PART I: THE ROLE OF HEAD OF ENGLISH
The English Department
Winchester College seeks to appoint a well-qualified, able and inspiring Head of English.
The English Department at Winchester is at an exciting moment in its history as we reconfigure the delivery of English across all year groups. Since September 2020, Year 9 (Junior Part) English has been delivered exclusively within the Div curriculum, which has been designed to develop the skills the pupils will need to succeed in their GCSEs, while retaining the breadth and cultural range that Div affords. The School offers OCR A-levels and GCSEs. In the June 2023 examinations, 72% of pupils achieved a grade 7-9 in GCSE English Language, and at A-level, 86% of candidates achieved A*/A.
The successful candidate will join a ten-strong, expert and highly experienced department teaching small classes in the historic setting of our classrooms in Flint Court. Set texts are taught alongside supplementary texts of a don’s choosing, so pupils studying Animal Farm as part of their first term of GCSE study can expect to read it alongside Solzhenitsyn’s One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, for example. Our teaching is enriched by the use of the school’s collections, particularly the Fellows’ Library, which is incorporated into English teaching through all age ranges. There are also opportunities for the pupils to express their creative talents in the school’s Spirit Lamp magazine, and to participate in creative and non-fiction writing competitions, as well as recitation prizes. The Empson Society meets regularly, with visiting speakers on a wide variety of topics; there are frequent theatre trips as well as residential trips further abroad.
Role and Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be accountable to the Director of Studies for leading the English Department and fostering a love of language and literature across the school. They will ensure the academic success and intellectual development of the pupils studying English through quality teaching, assessment, and reporting, along with creative activities and programmes beyond the bounds of the prescribed curriculum.
They will have an enthusiasm for the subject and for teaching. Upon joining the department, they will take responsibility for a number of classes across the age and ability range of the pupils in the school.
They will actively lead in integrating the use of the school’s collections in English teaching across all year groups, as well as working to arrange trips and visiting speakers.
The following outline of duties is not exhaustive and is intended to assist the Head of English in their respective responsibilities. The successful candidate will be responsible for:
1. Inspiring a love of literature and a scholarly commitment to the academic discipline of studying English
The successful candidate will have an expert subject knowledge of English Literature and be passionate about imparting that knowledge to our pupils. They will also be equally adept at and passionate about developing writing skills across all ages and abilities. They will have a strong vision for developing and promoting the place of English in and beyond the curriculum, and will be able to align their objectives with the school’s wider strategic vision. They will be expected to contribute to whole school policy‐making and strategic planning as required by the Headmaster, and to prepare, monitor and update annual departmental plans in consultation with colleagues.
2. Promoting teaching excellence
The Head of English will be highly skilled at building effective teams, ensuring that the Department works cohesively towards continual improvement. They will work closely with the Director of T & L to ensure that teaching and assessment practices are rigorous and evidence-informed, and will proactively identify and manage the professional development needs within the Department, ensuring that professional learning is supported and that all members of the department are active in their own professional development.
They will be responsible for annual professional review of each member of the department, through observation of lessons, mark books, student work and will provide regular feedback to colleagues to assist them in their development and teaching practice. They will identify any underperformance within the Department and proactively manage this in conjunction with the Head of HR. They may be involved in mentoring colleagues undertaking professional teacher training and will pursue opportunities for their own professional development in a management role.
They will also be responsible for the processes and structures to support excellence. This includes development and implementation of curriculum documents such as schemes of work, departmental policies and guidelines; efficient, orderly and consistent administrative procedures; management of operational issues including communications with colleagues and parents; management of teaching and classroom resources.
3. Tracking of student progress throughout the school
The Head of English will ensure that the tracking of student progress and achievement is taking place effectively and that appropriate measures are put in place, in liaison with Housemasters, the Director of Studies and, where necessary, with the school’s SEN and EAL team. They will be skilled in using pupil and benchmarking data to assess progress and performance, including those with high achievement but even higher potential.
