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Location

Woking, Surrey | United Kingdom

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Job description

The Role

Inspiring and dedicated Head of Department required to oversee the leadership and management of the Computer

Science/IT Department within the College. We are looking for a full-time member of staff with dynamism and passion

who must be able to teach A Level Computer Science. Working with a friendly team, and exceptional facilities, this is

an exciting time to join our growing College.

Applications from Teachers in Schools and Sixth Form College sectors are welcome. A full mentoring programme is

arranged to introduce all new staff to sixth form college systems and procedures and to support and encourage

professional development. We are looking for an exceptional candidate to join the team, and inspire our students.

We expect high performance from all our staff and candidates should demonstrate their ability and suitability to both

the role and the culture of the College.

Start Date: January 2024 (or sooner if available)

Salary: £47,880 to £51,521 per annum, depending on experience (including fringe allowance). Please note that this figure will be subject to a salary increase shortly.

The Department

The IT/Computer Science Department is a highly successful area of the College. The department currently offers:

• A Level Computer Science

• Information Technology: Award and Extended Certificate (Level 2 vocational)

• Information Technology: Subsidiary Diploma and Diploma (Level 3 vocational)

• Digital Games Production: National Extended Certificate (Level 3 vocational)

Student recruitment numbers have grown over the last few years and the department adopts a pro-active approach

to broadening its curriculum to meet the needs of the students. The curriculum embeds a wide variety of industry

specialist software (ranging from Adobe Suite to complex 3D modelling applications), and are geared to prepare

students for higher education and employment. On all courses, students will develop some knowledge of

programming, thus improving their problem-solving skills.

The department hosts a range of extra-curricular activities which includes C# programming and games development

club, Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge, and additional workshops to support learners outside of lesson time.

A significant number of our students go on to study IT and computing-related courses at university and return to the

college to keep in touch as well as providing guidance and support to students aspiring to higher education.

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Why work with us?

Woking College has a strong sense of community in which everyone is valued; we look forward to welcoming new

members of staff to join our team.

We have an inclusive ethos, and are proud of our diverse students and staff community. The College is committed to

safeguarding, alongside our core values of inclusiveness, adhering to the highest personal, professional and academic

standards, supporting individual wellbeing, supportive management and positive relationship and a sustainable future

for all. We expect all staff, volunteers and others involved in the College community to share this commitment.

Following our grading as Outstanding at our recent Ofsted inspection in October 2022, Ofsted stated that:

“ Staff feel proud to work at the College. They are exceptionally positive about the culture leaders have created.

They describe leaders as visible, approachable and highly focussed on staff wellbeing. Leaders celebrate

achievement frequently in staff forums which helps staff to feel recognised, highly valued and a member of

the Woking College family.”

Staff survey results state that:

✓ 95% of staff are proud to work at Woking College. ✓ 99% agreed that leaders are considerate of staff wellbeing.

• A positive approach to staff development; including regular cross-College sharing best practice sessions

• Opportunities for staff training within the S7 consortium of Colleges & liaison with peers within the

consortium

• Regular whole-College communication including weekly staff briefings

• Regular departmental meetings to ensure support and share departmental best practice

• Excellent student behaviour and productive working relationships with the Student Union

• Excellent links with local schools, businesses and universities

• Welcoming, friendly and approachable community, a harmonious working atmosphere

• Laptop for all teaching staff

Benefits include:

• Free on-site parking

• Staff room with free hot drinks available to all staff, Friday cakes

• Onsite canteen with a range of healthy options to purchase, and a Costa coffee shop

• Regular staff social events: bowling, staff quiz, summer BBQ, weekend walks/cycling, Christmas lunch,

Christmas party

• College gym available for staff use, yoga classes, staff football (new 3G pitch), run club

• Staff clubs/support groups: book club, menopause group, group for Parents/carers of children with mental

health concerns

• Access to prayer/multi faith room

• Free eye test vouchers

• Flu jab

• Cycle to work scheme

• Pension: eligible employees will be automatically enrolled in the Teacher’s Pension Scheme, or the Local

Government Pension Scheme (support staff), unless you decide to opt-out

• Employee support: staff have access to a confidential employee support helpline

• Location: Excellent train links from London Waterloo and the South Coast, walking distance of Woking

station. Close to A3, M25 & M3 junctions

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Application & Selection Application forms are available to download from our website: Please

note that CVs will not be accepted on their own.

Please note that CVs will not be accepted on their own. All applicants must have the Right to Work in the UK.

Please ensure education and employment history is completed fully, gaps in employment must be accounted for under the section entitled “Periods when not working”. We would like to see your passion for the role and the College in your supporting statement , please use this opportunity to include personal skills, experience relevant to the post, and reasons why you feel you would be successful if this post.

We actively encourage interested applicants to visit the College to see how you could be part of our friendly College community. If you would like to do so, please contact Kirsty Crook (details below).

Completed applications, or any queries regarding the role or your application, should be sent via email to Kirsty Crook (Personnel Officer): [email protected]

Closing date: 9am, Monday 9 October 2023

Interviews: to be held on Thursday 12 or Friday 13 October 2023

Shortlisted candidates will be notified, invited for interview and references will be taken up immediately. Please note

that it is not possible to inform candidates who have not been short-listed due to time constraints.

