THE CLASSICS DEPARTMENT
The department consists of eight teachers, all of whom are devoted to their subject and ever keen to explore new ways of inspiring young people with an enthusiasm for the ancient world. All pupils at Winchester take Latin in year 9, and Latin is a mainstream subject at GCSE, chosen by about two thirds of the year (i.e. 85 pupils); from there, between 12 and 20 continue their studies to A-Level. Greek is an optional subject throughout the school: there are normally between 15 and 30 in each year group in years 9-11; numbers doing A-Level Greek tend to be between 4 and 10, and we also tend to have several pupils pursuing AS Greek from scratch over two years. From September 2023 we will also be offering A-Level Ancient History, a source of great excitement in the department. A-Level numbers are already healthy, but are likely to rise further with the expansion of the Sixth Form.
Our examination results are excellent. In 2022, the last year Latin was compulsory at GCSE, 86% of pupils achieved a grade 9-7 (56% were awarded a grade 9). 80% of candidates achieved a grade 9 in GCSE Greek, with all pupils achieving a grade 9-7. At A-Level, pupils gained 9 A*s, 5 As and a B in Latin, and 5 A*s and 3 As in Greek. Every year around 10 pupils go on to study classical subjects at university, many at Oxbridge (5 offers in 2022).
Throughout the school we make use of high-quality resources, physical and digital, many of which are home-grown, such as our Winchester Latin Course and Winchester Greek Course in years 9-11. Our aim is to go well beyond the requirements of the syllabus and make sure all pupils end their career with us not only with a solid linguistic understanding, but also with a love of Greek and Latin literature and of ancient history.
Much Classics takes place outside the classroom: each year we set and award a number of classical prizes, including the King’s Silver Medal for Greek and Latin verse recitation, the King’s Gold Medal for Latin prose composition and the Goddard Scholarship (a year 13 language and literature exam set and marked by a university academic); a Classics and Ancient History Society meets regularly, whether to read Plato or hear visiting speakers on a wide variety of topics; we have a spoken Latin society and a student-run Latin newspaper; we go on annual trips to Greece and Italy, as well as making excursions closer to home. The College possesses a fine collection of around 100 Greek vases in the Treasury, our beautiful museum housed in a 14th-century stable block, and many coins and rare books of interest to a classicist in the Fellows’ Library: teachers are encouraged to use all this with their sets. The department is very keen to promote classical studies beyond its walls and works closely with schools in the state sector in and around Winchester, hosting many enrichment afternoons, a weekly Greek club and an annual GCSE revision day; through the Community Service programme, our pupils teach Latin to primary school pupils and to local retirees.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Role and Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be accountable to the Head of Classics for the quality, success and development of their teaching, all routine activities throughout the working week and providing feedback on any pupil, staff or organisational issues; and for external examination results.
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 be expected to:
Teaching Timetable
Communication
Professional Development
Additional Responsibilities
PERSON SPECIFICATION
The successful candidate will possess a strong track record of achievement in:
Essential
Key Qualities
The successful candidate will have:
BENEFITS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS, AND APPLICATION
Start date
This appointment will commence in September 2023.
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
Accommodation may be available with this position.
Induction and Continuous Training and Development
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, the Director of Studies, and the Director of Teaching and Learning, 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 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 is offered.
Probation and 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 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.
Annual Leave
This is a Teaching position which benefits from the school holidays.
Sports Facilities
The school offers staff free access to its excellent sports facilities, including gym membership, tennis courts and in 2023, a new 25m swimming pool. Exercise classes, including spinning and circuits are also available.
Enhanced 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 Teacher of Classics 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 Teacher of Classics 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.
Closing date for applications: Noon on Tuesday 31 January 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 during w/c 6 February 2023.
Those wishing for an informal conversation about this role are invited to contact Mr Edmund Lewis, Head of Classics, at easl@wincoll.ac.uk.
If you have any questions about this vacancy or the recruitment process, please email recruitment@wincoll.ac.uk.
Further information about the school can be found at www.winchestercollege.org.
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: dataprotection@wincoll.ac.uk or by writing to: Data Protection, The Bursary, Winchester College, College Street, Winchester, SO23 9NA.