4. Marketing, Admissions and Partnerships
The Head of English will lead the Department’s contribution to the promotion of the school within the wider community, whether through Admissions, relationships with partner institutions, or the wider community. This will include interviewing candidates for entry into the school and providing a range of assessments for deployment with non-standard entry points.
In addition to their responsibilities as a Head of Department, the successful candidate will be expected to:
i) Teaching
ii) Communication
iii) Professional Development
iv) Additional Responsibilities
Person Specification
The successful candidate will lead the development of the department. They will demonstrate an awareness of, and a sympathy with, the culture of the school. They will possess a strong track record of achievement in:
Essential
The successful candidate will be/have:
Diversity and Inclusion
Winchester College embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace and is committed to promoting a fair and supportive environment for all our employees. We work hard to create an inclusive culture where different perspectives are recognised, and our staff feel valued for their individuality and share a sense of belonging. Our aim is to reflect the diverse nature of society and of our pupil body. We are seeking to attract a diversity of talent at all levels, so that our pupils understand and benefit from the breadth and depth of such a diverse community. This means recruiting from the widest possible pool of talent.
Sustainability
Both staff and pupils at Winchester College are committed to being the most sustainable school possible. You can learn more about our goal of creating a more sustainable school here.
PART II: BENEFITS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS, AND APPLICATION
Salary
Winchester College has its own generous salary scale, which is above the national scale. In addition to salary, the school allocates a Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA) to those with additional roles, ranging from running a sport to Head of Department or House. This appointment will commence in September 2024 (although, if possible, an April 2024 start would be preferred).
Accommodation
Accommodation may be available with this position.
Induction and Continuous Training and Development
The school is fully committed to the induction, training and development of all our staff, with staff supported to grow and reach their full potential. All staff are well supported when they arrive, with help and advice available from Heads of Department, Housemaster/mistress, the Director of Teaching and Learning, who has specific responsibility for overseeing the induction process, and the Director of Studies.
All members of the Common Room are encouraged to pursue CPD. In addition to supporting external courses, we deliver a range of training, run by both our own staff and external providers, varying from highly practical First Aid courses to seminars and learning lunches on many aspects of teaching and learning, as well as access to Udemy, an external online learning platform.
There is an annual professional development review offering the opportunity to reflect on professional practice and development opportunities.
For those new to teaching there is the opportunity to work towards a PGCE whilst working with us.
Private Health Care and Pension
The successful applicant will be enrolled in the school’s Corporate Health Scheme in accordance with the current rules of the Scheme. Membership of the Scheme does not extend to family members and is a taxable benefit in kind.
A generous pension scheme and Life Cover (4 times salary) are part of the package.
Annual Leave
This is a Teaching position which benefits from school holidays.
Wider Benefits
Probation, Notice Periods
The first twenty-four months of employment will be a probationary period. Regular reviews with line managers take place over the probationary period with the opportunity to discuss progress, identify any areas for action and ensure that there is appropriate guidance and support in place to enable successful completion of the probationary period.
During the probationary period, the notice required by either party to terminate employment will be one month within the first term of employment. After the first term, the notice required by either party to terminate employment will be one full term.
Once employment is confirmed, the notice period will be one full term.
Disclosure Check
As Winchester College is an educational establishment, a condition of employment will be that the successful candidate must consent to the school obtaining an Enhanced Level Disclosure Check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This will reveal all spent and unspent convictions, warnings, cautions and bind-overs. A policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders is available on the school’s website.
Safeguarding is one of the primary responsibilities of this role. The jobholder is responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom they are responsible, or with whom they come into contact with, and will need to adhere to and ensure compliance with the school’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy at all times. A Head of English should be conversant with the responsibilities and procedures detailed in this policy and with the Department for Education’s Keeping Children Safe in Education. If, in the course of carrying out the duties of the post, the Head of English becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the school, they must report any concerns to the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead or in their absence the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
References and Other Pre-employment Checks
The appointment will be dependent upon the receipt of a successful medical check and satisfactory references. The College will usually seek references from shortlisted candidates before interview and may approach previous employers for information to verify particular experience or qualifications. At least one referee must be the current or most recent employer. Where applicants are not currently working with children but have done so in the past, one referee must be the person by whom they were most recently employed when working with children.
