Temporary Head of Policy in London

Harris Academy Rainham is a very popular and oversubscribed 11-16 academy which is part of the Harris Federation. We opened a Sixth Form for 400 students in September 2023 and are looking for ambitious and dedicated staff who wish to be a part of our Academy. At Harris Academy Rainham we have a dedicated group of staff who are deeply committed to serve our community. We have built a school on our core values of Belong, Believe, Become. These values are at the heart of our school and all that we do.

What makes us different: Our values are at the centre of our school and aren’t simply a slogan on a website. We have a firm but fair approach to behaviour, built on the use of consistent routines and teaching our students how to behave. We deliver a knowledge-rich curriculum that is developed by our staff to meet the needs of our students. The knowledge we teach takes our students beyond their everyday experiences and enables them to see the world differently. Our leaders are role models; they lead by example, admit mistakes, welcome opinions and love honest conversations. We are a staff united against educational disadvantage with a fierce determination to show our students the world beyond Havering.

What we can do for you: Great career progression both within our Academy and the Federation. Excellent professional development opportunities. As a Leading edge school, we have been recognised as being at the forefront of educational thinking and research is central to all we do. Meaningful measures to manage workload – no graded observations, early finish on a Friday, no onerous marking requirements but sensible feedback policies. Bespoke support and line management from excellent leaders across the school. Opportunities for fantastic professional growth as the school develops a sixth form. A school where subjects are ‘front and centre’ of all we do. The subject determines our pedagogy.

ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY: Are you a passionate RE teacher looking for your next step? We are looking for a qualified, experienced teacher to join Harris Academy Rainham and Harris Rainham Sixth form as Head of RE. If you are also able to teach Social Sciences, this would be an advantage, but not essential.

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.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR: 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.
• Are able to build and sustain professional standards and relationships with students.
• Are able to contribute towards creating a safe and protective environment.

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

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.

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 be 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.