The Classics Department
The Department of Classics is large and flourishing. All boys take GCSE Latin, and each year between 14 and 20 continue their studies into the sixth form. Greek is an optional subject throughout the school: there are between 20 and 30 in each year group in the Lower School (years 9-11), and up to a dozen regularly pursue the subject into the sixth form.
Our examination results are excellent. In June 2019, 93% of pupils achieved a grade 7-9 in GCSE Latin (48% were awarded a grade 9). 69% of candidates achieved a grade 9 in GCSE Greek, with 92% of boys achieving a grade 7-9. At Pre-U, 64% of candidates achieved a grade D3-D1 (A-A* equivalent) in Latin, and 100% achieved D3-D1 in Greek. Every year a number of boys go on to study classical subjects at university, and our Oxbridge record is enviable. From September 2020 the department will be delivering the OCR A-level course in Latin and Greek to boys starting in the Lower Sixth.
There are varied activities outside the classroom: we set and award a number of classical prizes, including the Queen's Silver Medal for Latin Recitation, the Queen's Gold Medal for Latin Prose and the Goddard Scholarship (a language and literature exam set and marked by a university academic); a Classical Society meets regularly, with visiting speakers on a wide variety of ancient literary and historical topics; there are frequent theatre trips to see Greek plays both in the original language and in English; we have a spoken Latin society; and there are opportunities for leading study trips to Greece and Italy, as well as shorter excursions to places like the British Museum and the Ashmolean. Further, the College possesses its own fine collection of Greek vases. These are housed in the Treasury, and the curator is always happy to arrange visits for individual teachers and their sets.
Role
To provide inspirational and visionary strategic leadership and management of the department to ensure high quality teaching, the effective use of resources and excellent standards of learning and achievement for all pupils whilst promoting the schools vision, aims and ethos.
Role and Principal Responsibilities
The Head of Classics organises and supervises the work of all those who teach and learn in the department. He or she will:
- ensure that all teaching and learning activities are fresh, interesting and challenging
- produce, share and encourage the generation of outstanding resources for Classics T&L and lead on the innovative use of IT in the department
- keep up to date with developments in the teaching, learning and examining of the subject by means of regular contact with peer schools
- be responsible for producing the department's schemes of work
- monitor student progress to identify and, were appropriate, intervene to ensure the best possible outcomes for pupils
- be responsible to the Headmaster for the department's public examination results
- keep up to date with higher education opportunities and trends in the subject, and direct the preparation of pupils for Oxbridge and other top universities
- ensure that the department engages in a wide range of extra-curricular activities (trips, lectures, exhibitions, competitions, outreach, etc.)
- be responsible for the efficient manning of the department, and work closely with senior management in the appointment of new members of the department
- play a prominent part in the induction and professional development of members of the department
- ensure that each member of the department undergoes Professional Review on an annual basis
- identify underperformance within the department and work closely with senior management in order to address it
- monitor and evaluate all aspects of the work of the department and respond appropriately to emerging issues
- be responsible for the Departmental Handbook
- hold regular departmental meetings and distribute minutes in a timely fashion
- be a role model in terms of the schools mission statement and core values
The Head of Classics will be highly enthusiastic about the subject and nurture the rich extracurricular dimension that it offers our pupils.
Professional Development
The successful candidate will:
- show evidence of, and a continuing interest in, professional and personal development
- participate in the school's Professional Review system
- provide support and guidance to colleagues in the department for the maintenance of good order and discipline
- share best practice with the rest of the department.
Qualifications
Essential
- An excellent Classics degree
- The ability to teach to A-level and university entrance
Person Specification
The successful candidate will have:
- the ability to inspire and motivate pupils
- the enthusiasm and confidence to lead and manage a team of able men and women
- excellent interpersonal skills
- emotional intelligence and the ability to empathise with both staff and pupils
- good time management skills, and superb organisation
- the ability to use initiative
- the resilience and stamina needed to deal with the demands of boarding school life
- a genuine enthusiasm to contribute to the wider life of the school, with the ability, skills and experience to contribute in some capacity to the school's extra-curricular activities
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 Director of Studies, 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.