HOW TO APPLY
Only applications completed on the school website will be accepted. Please attach a full CV and covering letter with your application.
Closing date for applications: 09.00 on 22 November 2023.
Please note that applications will be dealt with as they arrive. Winchester College reserves the right to appoint before the deadline passes.
Interviews are expected to take place on 30 November 2023.
Those wishing for an informal conversation about this role are invited to speak to Tom Thomas, Director of Studies
[email protected].
If you have any questions about this vacancy or the recruitment process, please email [email protected].
Data Protection
Winchester College collects and processes relevant personal data as part of its everyday operations and is obliged to process it in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation and Data Act 2018.The school is the Data Controller of this data under the Act and is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office. Its registration number is Z5751669.
If you have any queries or comments about this policy or how personal data is processed by the school, please contact the Bursar and his team by emailing: [email protected] or by writing to: Data Protection, The Bursary, Winchester College, College Street, Winchester, SO23 9NA.
PART III: ABOUT WINCHESTER COLLEGE
In February 2021, Winchester announced a bold new vision and a significant programme of change. ‘Winchester College in the 21st Century’ describes the School’s ambitions for its future and heralds the start of an exciting new phase in Winchester’s development.
Winchester was a pioneering institution when it was founded in 1382 and this new vision will ensure the School continues to be a leader and influencer of great education on the modern global stage. The commitment to provide an intellectual education of exceptional quality and breadth remains unaltered, as do the values which have underpinned Winchester since its foundation. ‘Winchester College in the 21st Century’ will build on these strengths and bring multiple benefits to current and future generations of Wykehamists.
Winchester currently has over 700 pupils. In September 2022, the College welcomed 40 day pupils, including 17 girls, into the Sixth Form and will continue to do so, over time expanding the entry each year to include girl boarders in due course.
Academically, Winchester is among the very best schools in the country and is sought after for its combination of superb teaching, pastoral care, sports and activities.
At all levels Winchester encourages pupils to look beyond the curriculum. Div is our unique programme of general cultural studies and offers an excellent preparation for university study. In these lessons, pupils engage with a wide range of subjects, from English Literature to Ancient History to the History of Science.
Pupils in the Sixth Form study linear A-level courses and will ordinarily study three A-level subjects and an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) alongside Div. Linear A-levels are complemented by the flexibility of the EPQ where pupils are able to more deeply explore their cross-curricular research interests. The EPQ encourages pupils to develop first-class research skills, to synthesise information from a variety of differing sources, and to become accustomed to the demands of independent study.
Music has been central to life at Winchester ever since its foundation, and the school is unique in having maintained its Choral Foundation to the present day. The Music Department is now one of the leading departments in the country, and offers outstanding opportunities to all.
Sport is a major part of Winchester life. There are many fixtures against other schools, and in 2024 the redevelopment of the sports facilities will see a state-of-the-art complex open that will allow all pupils to enjoy and participate in a variety of sports, whilst simultaneously enabling the most talented and driven pupils to train and compete at the highest level.
Much energy is also invested in the Combined Cadet Force, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, Community Service, and in links with local primary and secondary maintained schools. This commitment provides pupils with many opportunities to work for the benefit of others, inside and outside the classroom, developing the knowledge and skills, and the rights and responsibilities, which will enable them to grow into valuable and productive members of society.
Pupils eat all meals in their boarding houses, talking with their Housemaster/mistress, and interacting with friends, visitors and teachers. We believe that conversational ability, developed both inside and outside the community, equips pupils to talk to anyone, about anything, in practically any situation.
This unparalleled combination attracts pupils from across the world, making Winchester a truly international and diverse community which celebrates every pupil’s individuality, passions and potential.
Winchester College is committed to maintaining the founder’s original intention of offering an outstanding education to any pupil who would benefit from it, regardless of their financial circumstances, and many of the pupils in the College are being helped financially through the school with substantial bursaries.
Full details about the school may be found at www.winchestercollege.org.