The Geography Department
The Department of Geography is a stimulating environment in which to teach. All of the current teachers (five at present count) are expert subject specialists and most have significant responsibilities within the wider school (there is a growing Housemaster presence in the department and a number of staff can also be found on the Itchen as leading lights of Winchester College Boat Club). All boys take Geography in Junior Part (year 9) and the subject has become increasingly popular at iGCSE over recent years with well over 50% of boys in Middle Part (year 10) opting to continue.
Strong examination results are undoubtedly a factor in the subject’s growing popularity but it is also a consequence of staff delivering highly-focused lessons where pupils feel well supported. Boys studying Geography at Winchester have the freedom to explore beyond the limited confines of the iGCSE syllabus and are encouraged to read widely around the subject. Much of the stimulus for doing so originates with the first-hand experience accrued by our teaching staff in areas ranging from the Geography of Crime to Glaciology. Current events are closely monitored by our boys and they are becoming socially, environmentally, economically and politically aware, quickly seeing themselves as global citizens.
Examination results are strong; in June 2019, 83% of pupils achieved a grade 7-9 in GCSE Geography. At Pre-U, over 50% of candidates achieved a grade D3-D1 (A-A* equivalent). From September 2020 the department will be delivering the OCR A-level course to boys starting in the Lower Sixth.
We provide many opportunities for boys to get involved in the subject outside of the classroom; the department supports pupils in the running of the Geography Society and the newly formed Sustainability Society. The inaugural talk, given by Professor Peter Jackson (University of Sheffield) on the topic of food security, proved extremely popular.
We run annual trips for all year groups. Junior Part travel to the Jurassic Coast to study landforms and geology as well as try their hand at kayaking and coasteering. Middle Part go to Barton on Sea to see a rapidly eroding coastline and experience the low energy environment of a saltmarsh by paddleboarding through it at Calshot Spit. Vth Book (Year 11) are taken to Chichester to carry out an investigation of the CBD and VI Book 2 (Year 12) travel to the Brecon Beacons on a three day excursion to develop their fieldwork skills and observe post-glacial landscapes.
Role and Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be accountable to the Head of Geography for the quality, success and development of his/her teaching, all routine activities throughout the working week and providing feedback on any pupil, staff or organisational issues; and for external examination results.
He/she will have an enthusiasm for the subject and for teaching. Upon joining the department, he/she will take responsibility for a number of classes across the age and ability range of the pupils in the school. He/she will be expected to:
Teaching Timetable
Communication
Professional Development
The successful candidate will:
Additional Responsibilities
Person Specification
The successful candidate will possess a strong track record of achievement in:
Essential
Benefits and Terms of Service
Salary
Winchester 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.
Accommodation
Nearly all our full time teaching staff live on site. The school owns a wide variety of high quality staff accommodation all within a very short walking distance of both the campus and Winchester cathedral and city centre.
Induction and Continuous Training
The school is fully committed to the induction and training of all staff. All staff are well supported when they arrive, with help and advice available from Heads of Department, Housemasters, and the Deputy Head (Academic), who has specific responsibility for overseeing the induction process.
All members of the Common Room are encouraged to subscribe to external CPD courses. In addition, we deliver a range of training, run by both our own staff and external providers, ranging from highly practical First Aid courses to seminars and learning lunches on many aspects of teaching and learning.
There is an annual cycle of appraisal 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.
All academic members of staff will be included in the Government Teachers’ Pension Scheme (unless a valid opt out form is completed). Particulars of the scheme are provided by the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
Probation, Notice Periods
The first twenty-four months of employment will be a probationary period. Regular reviews with line managers take place over the probation period with the opportunity to discuss progress, identify any areas for action and ensure 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 four weeks. Once employment is confirmed, the notice period will increase to 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. 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.
The jobholder’s responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom they are responsible, or with whom they come into contact with, will be to adhere to and ensure compliance with the school’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy at all times. If, in the course of carrying out the duties of the post, the teacher 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 his/her absence the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
References and Other Pre-employment Checks
The appointment will be dependent on the receipt of a successful medical check and satisfactory references. The College will usually seek references from short listed 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.
If you have any questions about this vacancy or the recruitment process, please email recruitment@wincoll.ac.uk
Closing date for applications: Monday 24th February 2020.
The school reserves the right to appoint prior to the closing date.
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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 Data Protection 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.
Any queries about this policy or how personal data is processed by the school should be referred to the Data Protection Liaison Officer.