The interview process will comprise of the following, but may be subject to change :

• a guided tour of the College

• Interview with the Principal and senior staff

• Secondary interview with senior staff

• Informal meet with department members

• Task

• Observed lesson

The College encourages all candidates to be familiar with the following documents:

• Section 1 of the DfE paper on “Keeping Children Safe in Education” September 2023

• Woking College's Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

• In line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) the College asks candidates to consider the

Privacy Notice for Job Applicants

The documents listed above area available from the College’s Staff Vacancies page, please use this link to access

them

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Job Description Post title: Head of Department

Responsible to: Associate Director

Job purpose: The leadership and management of the department within the College Job Responsibilities

1. Leadership To provide leadership to those teaching the subject by creating an environment which enables the aims and

objectives of the College and the subject to be achieved by:

• keeping abreast of current developments and initiatives and guiding the department's responses

• implementing strategic objectives at department level

• encouraging the sharing of good practice across the subject.

2. Communication

To facilitate clear lines of communication between the subject teachers and the rest of the Curriculum Area by:

• calling regular meetings of subject staff

• attending Curriculum meetings

• liaising directly with the Assistant Principal on administrative and organisational matters

• meeting with colleagues from partner schools and other institutions.

3. Management of People To plan and manage effectively and efficiently the staff within the subject by:

• assisting in the selection and appointment of staff

• assisting in the timetabling process by deploying staff within the subject in conjunction with Assistant

Principal

• delegating tasks and responsibilities

• identifying training and inset needs and assisting with the training of staff

• supporting ECTs

• appraising subject staff

4. Management of Physical Resources To plan and manage effectively and efficiently the physical resources within the subject by:

• selecting, purchasing, monitoring and organising the maintenance of suitable books, IT-based resources and

equipment

• ensuring rooms and displays provide a stimulating environment

• resourcing the subject within the allocated budget

• ensuring appropriate reference materials are available in the Learning Resource Centre.

5. The Management of Teaching and Learning To manage the delivery of teaching and learning in the subject by:

• designing and updating schemes of work

• overseeing the development and production of stimulating learning/teaching materials, including ICT based

material

• designing and updating course handbooks and course guidelines

• selecting syllabuses and liaising with examination boards

• supervising the moderation of coursework

• ensuring regular testing and assessment takes place

• dealing with students deserving praise or criticism; liaising with Personal Tutors where appropriate

• providing guidance and support to the students on higher education and careers

.

• being available at the beginning of the College day to oversee arrangements for classes in the event of staff

absence.

6. Quality Assurance To monitor the quality of teaching and learning within the subject by:

• producing an annual self-assessment report and implementing the action plan

• observing the programme of lesson observations

• conducting and reacting to course evaluations

• monitoring and analysing data regarding examination performance, retention and attendance rates

• reviewing and maintaining appropriate quality standards for the subject.

7. Promoting the Subject To promote the development of the subject within the curriculum by:

• producing promotional material and information

• making regular contacts with partner schools

• presenting the subject at Open Evenings

• organising subject offerings for Taster Days

8. Maintaining records:

• on student progress, internal/external exam results

• on student destinations

• on Alps and other performance indicators

• keeping evidence for the self-assessment report and Inspection

• ensuring staff teaching the subject maintains registers and mark books.

9. To fulfil your own responsibilities as a teaching member of the subject, as detailed in the job description for a

full-time teacher. 10. To act at all times in accordance with the College's Equality & Diversity policies. 11. To act at all times in accordance with the College's Safeguarding policy. Ensuring the safeguarding of students at

the College, recognising one’s own role in liaison with the designated safeguarding team. 12. To contribute to the safety policies of the College as directed by the Principal and to ensure that Health & Safety

Regulations are observed within the Curriculum Areas and within the College in general. 13. To take part in the training programmes provided by the College and agree to the process of professional reviews. 14. To undertake any other particular duties which may be reasonably assigned to you by the Principal from time to

time.

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Person Specification

Specifications for Teachers: The person appointed will be expected to have:

• An understanding and support for the ethos of the College.

• Relevant subject teaching and assessment experience – the ability to teach A Level Computer Science.

• Passion for the subjects they teach and for education in general.

• A commitment to the principle of continuous improvement for themselves as a professional and for all of

their students.

• Suitable qualifications – educated to degree level in appropriate subject.

• Positive interpersonal and team working skills

• Qualified teacher status.

The following are desirable for this role:

• A sound knowledge of the 16 - 19 curriculum, and an awareness of the needs of students in this age range.

• The ability to teach vocational courses within the department: Digital Games Production at Level 3;

Information Technology to Levels 2 and 3;

• Ability to mark and assess written work following examination board criteria.

Specifications for Head of Department (in addition to those in the teachers’ person specification above) The person appointed will be expected to have:

• Excellent and inspirational teaching skills.

• High level teamwork and communication skills

• A broad pedagogical vision enabling him or her to contribute to the ongoing improvement of learning,

teaching assessment across the College.

• The ability to oversee the work of all the department’s subjects and levels.

• The ability to administrate efficiently and with tangible impact on learning.

• The desire to promote the work of the department to future students.

• A belief in the importance of extra and supra curricular activities for the department’s students.

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Job tags

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Salary