What skills and experience we're looking for
We are seeking an inspiring Teacher of Art and Textiles to join our team as we continue on our journey to providing an outstanding education for all learners whatever their ability. We are looking for a colleague with the highest standards and ambitions, and the drive and determination to help ensure the department and our students flourish beyond what they thought possible.
The Art and Technology departments are viewed as core components of a broad curriculum at The Arnewood School. In Art, at key stage 3 students research artists and designers and explore a range of medias. At KS4 students currently study Art, Craft and Design which gives a range of outcomes from 3D to fine art. At KS5 we offer Art, Craft and Design A level as well as Photography A Level.
In technology, at key stage 3 (years 7 & 8) students work across a range of different subjects including Textiles as part of a rotation, year 9 they select creative subjects they want to deepen their knowledge with during a more intensive year within their selected subjects. At KS4 students currently study Art endorsed Textiles (AQA) working across a number of techniques to produce a combination of garments and textiles based artwork. Sketchbooks are a strength of the department and are used to creatively document the design process. As this is a relatively new subject in school, we hope to offer Textiles at KS5 level when the current cohort progresses to year 12/13.
Art is an incredibly successful department with 100% of students gaining 4+ in the GCSE exams in 2023. The successful candidate will be required to teach Art across the age and ability range as well as Photography at A level. A confident understanding of how to use Photoshop and MAC based operating systems is required. Applicants should have a broad view in Art in education and be able to bring a flexible approach to the teaching of Art. There is a suite of four art rooms; one is a fully equipped Sixth Form photography studio with professional lighting as well as a dark room. Frequent visits to galleries and exhibitions in Southampton, Chichester and London are popular events in our busy school diary.
Textiles has grown in popularity over the past couple of years and now has a very strong cohort of GCSE students. Textiles has a very large, exceptionally well equipped room along with an attached storage cupboard and a cutting room/fabric storage area. A heat press, kitchen area, array of embroidery/overlocking and sewing machines and a large number of mannequins means that students can work easily on garments or textiles based artwork. Strong links have been built with other departments in school and other textiles departments locally which have enabled students to share artist workshops and educational trips this year.
The successful candidate will have a strong and secure knowledge of the GCSE Art curriculum, in addition they will likely have, or be able to quickly acquire, an understanding of A Level curriculum content for both Art and Photography.
For Textiles they will need to be confident using/maintaining sewing machines preferably with experience of teaching textiles to KS3/KS4. They will be able to be part of a hard-working team which supports each other to be the best practitioners they can be and ensuring excellent outcomes for all of our students.
The successful candidate will demonstrate: -
• a passion for art and textiles teaching with an excellent subject knowledge and pedagogical understanding.
• they are an excellent classroom practitioner, who is experienced in teaching art and textiles at key Stages 3, 4 and, ideally 5.
• ability to teach A Level Photography with a confident knowledge of Photoshop and Mac based systems.
• the ability to help change, develop, motivate, challenge, support and inspire students of all abilities.
• outstanding success at achieving consistently good results in art and textiles at least, at key stage 3 and key stage 4.
• the ability to create and facilitate highly challenging and engaging lessons.
• Ability to deliver after-school support and pre-exam intervention sessions as and
when required to ensure the highest levels of achievement and
attainment.
• high aspiration and expectations for all students and to lead this by personal example.
• aspiration to progress their career in the future.
• they are optimistic, positive, and cheerful.
What the school offers its staff
We offer: -
• well-considered professional development and a wide range of professional opportunities, including leadership development opportunities when the time is right
• excellent career progression opportunities given our strength in partnership working
• a supportive, committed and experienced team of design and technology specialists all appropriately trained
• sound mentoring for all new staff from an experienced senior team
• a challenging and collegiate workplace with a high level of professional autonomy in which people matter
• excellent accommodation, resources and funding
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.