Head of Physical Education Faculty

Closing Date: Friday, 3rd April 2020 Interview Date: To be confirmed

P a g e | 2

Contents

Cover Letter ....................................................................................................................................................... 3

Job Description .................................................................................................................................................. 5

Physical Education at Sheldon .......................................................................................................................... 7

Hardenhuish Lane, Chippenham, Wilts. SN14 6HJ

Headteacher: Neil Spurdell BSc (Hons)

Tel: 01249 766020 Fax: 01249 766030

Email: admin@sheldonschool.co.uk Web: www.sheldonschool.co.uk

P a g e | 3

Cover Letter March 2020

Dear Colleague,

SECOND IN CHARGE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION FACULTY – HEAD OF BOYS’ PHYSICAL EDUCATION

TLR2B - £4,654

REQUIRED FOR SEPTEMBER 2020

Thank you for your interest in this full-time, permanent position. We are seeking to appoint a suitably

qualified and experienced teacher to be second in charge of Physical Education and Head of Boys’ Physical

Education from September 2020. This is a really exciting opportunity for someone looking to take the next

step in their career.

Sheldon has an extremely high profile in terms of sport – locally, regionally and nationally – and this is

something we are determined to maintain. The person appointed will teach PE across the full age and

ability range and the ability to teach level 2 and level 3 examination courses is highly desirable. We are a

school committed to excellence of achievement and try to ensure that pupils reach their full potential, at

whatever level they are working, by delivering inspirational and stimulating lessons.

Sheldon is a high-achieving school and in sport examination results have been consistently good over many

years. You would be joining an incredibly hardworking and supportive faculty which has a strong collegiate

atmosphere. We offer a full programme of induction and support to all colleagues who join us and there is

a continual focus on staff development and wellbeing, both of which rated highly in the most recent

external survey. Staff morale, in what are challenging educational times, is high, borne out of there being a

real sense of community. We work hard, but the effort is worth it: the students certainly appreciate it and

you will have plenty of fulfilment.

I personally believe that Sheldon is a great school. I have worked in six schools in total and am continually

impressed by the positivity of the staff and the atmosphere around the school that is overwhelmingly

happy and shows our students to be enjoying their learning in a thriving environment. It’s a pleasure to

come to work each day and I think you would find staff would say the same to you were you to ask them.

Further details concerning the faculty and the school are enclosed from Adam Douglas, Head of PE,

together with an application form. In addition, we have included other information to outline the all-round

offer; but please also take the time to look at what happens in the school day-to-day by visiting our

website. I hope that, having read the information, you will be keen to apply.

The successful candidate will be required to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils in the school.

The post will be dependent on a successful enhanced DBS check.

P a g e | 4

Please complete the application form and return it with a supporting letter (no more than two sides of A4

please), by post or email to hr@sheldonschool.co.uk. Closing date for applications – Friday, 3rd April 2020

(12 noon).

We hope to interview by the end of April, so if you have heard nothing by this date, please assume you

have been unsuccessful on this occasion. If this proves to be the case, thank you for your interest in

Sheldon School and best wishes for your future career.

Yours faithfully,

Neil Spurdell Headteacher

P a g e | 5

Job Description

Sheldon School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and

expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post requires a satisfactory enhanced DBS

disclosure.

Job Title: Second in charge of PE Faculty - Head of Boys’ Physical Education Salary: TLR2b Additional non -contact time: 4 periods a fortnight Responsible to: Head of Faculty Responsible for: Boys’ Physical Education

Key responsibilities: To be responsible for the physical education curriculum at Key Stage 3

To have some responsibility for the Key Stage 4 programme

To lead and manage boys’ physical education in the school

To be responsible for clubs and fixtures related to boys’ physical education

To be Second i/c the physical education faculty

To organise and manage of the day to day running of the boys’ physical education department – changing rooms, registers, valuables etc.

To oversee the management of the boys’ changing facilities including display and noticeboards

To manage resources specifically for boys’ KS3 programme

To organise clubs and fixtures relating to boys’ physical education including liaising with ground staff

To support Head of Faculty in monitoring delivery of KS3 boys’ programme

To oversee KS3 boys’ assessment and reporting in physical education

To manage the faculty in the absence of the Head of Faculty

To manage EHCP’s within the faculty

To support Head of Faculty regarding development planning within the school cycle

To assist the Head of Faculty in the allocation of staffing and teaching groups and other matters relating to timetabling

To oversee the NQT year or induction period for any male staff newly appointed to the faculty

To mentor male novice teacher from the University of Exeter in conjunction with Head of Faculty

Other: To be proactive in safeguarding all pupils in line with school policies and procedures In addition to the specific duties listed above, ensure that that the professional standards for teachers

with QTS are met

P a g e | 6

To take part in the school’s staff continual professional development programme To support the aims and ethos of the school To comply with the school’s health and safety policy To undertake any other reasonable request from a manager to undertake work of a similar level that is

not specified in this job description.

