Teacher of Psychology or Sociology

We are currently looking to appoint an experienced and inspiring Teacher of Social Sciences, specialising in either Psychology or Sociology. You will join a dedicated team of teachers and staff supporting our excellent students. If you are looking for an opportunity to grow, inspire and develop, this may be the role for you.

At Harris Academy Merton we promote the ethos "Achievement is Success" and believe every student has the right to the highest standard of education so that they can accomplish their aspirations. Our aim is to give every student an educational experience that is enjoyable and holistic so that they develop into responsible, articulate and successful young people. We combine the traditional values of strong discipline, good manners, respect and pride in appearance with contemporary best practice in teaching and technology. With these core values embedded, we develop our students into confident and capable individuals that have a desire to excel academically and personally now and in the future.

Main Areas of Responsibility:

• To implement and deliver an appropriately broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum for students and to support a designated curriculum area as appropriate.
• To monitor and support the overall progress and development of students as a teacher/form tutor.
• To facilitate and encourage a learning experience which provides students with the opportunity to achieve their individual potential.
• To contribute to raising standards of student attainment.
• To share and support the academy's responsibility to provide and monitor opportunities for personal and academic growth.
• Operational and strategic planning (including lesson planning, developing resources and syllabuses, and contributing to the departmental plan).
• Curriculum planning.
• Staff development (including continuing professional development and engaging fully in the Performance Management Review process).
• Quality assurance (including contributing to the process of monitoring and evaluating the subject area).
• Management of information (including maintaining appropriate records and tracking student progress).
• Communications with students, parents and other stakeholders.
• Pastoral system (including being a form tutor to a selected group of students).
• Teaching, ensuring a high quality learning experience for students.

What We Are Looking For:

• Hold QTS (or equivalent) and a relevant undergraduate degree.
• Have successful teaching experience at secondary level (can be teaching practice), ideally including experience in multi-ethnic urban schools and of working in an 11‑18 school.
• Understand the theory and practice of effective teaching and learning.
• Understand the importance of high expectations and equality of access for all students, and of being a tutor.
• Have knowledge of National Curriculum requirements at KS3 and KS4, and of writing lesson plans, developing resources and assessing students' work.
• Be able to work as part of a team and to develop and maintain positive relationships with all staff.
• Have a good level of ICT skills, ideally including innovative use of interactive white boards.
• Be able to create a motivating and safe learning environment for all students.
• Be able to communicate positively with parents, carers and other external agencies where necessary.
• Have good written and spoken communication skills.
• Be able to lead and manage their own work effectively.
• Have excellent time management skills.
• Be able to motivate students and raise their aspirations through a range of strategies.

Applying for this Position:

Thank you for your interest in this position. If you would like to discuss this opportunity, or to request a visit, please email the academy via the Why work page on harriscareers. Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. This will help 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.

What We Can Offer You:

Teacher Development: At Harris, we have curated professional development pathways that will guide you towards achieving your career ambitions. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. With a strong network of passionate educators, expert development initiatives and a multitude of opportunities for career progression, your journey with Harris could be the most rewarding one yet. We offer a wide range of high quality teacher professional development programmes via the Harris Institute of Teaching and Leadership.

Flexible Working: We are committed to fostering a positive and supportive working environment for our staff, recognising that achieving a balance between professional and personal responsibilities is essential. We understand that each individual's circumstances are unique, which is why we offer flexible working options that can be adapted to meet the needs of both the academy and our employees.

Benefits: In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance (usually £2,000 for Inner London and £1,500 for Outer London), a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Teachers Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan, Employee Assistance Programme, and many other benefits.

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.