Head of Physics
West London Free School, London, W6 9LPThis job expired on 14 April 2024 – see similar jobs
Job start date
2 September 2024
Closing date
14 April 2024 at 11:59pm
Date listed
27 March 2024
Job details
Job role
- Head of department or curriculum
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
Subjects
- Physics, Science
Working pattern
- Full time: Our school day lasts from 8.30am to 4.30pm.
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- Commensurate with experience
Additional allowances
A competitive Head of Department TLR
What skills and experience we're looking for
At the WLFS, we value subject knowledge. Science teachers only teach outside their subject specialism at Key Stage 3, so the successful candidate for this role will teach Physics exclusively from Year 10 onwards. At Key Stage 4, each class is shared between 3 teachers who each teach 2 lessons of their specialist science per week. This reduces planning time for teachers and ensures all lessons beyond Year 9 are delivered by a subject expert. Currently, just under half of our students do Triple Science, while the remainder do Combined Science. All Science lessons are taught in a lab, and we have 2 full-time technicians to setup and assist with practical work. Uptake for Physics A Level has grown significantly and is very strong, regularly filling two Year 12 groups. Students at the WLFS enjoy an intellectually rigorous Science curriculum delivered by passionate subject specialists, and many opportunities to receive subject enrichment through trips, talks and our annual Science week.
Key characteristics of the role include:
- to impart your passion for Physics to the pupils you teach, whilst also ensuring their mastery of the subject.
- to assist the Head of Science in planning and delivering schemes of work for Key Stages 3, 4 and 5, and monitoring their effectiveness.
- to monitor the progress of pupils according to the department and school assessment policy and to advise on set changes.
- to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in the department by taking part in collaborative planning, sharing resources, mentoring and observing teachers, and participating in continuing professional development.
- to be a form tutor, and work collaboratively with your year group team.
- to contribute to the wider school life, such as events, trips, and co-curricular clubs.
The successful candidate will have:
- strong subject knowledge, a passion for Physics, and an ability to communicate that passion to pupils;
- an ability to teach Science at Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 to all ability levels, including pupils with SEN;
- a proven track record of excellent Science teaching and, where relevant, outstanding outcomes for pupils at both GCSE and A-level;
- an understanding of the ethos of the West London Free School, and a commitment to teaching a knowledge-based curriculum;
- high expectations of pupil conduct and behaviour;
- excellent team working skills;
- excellent communication skills with both pupils and staff;
- a willingness to contribute to the school’s co-curricular programme.
What the school offers its staff
The West London Free School offers academic excellence, attentive pastoral support and a thriving co-curricular programme, allowing pupils to become the best version of themselves. As a member of the Knowledge Schools Trust, we are driven by a common desire to overcome inequality of opportunity through education. We believe that knowledge is a good in and of itself, empowering pupils to understand and take an interest in the world around them. The education we offer is not just a preparation for work, but a preparation for life. As such, we value the knowledge of our teachers, and the passion for their subject that they bring to the classroom.
We offer a challenging curriculum, with a supportive environment, underpinned by fantastic teachers. Through this combination, pupils at the West London Free School excel. In 2023:
- A-level: 48% of entries were graded A* to A, and 77% were graded A* to B.
- GCSE: 48% of entries were graded 9 to 7, and 86% were graded 9 to 4. Progress 8 was 0.69, and Attainment 8 was 6.1, placing us in the top 2% of comprehensive schools in the country.
- WLFS students went on to study at some of the best universities in the UK and abroad, with seven students accepted to courses at Oxford or Cambridge in both 2022 and 2023.
At the West London Free School, we aim to build a culture of sustainable success. We have a stable body of staff who feel supported and fulfilled.
- Senior leaders see it as their responsibility to ensure all teachers can teach without disruption. School rules are non-negotiable, and poor behaviour is met by escalating sanctions.
- Our annual survey (conducted by EdSRS) revealed that 100% of teaching staff would recommend the WLFS to other teachers as a good place to work (84% nationally); 71% said that staff morale is high (47% nationally); and 87% said that the SLT are highly visible and approachable (71% nationally).
Commitment to safeguarding
The Knowledge Schools Trust is an equal opportunities employer. The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.
Upload additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About West London Free School
- School type
- Free School, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- 915 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report (opens in new tab)
- School website
- West London Free School website (opens in new tab)
- Email address
- r.peal@wlfs.org
- Phone number
- 020 8600 0670
The West London Free School is one of the country's pioneering free schools, renowned for academic excellence, high standards of behaviour and a wide choice of co-curricular clubs. Since our foundation in 2011, we have provided all children with a rigorous, knowledge-rich education irrespective of their background. We offer a challenging curriculum, with a supportive environment, underpinned by fantastic teachers. Through this combination, pupils at the West London Free School excel. In 2024:
• A-level: 52% of entries were graded A* to A, and 83% were graded A* to B.
• GCSE: 51% of entries were graded 9 to 7, and 90% of entries were graded 9 to 4. Our Progress 8 was 0.96, and our Attainment 8 Grade was 6.4, placing us in the top 1% of comprehensive schools in the country.
• The Sunday Times named us ‘London Comprehensive School of the year’ for 2025.
At the West London Free School, we aim to build a culture of sustainable success. We have a stable body of staff who feel supported and fulfilled.
• Senior leaders are highly visible and approachable.
• The pastoral team take responsibility for ensuring all teachers can teach without disruption. School rules are non-negotiable, and poor behaviour is met by escalating sanctions.
• Our staff surveys have regularly shown staff morale and other indicators of professional satisfaction at the WLFS to be significantly higher than national benchmarks.
As well as a knowledge rich education, the WLFS runs an extensive co-curricular programme that encourages children to develop outside the classroom. The school specialises in music and offers a range of sporting opportunities as well as general interest clubs. All staff are encouraged to share their co-curricular enthusiasm by committing one hour a week to running a school club.
Arranging a visit to West London Free School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email r.peal@wlfs.org.
School location
Similar jobs nearby
Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed
Find more school jobs in London