Teacher of Chemistry

Birkenhead School, founded in 1860, is an HMC independent day school providing education for boys and girls drawn from the whole of the Wirral and as far afield as Chester and North Wales. Situated in the leafy suburb of Oxton, the School enjoys excellent facilities. The main campus has a ‘village green’ atmosphere, with classrooms and laboratories looking out over the cricket square. There are ongoing and substantial investments in facilities. 

The School comprises Nursery and Pre-Prep (Early Years), Prep and Seniors and integrates their objectives and activities within a ‘One School’ concept. Birkenhead School prides itself on being a family school and this has been greatly strengthened by the opening of the Nursery in 2006. It is attractive to parents to have all their children in one school and it is a great advantage for the school to be able to establish strong, long-lasting relationships with families. 

A dedicated, talented and collegiate staff body is required to achieve these aims. The School’s informal motto is Respect, Responsibility and Resilience, to which we have recently added Inclusivity, Compassion, Integrity, Humility and Courage as defined School values. Birkenhead School recruits on attitude as much as the quality of an individual’s qualifications on paper.

The Department

The department consists of three staff who teach Chemistry as a separate subject, from Year 9 upwards, and contribute to the delivery of science in Years 7 and 8. At GCSE, around half of the students are entered for the AQA GCSE separate sciences (Higher Tier) and the rest take the GCSE Combined Science (either Higher or Foundation Tiers). We follow the AQA specification at A Level. 

The department is well equipped, with three laboratories and two prep rooms supported by a full time Chemistry technician, who also coordinates the distribution of duties within the technician team. The current Head of Chemistry (Peter Lindberg) is also Head of Science and encourages a unified, consistent approach, with practical work at the heart of the learning process.

The wider Science department has an excellent reputation, both within School and beyond. The majority of the School’s most academic students study a science-based course at A-level (around half of the sixth form take Chemistry) and most go on to top universities, including Cambridge and Oxford. A significant portion of the cohort go on to secure Medicine or Dentistry places.

There are strong links to the community through science fairs, outreach activities and success in Olympiads and CREST awards. We enjoy good relationships with Merseyside STEM, the RSC, the Liverpool Universities and local companies.

The Role and Responsibilities

We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and dynamic teacher, with relevant experience, to tutor students across the full age and ability range, to ensure the highest possible standards of achievement, personal development and well-being. The post holder will continue to meet, maintain, and build upon Teachers Standards. This role reports directly to the Head of Chemistry.

Responsibilities

Teaching, marking, assessment and grading within the department, always setting the highest standards of personal organisation and administration. All teachers are expected to: 

Teaching

• Contribute to a department academic extension programme designed to stretch, challenge and inspire students
• Meet the needs of different groups of learners in particular SEND students and those identified as potential high attainers
• Keep abreast of developments in the subject, maintaining contacts with other schools, exam boards and professional associations
• Ensure students are properly prepared and entered for exams
• Contribute to the organisation of co-curricular activities both in relation to the department and wider School community

Assessment

• Give timely, positive and helpful feedback to students
• Complete reports to a high standard and within specified deadlines
• Regularly assess and mark student’s work in line with School and department guidelines 

Tutoring 

• Actively monitor students’ progress and provide support where necessary
• Encourage student’s self-development and personal expression through PSHEE and tutor sessions

 Professional Development and Wider Contribution to the School community

• Proactively engage in continuous professional development to reflect on and improve teaching repertoire
• Participate in arrangements for the appraisal and review of own performance
• Contribute to the life of the community, particularly by leading and contributing to co-curricular activities
• Representing the School at Parents Evenings, Open Days and other events
• Support and develop the use of ICT within the department. 

The Person

The ideal candidate will:

• Have a secure knowledge and understanding of own subject/curriculum area including current developments in teaching and learning
• Have QTS/PGCE qualification
• Have prior teaching experience at Key Stages 3, 4, and 5
• Be an excellent classroom practitioner with evidence of good teaching skills, leading to consistently high standards of achievement

The successful candidate will balance a determined work ethic and strong academic rigour with good humour, teamwork and perspective. All applicants should be outstanding Teachers, but also possess the wider interests and passions that will inspire students outside of the standard curriculum. All staff are expected to contribute fully to the wider life of the School and the co-curricular provision.

Benefits

We will value and support your contribution to School life and in return provide you with excellent rewards: 

• Working with fantastic young students
• Working as part of a committed team
• Wellbeing support through the Employee Assistance Programme
• Term time is approx. 34 weeks
• Free use of the fully equipped on-site gym
• Support for your continuous professional development
• Children of permanent staff enjoy a reduction in School fees 

Further information can be found on the School website www.birkenheadschool.co.uk under Employment Opportunities.

To meet our safeguarding obligations, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check is undertaken as part of the recruitment process for all new staff. As Birkenhead School is an educational provider, it is permitted to ask whether an applicant has any convictions, cautions, reprimands or final warnings which would not be filtered in line with current guidance, as defined by The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020). It is a criminal offence for an individual who is barred from working with children to apply for a role which is classed as regulated activity.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy and complete the recruitment process when we are in receipt of sufficient applications. Should you wish to apply for this post you are advised to complete and submit your application form as soon as possible.