Job Description
Download printable version
Full Time or Part Time (minimum 0.5 fte)
F/T Salary based on Sixth Form Colleges' Pay Scale currently up to £37,378.p.a dependant on skills and experience
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for the above post, which offers an excellent opportunity to work in a strong department in this highly successful Sixth Form College. The College holds Good Ofsted status and also Beacon status - one of the first four sixth form colleges in the country to be awarded the latter. The Mathematics Department is one of the very largest AS/A2 Maths centres in the country and was awarded a Grade 1 (Outstanding) assessment in the 2013 OFSTED Report.
The post is open to new entrants to the profession as well as those with teaching experience. The College has strong induction and staff development programmes, including good arrangements for newly qualified or qualifying staff.
The successful applicant will be expected to take up the post from 30 August 2016.
Personal Qualities
The successful applicant should have a good Honours Degree (or equivalent) in Mathematics or a subject with a numerate element, and preferably a PGCE or equivalent teaching qualification. If a teaching qualification has not been achieved it is expected that this would be undertaken over two years, on a part time basis, locally, commencing 2016/17 academic year. The College will consider contributing towards the course fees involved.
The Maths Department has a strong team working approach with a supportive ethos.
Responsibilities of Post Holder
The duties of the holder of this post include:
a) Teaching Mathematics courses at AS/A and GCSE Level - with the possibility of teaching IB Maths Studies if desired. This involves all those constituent duties expected of a professional teacher, such as preparation of work, counselling and assessing students and keeping up to date in the subject area by means of reading and appropriate INSET.
b) Working with and being responsible to the Head of Mathematics Department with respect to those matters concerning the delivery of the courses.
c) Participating in departmental matters, such as meetings and educational initiatives.
Nature of the Department and Courses Offered
There is currently a team of 17 staff in the department, providing teaching and learning on a relatively wide range of Maths courses at AS Level, A2 Level, GCSE and Functional Skills and also on the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma programme (Maths Studies course). Full time staff have designated responsibilities, but all staff are involved in the duties of the department and the culture of critical evaluation and improvement. They are keen to look at ways of improving teaching and learning and student performance in the department and act on them.
Approximately 700 students study one of the AS level Mathematics courses (of which 380 study AS Maths) and approximately 350 students study a Maths course to A2 Level. As well as AS/A2 Mathematics, we offer AS/A2 Use of Mathematics, AS/A2 Statistics and AS/A2 Further Mathematics. Keen and very able mathematicians are also offered Maths Challenge/Olympiad opportunities and STEP preparation. In addition, around 150 students per year 're-take' GCSE Mathematics to seek to improve the D grade they achieved in Year 11 at school to a Grade C. Some of these students also take Functional Skills Level 2 maths. There are also approximately 30 students per year who have grade E or below at GCSE from school who take Functional Skills Maths Level 1 and 2. Around 75 students are currently following the IB Diploma Programme at the College, all of whom take the Maths Studies course. A group of Core maths is likely to be offered in 2016/17.
The department currently uses the OCR specifications for the AS/A2 Level Mathematics courses. The AS Maths students study 'Core' C1, C2 with S1. In the second year to complete the A Level they will study C3, C4 and can choose between S2 or M1 or D1 for the third module. Students who choose to study A Level Further Mathematics will also study FP1 (Further Pure 1) and D1 and M1 in an additional six periods per week in the first year. In their second year they will study another six modules, to complete two full A2 levels in Mathematics and Further Mathematics. At the end of the first year, students who do well in their AS Mathematics and will continue with Mathematics to A2 level can also opt to study AS Further Mathematics in their second year in a separate year two only group.
The AS/A2 Statistics and AS/A2 Use of Mathematics (UOM) currently use AQA specifications, and we use Edexcel for the GCSE and FSK courses. At present, there are 4 groups of AS level Statistics, 2 groups of A2 level Statistics, 11 groups of AS UOM and 6 groups of A2 level UOM. The Use of Mathematics course is aimed at students who wish to continue with a mathematically related course post 16 but who would not choose or be suited to AS Maths.
