Application Deadline: Monday, 28th April 2025
Interview Date: w/c 5th May 2025
About us
The Keystone Academy is a specialist school for children aged 4-16 with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs and difficulties. It brings together the vision of The YES Trust with that of Shropshire Local Authority, aiming to provide an excellent specialist school for students with SEMH, including those with neurodivergent needs.
As a new school, we are lucky enough to have a brand-new building which has been purpose-built for our cohort’s needs.
Our Vision
…is to support all vulnerable learners, raising their aspirations through high quality engaging education which empowers and liberates their futures.
At The Keystone Academy, we believe that:
* Learning should be exciting and purposeful
* Every student should have the opportunity to reach their full potential, whatever that may be, regardless of their abilities, needs, disposition or background
* Neurodivergence should be celebrated and seen as a strength
* Nurturing the whole child prepares them for success and happiness in school and life
* Students learn best in a safe and respectful environment
* We can overcome challenges and achieve great things through collaboration
We believe our approach to education will ensure that all students leave Keystone Academy happy, well-balanced, life-long learners who are well prepared for their future beyond school.
All members of staff have a commitment and passion to deliver the best possible educational experiences, encouraging all students to dream big and empowering them to lead successful and fulfilling lives, in a safe and protected, well-supported atmosphere. Our aim is to reignite that love for learning that may have been lost at some point, through inspirational teaching and provision of opportunity.
The Keystone Academy will also provide the opportunity for you as educators and those supporting education to make a real difference in an environment that supports your professional development.
I hope you will want to join our team to help develop our school and create an aspirational environment for our pupils. Please get in touch if you have any questions and I look forward to hearing from you.
The role of the ICT Teacher is a truly unique opportunity to play an integral part in shaping our approach and curriculum for technology throughout the school, with creativity and ambition. Our aim is to prepare our pupils for life in the modern world, who are proficient in the use of technology and the opportunities it can provide. We have a dedicated ICT room as well as a purpose-built immersion room, which is a fantastic and inspiring education resource, supporting the whole curriculum.
We are looking for someone with a genuine passion for their subject who is aspirational and has the skills and desire to motivate and engage all learners, helping to unlock their potential. We are seeking someone with the expertise and knowledge of current best practice in terms of ICT education, with a vision for shaping an all-through curriculum which prepares and enables our pupils to achieve the very best and relevant outcomes in the subject. An ability to inspire and support staff and families with their digital literacy and helping to develop our effective use of assistive technology for our SEND learners across the school is key.
To deliver the vision, our subject teachers will work in collaboration with the Headteacher focusing on three key themes:
* Re-connecting, raising aspirations and motivating
* A whole education, recognising that essential pre-cursors to academic success are personal and emotional development, independent living and decision-making skills and discovering meaningful interests and goals
* A personalised curriculum including specific engagement activities based on the interests of each individual learner
* Positive and trusted adult role models in the form of Learning Mentors and qualified teachers recruited for their enthusiasm for working with disconnected young people and their ability to understand and adapt, in order to meet the needs of the students
* Opportunities to support social and emotional needs through individualised programmes and a varied curriculum
Unlocking every child’s potential
The curriculum will determine the knowledge and skills students will learn at each stage. It will be planned efficiently to deliver exceptional lessons where students make outstanding progress, and are able to relate their learning to the wider world.
Individualised learning programmes, based on the interests and skills of the students and which draw upon the diverse range of pastoral, vocational, engagement and personal and social development activities.
Small groups of students (max 1:10) with capability to offer 1 to 1 student support.
Practical application of knowledge to develop skills that prepare for accreditation and work towards independence and social integration.
Recognising and celebrating achievement
Positive learning environments with praise for success and recognition of achievement.
Regular liaison with parents and carers to involve them fully in the education of their children including weekly progress telephone calls.
Celebration of success through weekly celebrations with students and staff rewards for targeted elements and high-profile annual celebration events.
Relevant vocational learning that broadens the curriculum we offer to students, providing the opportunity to support their classroom learning by gaining practical skills in the workplace and ultimately allowing them to achieve recognised qualifications.
