INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS: Cover Teacher

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WELCOME TO THE SHARED LEARNING TRUST FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, ANDREW COOPER

We recruit people for attitude and train for skills

We aim to recruit outstanding people. We would rather make no appointment than appoint someone who is not suited to our ethos. For this reason we try to articulate clearly our vision, values and expectations when putting together information for applicants and we always give a lot of attention to appointing the right person.

We aim to recruit staff who:

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are excited by their role and by the prospect of working with young people, even those who are less well motivated;

love the processes of learning and teaching and are keen to continually develop their own skills;

recognise that teaching can be a demanding job but react positively to those demands rather than complaining;

will subscribe to the ethos of the Trust and ‘go the extra mile’ in terms of time and commitment to get the very best from our young people;

see break duty as an opportunity to talk to children;

are quick to praise and slow to criticise; and

are not afraid to admit to seeing themselves as potential leaders of the future.

I am conscious that this may be your first contact with our Academy Trust and first impressions are very important. I hope what you read, coupled with anything else you discover about us, inspires you to apply for this post.

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WELCOME TO THE STOCKWOOD ACADEMY FROM THE PRINCIPAL, CATHY BARR

Welcome to The Shared Learning Trust’s Stockwood Park Academy where we have changed education for the better. While firmly rooted in traditional values, we have made our Academy a vibrant, exciting place with a positive “can do” attitude. We have an innovative curriculum, which makes the transition from primary to secondary education an enriching and enjoyable experience and enables students to follow a personalised route to success. Embedded in this is a focus on Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural aspects which enable students to reflect on their learning and wider issues around them. Our students are achieving the highest standards in the classroom, on the sports field and among the community. Our state-of-the-art building – which we moved into in February 2011 – offers cutting-edge facilities that are benefitting students even further. Our hardworking and motivated staff are providing outstanding lessons and the best possible support. We work closely with parents and carers, encouraging their children to achieve and ensuring that excellent progress is made. Together, we are achieving more than we ever thought possible.  

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THE TRUSTThe Shared Learning Trust is a stand-alone multi-academy trust. The trust currently manages five academies:

The Linden Academy (formerly Moorlands Free School), Luton, age 4-11, judged good by Ofsted in July 2013.

The Stockwood Park Academy (formerly South Academy), Luton, age 11-18, judged good by Ofsted in May 2015

The Studio School, Luton, age 14-18, judged requires improvement by Ofsted in October 2014. HMI Monitoring Inspection was in January 2015.

The Chalk Hills Academy (Formerly West Academy), Luton, age 11-18, judged good by Ofsted in September 2014.

The Vale Academy, Dunstable, age 4-13 (in the process of changing from a middle school to a primary school) judged good (with behaviour outstanding) by Ofsted in September 2014.

Our Academies are supported in their work by our Teaching School, based at The Chalk Hills Academy.

OUR ACADEMY

The best education for all our students is the simple goal for The Stockwood Park Academy. Our carefully developed Academy plan involves the rigorous use of data, constant assessment of student progress and quality assurance methods. We instantly respond if students experience difficulties. Dialogue with teachers is encouraged as a framework for students to develop ideas, ask questions and think rigorously about their learning. Students work together to build team skills, strengthen individual talents and encourage a passion for lifelong learning. Our students will leave the Academy  with the best possible results, equipped for further learning or training, able to think creatively and confident to handle the pressures of a fast-changing world.

VISION & VALUES

A Vision for the development of The Shared Learning Trust

(Agreed by CEO & Principals and Board of Directors, March 2015)

Our ethos is simple: we will make the most of our unique family of schools to give every child the best possible opportunity to flourish and develop into a decent, disciplined, well-educated and employable young person.

Here is what is at the heart of all we do:

Developing decent people:Results and qualifications are important, but they are not the whole story – far from it. Our ultimate goal is to develop well-rounded young people who will make the most of the opportunities open to them in our schools. They will have resilience, zest and passion: people that employers will want to employ; people who will play a part in the communities in which they live and work; people we can be truly proud to say came through one of our schools.