The current Government is instigating reforms to A levels in the 2015-19 period and AS/A Maths changes apply from 2017 'first teaching'. AS/A Statistics is 'Reformed' from September 2017 and the Government is withdrawing AS/A Use of Maths - although it's still hoped that a successor course will be approved. All students will take the new AS Level at the end of the first year (which is general College policy for the period up to 2018/19 academic year).
The department offers GCSE Mathematics to appropriate students at both Higher and Foundation level depending on their previous level of entry and grade achieved. These are linear courses offered by Edexcel with examinations taken in the summer period. We also run accelerated groups where students who achieved a grade D in the summer, but feel it was a 'near miss', sit papers in the November exam series. Higher Level students may be offered a November resit opportunity in certain circumstances. Functional Skills Maths (level 1 & 2) are also offered.
Pastoral All qualified and experienced full time teaching staff are expected to fulfil both an academic teaching role and a pastoral role in the College and to act as a Personal Tutor to a group of about 25 students. This involves staff in all aspects of tutorial work including guidance, pastoral support, monitoring and encouraging progress, contact with parents, writing reports and compiling student references and the delivery of part of the College's Personal Tutorial programme during the timetabled tutorial period. A firm commitment to this aspect of teaching in a sixth form college is essential. It is possible that this role will be assumed in the first year of appointment for experienced staff and would apply from the second year for staff new to the profession.
Additional Studies
Full time College teaching staff may also have opportunities to contribute to the EPQ Programme or the Additional Studies programme in the College. This is very wide ranging and can often enable staff to contribute particular skills and interests where they meet College needs. Applicants should indicate if they have particular interests and again this would be discussed at the time of interview.
Remuneration
Annual salary will be in accordance with Sixth Form Colleges' Teachers Pay Scale which from appointment for a full time post involves a salary of up to £37,378.00. Salaries are reviewed by national negotiation with effect from 1st September each year. Sixth Form College sector conditions of service apply which are very similar to schools sector arrangements. Progression through the Teachers pay scale is subject to acceptable annual performance appraisal.
Facilities
Excellent teaching facilities are available to the department within its own self-contained suite of rooms with projectors or interactive whiteboard facilities. The department is well resourced with a wide range of textbooks and support materials both within the classrooms. There are good IT and internet facilities within the College including the provision of the 'Moodle' Virtual Learning Environment with which the department is fully involved.
Please see separate documents for additional relevant information with regard to the College. Substantial details about the College and each departmental curriculum area are also available on the College website: www.colchsfc.ac.uk including the 'documents' section which contains the 2013 OFSTED Inspection report, the latest College prospectus and the examination results amongst other materials. Course information sheets for all academic courses can be found in the 'courses' section.
To apply for this post an application form must be completed (unaccompanied CV's will not be accepted). Application forms are available from the job vacancies section of the College website- www.colchsfc.ac.uk and once completed should be submitted by e-mail to the Human Resources Department at humanresources@colchsfc.ac.uk or if sent by mail please address to:-
Human Resources Department
The Sixth Form College, Colchester
North Hill
COLCHESTER
Essex CO1 1SN
Closing Date: 12 noon Monday 9th May
Interviews are likely to be held week commencing Monday 16th May 2016
Information about the School
The Sixth Form College, Colchester is one of the largest and most successful 16-19 providers of general sixth form education in the country Our aim is to provide broad, high quality academic and general education programme Currently we have 3150 full time students on roll and the importance of the development of each individual student is recognised. Operating as a young adult environment the College provides a bridge between the worlds of school and of higher education or employment.
As a large and innovative college a great deal of emphasis is placed on career development and training for all staff with opportunities to gain further qualifications and enhanced skills. Support, guidance, and development are offered to meet particular career needs. We value diversity and we are an equal opportunities employer.