Department Leader - Upper School
Woodlands Secondary School, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU3 3SP12 days remaining to apply
Start date details
January 2025
Closing date
9 October 2024 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
23 September 2024
Job details
Job role
- Teacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Subject
- Special Needs
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- MPS plus SEN Allowance and TLR1 b
Department Leader - Upper School job summary
Following the promotion of our current Department Leader to an Assistant Headteacher post, we are seeking to appoint a new middle leader to join our school, in the position of Upper School Department Leader. The Upper School Department currently comprises 6 classes, 4 Key Stage 4 classes and 2 FE classes.
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with suitable experience and ambition to lead on teaching and learning for this cohort of students. The Upper School Department Leader will lead on curriculum development and equipping students with the required skills that will facilitate a successful transition to their post school destinations. The post holder will have a teaching commitment of 2 days per week and will be an outstanding classroom practitioner.
As Department Leader, the successful candidate will lead and manage a team of dedicated teachers and teaching assistants who are committed to supporting students to develop in all areas. The post holder will play a significant role in reviewing and updating EHC Plans and ensuring that suitable provision is in place as well as supporting colleagues to set and review appropriately challenging targets.
As a middle leader, they will have responsibility to monitor student progress, facilitate appropriate accreditation and will have performance management responsibilities.
The Upper School Department Leader will work alongside our other Department Leaders, and Senior Leaders, as part of the Middle Leadership Team. The middle leaders work together on operational aspects of the school as well as leading on key aspects of school improvement, linked to the overarching school improvement plan, in addition to Department specific priorities. The middle leaders play a key role in measuring the impact of the curriculum and other interventions with on the department.
The successful candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills and effective communication skills; they will be ambitious, determined and resilient.
In return, we offer:
The opportunity to develop your career in a successful and thriving school.
Strong partnership with a knowledgeable and supportive Middle and Senior Leadership team, who are committer to supporting your ongoing professional development.
A dedicated, motivated and professional staff team
A diverse, inclusive and amazing student population.
An innovative, bespoke curriculum that equips our children and young people with the skills they need to become successful adults.
Benefits of working at Woodlands Secondary School
- High quality CPD
- Free access to Employee Assistance provided by Spectrum Life - this is confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Supportive senior and middle leaders
- Free tea and coffee
- Access to our onsite cafe, 3 days per week - sit in or take away; loyalty cards available
- opportunities to be entered into a half-termly draw to win a cafe voucher - based on good attendance
- Access to the onsite gym
- Discounted membership at Active Luton
- Free eye tests and contributions towards the cost of glasses.
Find out more about the school
Working in a special school is a unique and privileged opportunity for the right people.
We advise interested parties to ensure that they have looked at the school website www.woodlands.luton.sch.uk and our Facebook Page - Official Woodlands Secondary School, in order to get a flavour of our school.
Visits to the school are encouraged. To arrange a visit to the school please contact: sandra.clarke@woodlands.luton.sch.uk
Closing Date: Wednesday 9th October 2024
Interview Date: Thursday 17th October 2024
The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment.
Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Scheme.
This post meets the definition of 'Regulated Activity' as defined in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.
Because of the nature of the job it will be necessary for an enhanced DBS check to be undertaken. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and convictions that are not protected by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). A person's criminal record will not in itself prevent a person from being appointed to this post. Applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to and do not place the at or make the a risk, in the role for which they are applying. However in the event of the employment being taken up, any failure to disclose such offence, as detailed above, will result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority.
IT IS AN OFFENCE TO APPLY FOR A ROLE WORKING IN A REGULATED ACTIVITY IF YOU ARE BARRED FROM WORKING WITH CHILDREN
PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHED POLICIES:
Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy
The application
CVs will only be accepted alongside a completed application form. A CV on its own will not provide adequate information and does not replace the need for candidates to explain how they meet the essential criteria in full.
The letter of application should address each of the criteria on the person specification. (see attached document - Writing a good letter of application)
Commitment to safeguarding
Woodlands Secondary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its children.
Applying for the job
This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.
CVs are not accepted.
About Woodlands Secondary School
- School type
- Special school, ages 11 to 18
- School size
- 262 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report (opens in new tab)
- School website
- Woodlands Secondary School website (opens in new tab)
Woodlands is a large secondary special school located in the north of Luton. Our mission statement is to 'Empower our young people to become successful adults.'
Our students have severe or profound learning difficulties, some have additional learning needs.
We have developed and refined our ambitious curriculum offer to meet the needs of the different cohorts of learners to ensure that learning is interesting, relevant and functional.
We have great facilities on site and aim to enrich learning by accessing the community and applying learning beyond the classroom.
School location
Similar jobs nearby
Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed
Find more school jobs in Luton and Bedfordshire