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Achieving full potential, no excuses:We will do all we can to make sure every child gets the chance to reach their full potential. No child should ever get left behind; all have the capacity to learn and to achieve. We’ll do this by instilling an acceptance that hard work, effort and application really does pay off. And through effort and application come self-respect, self-esteem, self-belief and success.

Discipline and standards:It is important to us that our young people demonstrate high standards and that our schools are safe, structured places in which to learn – this will enable inspiring things to happen in the classroom. We will achieve this by expressing our high expectations regularly and frequently and by paying relentless attention to detail. We attach importance to values such as respect: for ourselves, for others, for learning and for the environment.

Great Schools for All:We want the schools within our Academy Trust to be judged as great schools for all the young people that attend them. This means recruiting outstanding people to work in our schools and offering a curriculum that is engaging, challenging and responsive to individual needs.

Big on Attitude:We will frequently stand back and reflect on how we can do things differently and better. That doesn’t mean latching on to the latest fad: it means being open-minded about trying new ideas; it means acknowledging mistakes but seeing them as an experience from which to learn; it means being aware of what happens beyond our schools so that we can predict future trends and remain in control of our destiny.

Strength in Numbers:Each of our schools is different. Each serves its own community; each has its own history. But at the heart of all our schools is a strength brought about by working together within a multi-academy trust enabling shared resources, shared knowledge, shared experience and shared success. We never forget that we are in the unique position of seeing through a child’s education from the first words they read and write, right through to their first job or acceptance into higher education.

RECRUITMENT TIMETABLE Sunday 10th January 2016 Advertisement appears

www.thesharedlearningtrust.org6

and the Luton on SundayFriday 22nd January 2016 Closing date for applications (by 12 noon)

References will be requested at this stageDate to be confirmed Interviews commence

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JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Cover Teacher

RESPONSIBLE TO:

Cover Manager

GRADE: L5

PURPOSE OF POST: To undertake teaching of cross-curricular subjects for short and long term absent teachers. Perform lesson planning, preparing and assessing, where possible. Assist in all aspects of teaching and learning opportunities for pupils, bringing to bear knowledge and practical experience gained through working with students, and through their theoretical and academic experience/achievement. As required, be able to work at other Academies Trust sites.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

1 Under the direction of the curriculum leader/class teacher and/or cover manager, support the teaching and learning of individual or groups of students, using support strategies appropriate to their learning needs. Providing feedback and liaising over student progress and learning. Contribute to the intellectual and social development of students, working with the class teachers to support the achievement of literacy and numeracy targets and in other specific curriculum areas. Prepare, and when appropriate, deploy appropriately learning aids, materials and equipment.

2 Contribute significantly to; the long term cover lesson planning of teaching and learning work programmes and activities to achieve the aims of lessons, for the whole class and/or individual students under your supervision.

3 Contribute to the monitoring, recording and assessment of student progress through observation and questioning, against student targets (and Individual Educational Plans where relevant) keeping detailed records of individual’s progress. Assist teachers in the evaluation and revision of lessons and work programmes for individuals and groups of students.

4 Contribute to the development of a purposeful working atmosphere and implement and monitor the school’s behaviour and any related policies and procedures.

5 Under direction of a Senior Leader develop and maintain supportive relationships with parents, carers and others of the student’s community. Work collaboratively with other agencies and professionals, as necessary, including educational psychologists, health professionals, education welfare officers, to meet the personal and educational needs of individual students. Coach and train others in these strategies.

6 Contribute to the care, health and welfare of pupils in accordance with the school’s health and safety and related policies.

7 As required, contribute to specific aspects of teaching, learning and 8

personal development, for example school visits, field work projects or other activities.

8 Invigilate tests and examinations as directed. Supervise whole groups in particular curriculum activities and the class for agreed periods.

9 To undertake other non-strategic duties or responsibilities reasonably required by the Cover Manager/Senior Leadership Team.

