chemistry. The new Science Block also contains a state of the art Science/ICT lab which is proving of great benefit not only to our students, but also to the students of our Partner Primary Schools. Science and Mathematics rooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards, and a variety of learning opportunities have been introduced for students in both subjects. All other curriculum areas have benefited from improved resources and facilities as a result of the increased financial investment in the school.
English Intervention Tutor
The post supports the work of the English team in raising the achievement of students.
Students in KS4 who are at risk of not achieving their target grade at GCSE are identified at the end of Y9 so that extra support can be provided for them within the school day. The focus of the work is primarily on students who are near to the C/D borderline, but intervention is also arranged for students at other levels of ability. Some intervention will also be provided for students in Key Stage 3, and the role could also involve working with some post 16 students who need support for literacy.
Main duties of the post
Arrangements for intervention will change over time and the role of the Intervention Tutor will need to adapt to respond to them, but the main duties of the post will include the following:
- updating knowledge of relevant Programmes of Study and GCSE syllabuses;
- preparation of resources and programmes to be used with students;
- delivering intervention programmes to small groups of students;
- supporting individual students;
- liaising with English teachers to identify specific needs of students;
- assessing the progress of students;
- working closely with other Intervention Tutors in the school to share resources and expertise;
- attending any relevant training.
Additional information
The post holder will work under the direction of the Team Leader for English and/or the Deputy Team Leader for English.
The post holder will work 25 hours per week, term time only. The exact timings of each day will be determined by the timetabling of English classes and so will vary from year to year.
Attendance at INSET days and departmental meeting would be negotiated as appropriate, but would not be ordinarily expected.
Closing date: Thursday 21st June 2012
The application process
If working at The Blue School is something which excites you and you feel that you are able to contribute to the further development of the school, we look forward to working with you in the future. Please complete the application form accurately and return it with a letter outlining why you believe that your experience, interests and skills would make you suitable for the post. Candidates selected for interview will be given the chance to look round the school on the day and to meet students and staff as well as undertaking the more formal parts of the selection process. All jobs involving teaching require candidates to teach a short lesson on a topic provided by the school, in addition to a formal interview. If invited to interview, you will be asked to bring various pieces of documentation to verify your identity and to comply with the requirements of the Criminal Records Bureau in ensuring the safeguarding of children.
Please return your completed application to Mrs Alison Cox at the school.
The Blue School, Wells, Somerset BA5 2NR.
Telephone: 01749 836264. Fax: 01749 836215.
E-mail:
N.B. Please ensure that you have put the correct postage on applications sent to us as we do not collect from sorting offices or pay any unpaid postage. A4 envelopes need more than just a 1st class stamp on them.