Teacher of Science
Bedford Free School, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9AD
Deadline is tomorrow
Expected start date
1 September 2022
Application deadline
27 June 2022 at 9:00am
Date listed
15 June 2022
Job details
Subject
- View all Sciencejobs
Working pattern
Contract type
- Permanent
Salary
- 26,035-42,124 FTE
Teacher of Science job summary
BELIEVE IN TRADITIONAL VALUES, ACADEMIC RIGOUR AND VERY HIGH EXPECTATIONS?
Want a SLT who visibly support staff? Want to teach and lead where pupils behave impeccably at all times?
Then you should be interested in teaching at Bedford Free School. We are recruiting a Teacher of Science.
RESPECT, HONESTY, HIGH EXPECTATIONS
At BFS our values drive everything that we do and as a result our teachers enjoy impeccable behaviour in lessons and hardworking, highly motivated students. Open for just 8 years, Bedford Free School is a genuinely comprehensive school that provides a knowledge-based education for students of all backgrounds. We teach an unashamedly academic curriculum consisting of the best that has been thought and said, and as you would expect, science is at the heart of this.
PARENTAL CHOICE
With waiting lists in each year group and GCSE results placing us amongst the top schools locally, we have quickly become a hugely popular school. Demand for places is very high as parents want the combination of a BFS education and our distinctive small school feel for their children.
We’re looking for people who want to be the best. You will be excellent in the classroom and an inspiring character who is willing to lead by example, but will also contribute positively to wider school life. Most of all, you will be clear that education is a great leveler and work hard to help us achieve our goal of preparing every student to go to university.
THE DEPARTMENT
The department is made up of 1 lab technician and 5 teachers, each member of staff is a highly qualified subject specialist. Two of our teachers completed their teacher training at BFS, and results improved significantly between 2015 and 2018 and the department is a high-achieving one. We currently follow the Edexcel specification and offer triple and combined science at GCSE.
SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT
At Bedford Free School we invest heavily in professional learning, which alongside support and coaching from our senior leadership team, and access to expertise across Advantage Schools, means you can develop to be your very best. You can find out more about the trust-wide professional development offer here: https://www.advantageschools.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/OCT-ASKE-Brochure-2021-22.pdf
We have no unwieldy marking policies, our pupils’ behaviour is impeccable supported by same-day whole-school sanctions where necessary and Senior Leaders have a very high profile to ensure that you are supported to develop.
SAFEGUARDING
We value diversity and are committed to safeguarding. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and any other relevant employment checks.
We are a small, intimate school, where teachers and students know each other and look out for each other. Safeguarding children enrolled at the school is of paramount importance and we are fully committed to the protection and safe care of our students. The successful applicant will be required to undertake appropriate checks as well as providing proof of your right to work in the UK.
Applying for the job
We welcome applications from ambitious and inspirational teachers who share our traditional approach and values of Respect, Honesty and High Expectations.
To apply please fill in the application form and supporting statement illustrating how you meet the person specification for this role.
More on how to apply (opens in a new tab)About Bedford Free School
- School type
- Free School, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- View all Secondaryjobs
- School size
- 504 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)
- School website
- Bedford Free School website (opens in a new tab)
- Contact email
- recruitment@bedfordfreeschool.co.uk
- Contact phone number
- 01234 332290
Founded by local teachers, BFS opened in September 2012 with the aim of offering the families in our community a distinctive and
world-class choice for their children.
Our school values of Respect, Honesty and High Expectations drive what we do every single day to ensure that we give our students the best possible education.
Bedford Free School, currently graded ‘Outstanding’ by OFSTED, is different. If you are able to visit you will see a silent address in the playground to the whole school at the start of the day, extended time given to numeracy, literacy, knowledge quizzes and reading, silent corridors and impeccable student Behaviour (we are a Lead Behaviour Hub School), and extra-curricular activities which every pupil takes part in. The school is open and supervised from 8-5:30pm (compulsory from 8.25-4pm).
There are no onerous marking policies, graded lesson observations, or requirements for detailed written planning. We centralise detentions (called corrections) so that teachers aren’t all doing and chasing their own. Our school is trying to show what is possible to do by learning from some of the most innovative schools in the country. We are outward-facing, with partnerships with schools across the country, and very humble. We know we haven’t yet got everything right but we are ambitious to become one of the best schools in the country.
Our leadership team are highly visible, supporting teachers and maintaining order, addressing the whole school in silence every morning, and ensuring the ethos in the school is productive.
Colleagues who visit BFS describe it as revelatory and unlike any school they’ve ever been in. I believe teachers should be able to teach unhindered by bureaucracy or poor behaviour, and should be specialists in their subjects. We are unashamedly ambitious for those in our care and, we are among the top performing schools nationally. These results have been achieved through good teaching and hard work and Science has made a solid contribution to this success. The department is housed in spacious, purpose-built laboratories and enjoys an additional, dedicated classroom. A full time, technician supports the teaching staff on a daily basis and curriculum planning is centralised, meaning teachers do not have to spend hours preparing for lessons. We operate a highly selective marking policy to further reduce unnecessary workload and as a result, our teachers are free to do what they do best – teach, and they do this in a highly productive, disciplined environment where teachers are in charge and student behaviour is exemplary.
If you are a well-qualified expert looking to work with truly wonderful students and in a talented and dedicated department with bags of potential for further improvement, I would encourage you to visit and see how we do things for yourself. We are situated in the heart of Bedford, just 30 minutes from London, and welcome visitors at any time during the school day.
This role would suit someone who has fantastic subject knowledge, is committed and has the ability to inspire colleagues and pupils alike and who aspires to join us to ensure that the Science department continues to develop into one of the best in the country. We will provide support, access to incredible CPD via our partnerships with fellow educational thinkers doing the most exciting things with curriculum and pedagogy, and hence opportunities to progress in your career.
If you would like a confidential discussion about the position or to arrange a visit please contact the PA to the Principal, Esther Logan, to arrange an appointment on 01234 332290 or elogan@bedfordfreeschool.co.uk
We look forward to answering any questions you might have, and to receiving your application in due course.
Arranging a visit to Bedford Free School
We welcome visits to the school at any time during the school day and would encourage you to apply. For a confidential discussion about the position please contact Esther Logan, PA to SLT, on 01234 332290 or email elogan@bedfordfreeschool.co.uk to arrange an appointment.
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