DIMENSIONS:

Supervisory Management: Coaching OthersFinancial Resources: N/APhysical Resources: Classroom materials, equipment and resourcesOther:

CONTEXT: All support staff are part of a whole school team. They are required to support the values and ethos of the school and school priorities as defined in the School Improvement Plan. This will mean focussing on the needs of colleagues, parents and pupils and being flexible in a busy pressurised environment. A Support Assistant at this level will take responsibility for pupils on placement. S/he should be involved in promoting the acceptance and integration of pupils with special educational needs. They might also be involved in the assisting of pupils for whom English is an additional language.Physical Effort: The job is likely to involve some lifting of children and equipment on a regular basis. Training will be provided.

Working Environment: There could be a frequent requirement to deal with vomit and bodily fluids when children are unwell.

‘The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and

the Disclosure and Barring Service’.

The Shared learing trust believe that every child does matter, and adherence to the Academy’s Every Child Matters Policy is not only compulsory, but should be practiced

mindfully at all times.

Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. Therefore, it is essential in making your application you disclose whether you have any pending charges, convictions, bind-overs or cautions and, if so, for which offences. This post will be exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders 1974 (Exemptions) (Amendments) Order 1986. Therefore, applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are ‘spent’ under the provision of the Act, and, in the event of the employment being taken up, any failure to disclose such convictions will result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority. The fact that a pending charge, conviction, bind-over or caution has been recorded against you will not necessarily debar you from consideration for this appointment.

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PERSON SPECIFICATION

This acts as selection criteria and gives an outline of the types of person and the characteristics required to do the job.

___________________________________________________________________________________Essential (E) :- without which candidate would be rejected

Desirable (D):- useful for choosing between two good candidates.Please make sure, when completing your application form, you give clear examples

of how you meet the essential and desirable criteria.Attributes Essential How

Measured

Desirable How Measur

edExperience Some experience of working in

an educational setting. 1,2 Some experience of working

with people with a range of special needs.

1,2

Skills/Abilities

Able to plan and organise workloads to meet conflicting work demands and deadlines.

Able to communicate effectively at a range of levels, e.g. with children, parents, other professionals, Supply Agencies.

Able to contribute constructively to and work effectively as a member of a team.

Able to use own initiative in working with parents/carers and the child’s community within an agreed framework of policies and procedures.

Able to keep accurate records and use these to inform judgements.

1,2

1,2

1,2

1,2

1,2

Able to support learning in numeracy at relevant Key Stage.Able to support learning in literacy at relevant Key Stage.Information technology skills in word processing, the use of databases and spreadsheets to support record keeping and children’s learning.

1,2

1,2

1,2

Equality Issues

Able to recognise and act upon common forms of discrimination.Able to understand the issues for pupils’ education in an urban, multi-cultural context.

1,2

1,2

Specialist Knowledge

Able to plan, prepare and assess pupils’ work.

2,3,5 Some knowledge of how pupils learn.Demonstrable knowledge of curriculum requirements.Some knowledge of policies and procedures in areas such as child protection, behaviour management.

1,2

1,2

1,2,5

Education and Training

Hold a degree in any subject or equivalent qualification.Able to commit to relevant job training.Willingness to undertake First Aid training and to apply this in the school.

1,2,4

1,2

1,2

Other Requirements

Have access to own transport.

Must be self-confident and have a good standard of English

1, 2, 4

1,2,5

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language.

Willing to undertake Cover Management duties

1, 2

(1 = Application Form 2 = Interview 3 = Test 4 = Proof of Qualification 5 = Practical Exercise)

We will consider any reasonable adjustments under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) to enable an applicant with a disability (as defined under the Act) to meet the requirements of the post. The Job-holder will ensure that the Shared learning Trust’s policies are reflected in all aspects of his/her work

HOW TO APPLYPlease read the information in this pack. If you decide to apply you should include a letter with your application form on no more than two sides of A4, giving your reasons for applying for the post, addressing information you have read in the pack and particularly the person specification, and outline any relevant experience and personal qualities you would bring to the Academy. Please do not send a general letter; we really are looking for someone who is prepared to respond to us as an individual Trust. You can be sure we will take time and care in reading your letter; we appreciate how much energy goes into it. Please ensure that you address your application to; Human Resources , The Shared Learning Trust, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU2 0EZ. E-Mail: academyrecruitment@thesharedlearningtrust.org.uk.

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