What skills and experience we're looking for
We are seeking to appoint a dynamic teacher of Engineering to join our highly successful school. Due to rising student numbers, we are expanding the size of our Design Technology Faculty to include Engineering at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. The successful candidate will have a firm commitment to raising whole-school achievement; have a professional approach to staff development; high expectations; and a determination to succeed.
The school is at an exciting point in its development and enjoying considerable success in public exams at all levels. We want to appoint the right person for the job, someone who is, or has the potential to become, an outstanding teacher of Engineering. We want someone who is flexible, who has skills in Graphics and Computer Aided Design (CAD). We very much look forward to hearing from you. This post would suit any well-qualified and ambitious teacher of Engineering, including Early Career Teachers.
As this is a new role for the school, we would very much welcome the opportunity to meet with any interested candidates to discuss the role in the full.
What the school offers its staff
At Sir Graham Balfour we offer:
• A well-motivated staff, who embrace willingly a culture of professional development.
• Investment into extra non-contact time for all teachers to support the planning, preparation and assessment of lessons.
• An ever-growing reputation in the local community which has resulted in the school being consistently oversubscribed in an area where student rolls are falling.
• A highly positive climate for learning.
• A first-rate learning environment. We are housed in buildings completed in 2002 and financed via a PFI initiative.
• Innovative 14-19 collaboration and a stable roll at KS5.
• A commitment to best practice in all we do.
Further details about the role
Please note:
• All applicants will be submitted for an enhanced DBS check.
• Applications will only be accepted if submitted on the enclosed formal application form.
• Two references will be required, one of which must be from your most recent employer. In the case of teachers, one reference must come from your most recent headteacher.
• Once a written reference has been received, we will contact the referee by telephone to confirm the provenance of that reference.
• If shortlisted, online searches will be carried out, in order to help identify any incidents or issues that have happened and are publicly available online, which the school might want to explore with the applicant at interview.
• If shortlisted, we will request a portrait photo of you to attach to your file and to help confirm your identity.
• If appointed, the successful applicant will be informed that the appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of the following checks: the right to work in the UK, qualifications requirements, satisfactory DBS Enhanced Disclosure, the Criminal Record Self-Declaration Form, teacher prohibition and barred list checks, pre-employment medical screening and satisfactory references (if not already received).
Visits to the school are strongly recommended and can be arranged by contacting Mrs Vicki McKeen (details below).
For an application pack, please access our website, or contact Mrs Vicki McKeen, Headteacher’s PA, on vmckeen@sirgrahambalfour.staffs.sch.uk or telephone 01785 223490. The closing date for applications is at 1.30pm on Friday 21st March 2025. Please return completed applications to vmckeen@sirgrahambalfour.staffs.sch.uk
Shortlisting for this post will take place on Friday 21st March 2025 and successful applicants will be contacted no later than 5pm on the same day. If you have not heard from us by this time, please assume you have not been successful on this occasion.
Interviews will take place week commencing Monday 24th March 2025. They will include a tour around the school, meetings with the Design Technology Faculty, delivery of a lesson and interviews for the short-listed candidates. Further details of the lesson will be sent out to the shortlisted candidates.
Commitment to safeguarding
Sir Graham Balfour School recognises its legal duty under s175 Education Act 2002 and the 1989 and 2004 Children Acts. We take seriously our responsibilities to protect and safeguard the interests of all students. This organisation recognises that effective child protection work requires sound procedures, good inter-agency co-operation and a workforce that is competent and confident in responding to child protection situations. Our Safeguarding Policy aims to provide a framework which ensures that all our practice in regard to safeguarding children is consistent with the stated values and procedures that underpin all work with children and young people.