Head of Sociology

Are you a passionate teacher looking for your next step? We are looking for a qualified, experienced teacher to join Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich as Head of Sociology.

About Us

Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich is an outstanding place-for students and staff alike. We pride ourselves on helping our students to be incredibly successful and we are as driven to support our staff, with an excellent CPD programme and development opportunities for all staff at the academy. We encourage our students and staff to live our core values of character, courage and conscience in our community and beyond. We have an excellent staff who are highly motivated, committed and happy.

Why work at Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich?

HGAED is a great place to work. At a time when there is so much attention, deservedly so, on teacher wellbeing and workloads, we are committed to ensuring our staff have work-life balance by reducing unnecessary admin work and meetings. We dedicate time and resources to staff wellbeing and development, ranging from NPQSL qualifications to meditation and teacher hacks such as whole class feedback to reduce workload. We are looking for staff who share our commitment to developing themselves personally as well as professionally, who are open to feedback and development and share our vision for our whole community. We believe very strongly that education can be transformative for all. We'd love you to be part of the transformation of our students' lives.

The staff here at HGAED are supportive, ambitious for our students, and happy. Our Head of Art, Clare, writes ‘The students are astute, funny and thirsty for life. They are invigorating and I really love teaching them. They keep me on my toes. But what I most appreciate working here is that we work in a climate where all ideas are encouraged, no matter how impossible they may seem, and I have seen some fantastic dreams come into being, the art gallery, the debate cake sessions and the research centre all starting to gain momentum. Not many schools would take such risks and I truly value being listened to and challenged to go beyond what I think I can do. This school is not for the faint hearted but it's also the place to be if you are up for being innovative and thinking beyond the classroom walls.'

Main Areas of Responsibility

The purpose of your role will be:

• To be accountable for leading, managing and developing the subject area.
• To raise standards of student attainment and achievement within the whole subject/curriculum area and to monitor and support student progress.
• To ensure the provision of an appropriately broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum for students studying in the department, in accordance with the aims of the academy and the curricular policies determined by the Governing Body and Principal.
• To teach the relevant subject across the age and ability range.
• To facilitate and encourage a learning experience which provides students with the opportunity to achieve their individual potential.
• To effectively manage and deploy staff, financial and physical resources within the department.
• To share and support the school's responsibility to provide and monitor opportunities for personal and academic growth.

Your main areas of responsibility will fall under the areas of:

• Operational and strategic planning (including formulating the subject and faculty improvement plans, and leading the development of appropriate syllabuses, resources, schemes of work, marking policies, assessment and teaching strategies)
• Ensuring the delivery of an appropriate, comprehensive, high quality and cost effective curriculum and leading development of the subject and its delivery
• Staff development (including recruiting, building and managing an effective team of motivated staff)
• Student outcomes (including ensuring the effective operation of target setting, monitoring and evaluation systems and the input and maintenance of accurate student data)
• Pastoral system (including being a form tutor to a selected group of students)
• Teaching, including acting as an outstanding role model

Qualifications & Experience

We would like to hear from you if you:

• Hold QTS (or equivalent) and a relevant undergraduate degree, and, ideally, management training
• Demonstrate successful teaching of GCSE at good or better level
• Have experience of initiation and effective management of change
• Show evidence of raising achievement in present post and showing good value added for groups
• Have knowledge of current curriculum developments in subject and their implications
• Have good knowledge and understanding of current educational thinking
• Show good understanding of how children learn and how to raise standards of achievement
• Have good communication skills in speech and writing
• Display excellent organisational skills
• Be able to build and sustain professional standards and relationships with students
• Be able to contribute towards creating a safe and protective environment

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

Next Steps

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please send us an email, or call to arrange a conversation.

Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. This will be helpful for you when completing your application, and throughout the recruitment process.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may interview and offer to a candidate before the closing date. Please note that we only accept applications submitted before the closing date via our careers website.

Professional Development & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance for teachers on MPS/UPS, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan, electric car scheme, and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.