While every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post, each individual task undertaken may not be identified. This job description will be reviewed regularly and may be subject to amendment or modification at any time after consultation with the post holder. It is not a comprehensive statement of procedures and tasks, but sets out the main expectations of the school in relation to the post

holder’s professional responsibilities and duties.

P a g e | 7

Physical Education at Sheldon

The faculty has twelve specialist teachers of Physical Education. In addition, a School Sports Co-ordinator is employed for two days per week working mainly in primary partner schools.

The faculty believes strongly in a team approach. We aim to present a consistent faculty profile to pupils and we do this by promoting boys' and girls' achievements to the whole school and the opposite gender and by teaching some mixed activities. Staff also teach pupils of the opposite gender for a variety of activities. The faculty is strong in terms of experience and has benefited from a stable staffing structure. As a faculty, our philosophy is based on the 'pyramid' principle, with a culture of achievement and success at all levels. At the top of the pyramid we want excellence (a number of our students are now professional sportsmen and women and we have regular representation at national, regional and county level) and at the bottom we want well-motivated and enthusiastic students working at a level appropriate to their ability within a broad and balanced curriculum structure. We achieve excellence through high standards and expectation in all aspects of the subject including uniform, behaviour, attitude, motivation, tolerance and performance. Expectations are clearly explained in the parent/pupil booklet. The curriculum is delivered to single-gender groups at Key Stage 3, apart from the athletics course which is delivered to tutor groups. At Key Stage 4, students are taught in single and mixed-gender groups depending on the activity. Equal access is provided for the genders in terms of activities. The faculty has support in place for weaker students and extension work for more able pupils. Pupils are grouped in a variety of ways based on providing the most effective learning environment for them. This means that groups can be of mixed ability or set according to ability depending on the activity and the range of pupils in the group. We provide Level 2 examination courses in GCSE and Cambridge National Sports Studies at Key Stage 4 and Advanced level at Key Stage 5. Our results are outstanding in all three areas. Students opt positively for these courses and we match them to the most suitable course at Key Stage 4. It is our intention to introduce a Level 3 Cambridge Technical course in September 2020. We were one of 28 schools nationally who were designated as a Sports College as a second specialism. The Sports College status enabled us to develop a number of initiatives both at Sheldon and in our partner schools. We have maintained the links by leading the Chippenham Sports partnership using our School Sports Co-ordinator thus continuing the work from the specialism working alongside colleagues from the two other Chippenham secondary schools. This provides opportunities for our own students and pupils in our local primary schools. There are extensive opportunities for pupil development through a wide-ranging programme of extra-curricular provision at lunch times, after school and some weekends. The Sheldon club ethos is very strong, with many students involved in these activities. The clubs are open to any school students – many students come to improve and spend time with friends and staff at the same time. School teams are selected from club members. There are vast opportunities for students to participate in fixtures against other schools and gain recognition through representative honours. Sheldon teams have an enviable record at local, county, regional and national level. This is testament to the efforts and commitment of Sheldon pupils and staff as well as the support of parents and local clubs. We also provide a wide range of internal activities such as inter-tutor competitions and regularly run intra-school events for our students. The school benefits from our strong links with local cricket, football, hockey, netball and rugby clubs. We also enter students in a wide range of other events in all sports in order to give them opportunities.

P a g e | 8

A faculty highlight has been the Olympic Day Fun Run. For the last seventeen years in June, over 1100 Sheldon pupils have run a 3 km course to celebrate the beginning of the Modern Olympics in 1896. This event happens all over the world and the Sheldon event is the biggest school event globally; we are the only school in the UK that holds this event each year and we have been lucky enough to have had an Olympian at the school on each of these occasions. An annual ski visit to France takes place at February half term which is run by the faculty. We take well over 60 students every year and the visit is generally oversubscribed. We also take 40 or more Year 10 students to Plas Pencelli in the Brecon Beacons in January each year for a week of outdoor pursuits; again this course is oversubscribed each year. The faculty benefits from excellent facilities including: a five court sportshall, a gymnasium (both with changing rooms), a fitness suite and two classrooms with laptops. The school benefits from excellent playing fields and a full size AstroTurf, as well as having access to a two court air dome. The faculty is well-resourced in terms of kit and equipment and the separate transport budget also means that the issue of funding equipment against the cost of transport for fixtures is not a factor for the faculty. We have always been committed to Initial Teacher Training and now work with Exeter University delivering the PGCE.

'Commitment' is the watchword of the faculty. We aim to provide the best possible opportunities for all Sheldon students both within and beyond the curriculum. We have benefited from excellent status, both in the school and local community, and the continuous support of the Senior Management Team here at Sheldon, both historically and at the present time. The faculty is a close knit team who work incredibly hard to support each other and the students at Sheldon School. I have been extremely proud to lead a wonderful team for thirty years including existing colleagues and previous staff who have worked at Sheldon.

Adam Douglas Head of Faculty of Physical Education March 2020

P a g e | 9

.