Key Priorities
* Support the vision and direction of the school
* Provide an engaging curriculum within the academy
* Deliver and maintain effective learning and teaching throughout school
* Undertake Performance Management & Line Management responsibilities for a learning mentor
* Ensure effective pastoral care and behaviour support throughout the school
* To be responsible for the day-to-day impact of own subject across the curriculum
* Willingness to demonstrate a flexible approach to the curriculum to meet school requirements
Teaching and Learning
Teachers at the academy will help secure and sustain effective teaching and learning throughout the Academy, monitor and evaluate progress and present students’ achievements, effectively using benchmarks to track set targets for improvements. They will:
* Deliver the teaching of their own subject within the school and other subjects as and when required
* Support and maintain an environment and a code of behaviour and discipline which promotes and secures good teaching, effective learning and high standards of achievement
* Support and maintain the mental health and wellbeing of the students which promotes and secures good teaching, effective learning and high standards of achievement
* Help organise the curriculum and its assessment and work with the SLT to monitor and evaluate it in order to identify areas for improvement
* Ensure that the curriculum and assessments meet National Curriculum requirements
* Ensure that improvements in literacy and numeracy are priority targets for all students across school
* To liaise with the Academy’s SENCO in order to identify students who require further support or intervention
* Deliver and support the PHSE and RHSE programmes across the school
Partnership Working
* Support in establishing a culture and curriculum which fulfils the aims and requirements of the whole school community as set out in the vision
* Seek opportunities to invite parents and carers into The academy to enrich student experience and to promote The academy’s value to the wider community
* Collaborate with staff, to actively promote British values, as well as the academic, spiritual, moral, social, emotional and cultural well-being of students and their families
* Represent The academy at relevant meetings, as and when required
Health and Safety / Child Protection
* To help ensure that health and safety standards meet statutory requirements, monitoring health and safety matters within the school, particularly ensuring that all members of staff take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others
* To help ensure that Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures and Department of Health assessments of Children in Need are rigorously complied with, and that the welfare and health and safety of students are of prime consideration
* To promote the safety and well-being of students and staff
* To ensure good order and discipline of students and staff
Benefits
* Very small class sizes
* Fantastic classroom support
* Shorter teaching day
* Access to training and CPD including further professional qualifications
* Specialist training where required
* Cycle to work scheme
* Flexible and supportive approach to work
* Free lunch at school
* Free parking (including EV charging stations on most sites)
* Nursery benefits
* Education Mutual – private health support - access to a 24/7 GP, free face to face counselling, physiotherapy, nurse help-line, prescription service whenever you need it
* Perkbox - vouchers, discounts and wellbeing
Desired Criteria
* Experience of KS2 Curriculum
* Knowledge and experience of current good practice and development in special education provision
* Knowledge of successful practice in teaching hard to reach students
* Knowledge of how to promote independence for young people with complex needs
* Behaviour Management training
* Mental Health training
* Knowledge and experience of supporting different aspects of SEND, including ASD, ADHD, SLCN
* Knowledge of OFSTED Framework
* Work in the wider community
Minimum Requirements
* Qualified Teacher Status
* A degree or equivalent
* Evidence of further professional development
* Proven ability to:
o Set high expectations which inspire, motivate and challenge students
o Promote good student progress and outcomes
o Demonstrate full subject and curriculum knowledge
o Plan and teach well-structured lessons
o Adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all students
o Use assessment effectively to inform student’s progress and to analyse data to help the target setting process.
o Manage behaviour effectively to ensure a good and safe learning environment
o Fulfil wider professional responsibilities
o Communicate and work effectively in a multi-disciplinary school team including parents/guardians and other external agencies
o Commitment to school-wide focus on student attainment
o Ability to motivate and inspire
o Good organisational skills
o Generate enthusiasm for new ideas in both students and staff
o Communicate effectively to groups and individuals, orally and in writing
o Resolve conflict through active listening and negotiation
o Demonstrate a flexible approach and a willingness to listen to others
o Provide advice and guidance to parents and carers in a positive and clear manner
o Remain calm when working under pressure
o Ability to show patience and empathy
o Ability to analyse situations, prioritise and help to implement realistic solutions
o Ability to establish and develop good relationships with all involved in the school
o Willingness to deliver and support extra-curricular activities
o Ability to inspire all in a love of learning for your subject
o Evidence of understanding and commitment to equality of opportunity
o Respect for students’ individual difference
o Demonstrate a good level and understanding of ICT
o Knowledge of how to deal with safeguarding issues in school
o Awareness of current developments in education and the implications of these.
o Understand how to plan appropriate interventions
o Behaviour management techniques for groups and individuals
o Know how to develop effective rapport with students, this being based on high expectations and establishing a purposeful learning environment
o Able to delegate responsibility with accountability for area of responsibility
o Communicate with staff teams effectively
o An ability to establish and maintain positive partnerships with parents, students and communities
o Commitment to the school’s wider community
o Awareness of the need to develop a school culture responsive to the nature of the school’s communities
o Positive recommendation from present employer
o Adherence to standards established in Safer Recruitment guidance.
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