Director of Studies

Join our free school adventure .

The West London Free School is an all-ability secondary school that asks every child to learn Latin and do at least eight academic GCSEs or IGCSEs. That expects every pupil to transfer to the Sixth Form and go on to a good university. That takes children from the poorest backgrounds and gives them the confidence and ambition to take on the world.

Our core belief is that every child is entitled to a classical liberal education, no matter what their background or ability. Of our 240 children in Years 7 and 8, 25 per cent have special educational needs, 28 per cent are on free school meals and 50 per cent have English as an additional language, yet they've all proved eminently capable of tackling an academically demanding curriculum based around traditional subjects. They also enjoy art, drama, sport and music, with two-thirds of the pupils learning a musical instrument. In time, we hope to prove it's possible to create a comprehensive grammar - that is, a school that combines the rigour and standards of an old-fashioned grammar with a genuinely comprehensive intake. We know this type of school is popular with local parents. After just 18 months, we're already the most oversubscribed state secondary in the borough, with 10 applicants for every place.

We're now looking for a Director of Studies to lead the school's efforts to develop a knowledge-based KS3 curriculum that's inspired by the curriculum devised by ED Hirsch's Core Knowledge Foundation for American grade schools. We are absolutely committed to Hirsch's educational philosophy and the successful candidate will share this commitment. This will involve developing a knowledge-rich KS3 syllabus across a range of subjects and working with our staff to ensure they have the right pedagogical tools to teach it.

In addition, we want a teacher who:

• Is passionate about his or her subject and can model the right pedagogical approach
• Has a track record of outstanding teaching and outcomes for pupils
• Has a good grasp of what it means to develop a rigorous, knowledge-based curriculum
• Offers a substantial commitment to extra-curricular activities
• Has some experience of Timetabling (not essential, but useful)

To discover more about this exciting opportunity and for an application pack, please contact Sarah Noel on s.noel@wlfs.org.

Application deadline: Monday 3rd December.