Subject Lead of Drama

Beths Grammar School is a large multi-cultural school on the borders between London and Kent serving a wide range of vibrant and exciting communities. We specialise in boys' education in the main school and have a large, co-educational 6th form.

The Performing Arts are strong at Beths Grammar School and Drama has close links with both Music and English. Drama has a crucial place in both the curriculum and extra-curricular provision and all students have a dedicated drama lesson each week in KS3. Uptake for GCSE Drama is very popular at Beths.

We reintroduced Drama as an option into the Sixth Form in 2018 and this provision has continued to flourish. Extra-curricular activities are great strengths here at Beths and the annual school production is a central feature of the school calendar. We have an excellent history of productions including; Oliver, The Wizard of Oz and The Addams Family as well as performing The Dumb Waiter and DNA to an audience. Typically, students from Year 7 through to Year 13 are involved.

Drama has also often been integrated into our musical events, with our regular concerts featuring the Orchestra, Big Band and Choir as well a wide range of ensemble groups and solo performances.

We are looking for a colleague with the passion and skill to strengthen Drama’s place within the curriculum by consolidating uptake at GCSE and developing A Level Drama and Theatre Studies. Directly linked to this they will build upon our extra-curricular drama provision. In essence, we want a teacher who will inspire our students and help them to realise their full theatrical potential for 1 year on a fixed term contract starting 1st September 2024 as a maternity cover, with the possibility of a permanent role at the end of the fixed term contract.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Post Title: Subject Lead for Drama. 1 year fixed term contract (Maternity cover) Department: Drama Grade: MPS – UPS (Outer London Fringe) + TLR2L of £3,214 for Subject Lead responsibilities

Responsible to: Head of Department

Start date: September 2024-August 2025 Key accountabilities of the role:

Curriculum

• Plan and prepare lessons in line with departmental Schemes of Work, using appropriate teaching methods and resources.

• Set Homework as per the Homework timetable.

• Mark and monitor student’s class and homework providing constructive oral and written feedback, and setting targets for student’s progress.

• Contribute to the development of schemes of work and departmental policies.

Students

• Set high expectations for students’ behaviour, establishing and maintaining a good standard of discipline and appearance.

• Undertake students’ supervisory duties and cover for absent colleagues in line with school procedures.

• Operate the school and Department’s Discipline Support and Rewards Policy.

• Assess and record each students’ progress, including through observation, questioning, testing and marking.

• Make every reasonable effort to ensure delivery of the school’s Home School Agreement.

• Undertake Form Tutor responsibilities as set out the in the Staff Handbook.

Monitoring

• Understand and use national, local and school data to set clear targets for student’s achievement.

• Contribute to Department monitoring of the assessment of students.

Communication

• Contribute to meetings and discussions about teaching methods, Schemes of Work and Departmental Policies.

• Keep Head of Department, Form Tutors, Heads of Year informed about student progress.

External Communication

• Maintain familiarity with statutory assessment and reporting requirements and know how to prepare and present informative reports to parents.

• Attend Parents Evening and Academic Tutoring when necessary.

Staffing

• Review own professional development and identify training needs.

• Take part in the Performance Management arrangements/

• Take part in lesson observations to share good practice.

Budgets/Resources

• Assist Head of Department to:

- identify resource needs

- operate stock control system

- keep departmental areas tidy and have effective displays.

• Follow agreed safety procedures for the department

Other Specified Responsibilities

• To undertake any duties as may reasonably be required by the Headteacher 

Subject Lead for Drama

Essential:

• a graduate with good qualifications that include a good honours degree in a relevant discipline

• an outstanding classroom practitioner/potential and drive to become outstanding

• the ability to plan and deliver lessons which fulfil appropriate learning objectives

• an understanding of the role of assessment in learning and the ability to use assessment to promote learning outcomes

• an enthusiasm for Drama in general and the ability to transmit this to students

• the ability to relate appropriately to school children

• the ability to execute effective discipline in keeping with the policy of the school and department

• a good knowledge of a wide range of teaching and learning methods

• the ability to create your own resources and willingness to share good practice with other colleagues

• the ability to identify learning needs of individual students

• a team player

• a strong commitment to the central role of the Form Tutor

Requirements of the Post:

• to contribute to the teaching of Drama across the age and ability range

• to be a Form Tutor

• to work within and contribute to established School and Department frameworks for:

• lesson planning and delivery

• student behaviour and care

• student assessment

• to work within the school frameworks with regard to Health & Safety, Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding 

• to provide accurate information for parents as required by the School and Department policy and attend parents evening/academic tutoring interviews and other presentation meetings as reasonably directed

• to help to further develop links with the wider community

• to promote a single School ethos

• to promote the School commitment to the Continual Professional Development of all staff

• to undertake any duties as may reasonably be required by the Headteacher.

Beths Grammar School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers, online checks and an enhanced disclosure via the DBS.