What skills and experience we're looking for
Main purpose of the job:
• Be responsible for the learning and achievement of all pupils in the class/es ensuring equality of opportunity for all
• Be responsible and accountable for achieving the highest possible standards in work and conduct
• Treat pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and at all times observing proper boundaries appropriate to a teacher’s professional position
• Work proactively and effectively in collaboration and partnership with learners, parents/carers, governors, other staff and external agencies in the best interests of pupils
• Act within, the statutory frameworks, which set out their professional duties and responsibilities and in line with the duties outlined in the current School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document and Teacher Standards (2017)
• Take responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people within the school
Duties and responsibilities
All teachers are required to carry out the duties of a school teacher as set or in the current School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document and Teachers Standards 2017. Teachers’ performance will be assessed against the Teacher Standards as part of the appraisal process as relevant to their role in the school.
Teaching
• Deliver the curriculum as relevant to the age and ability group/subject/s that you teach
• Be responsible for the preparation and development of teaching materials, teaching programmes and pastoral arrangements as appropriate
• Be accountable for the attainment, progress and outcomes of pupils’ you teach
• Be aware of pupils’ capabilities, their prior knowledge and plan teaching and differentiate appropriately to build on these demonstrating knowledge and understanding of how pupils learn
• Have a clear understanding of the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs; gifted and talented; EAL; disabilities; and be able to use and evaluate distinctive teaching approaches to engage and support them
• Demonstrate an understanding of and take responsibility for promoting high standards of literacy including the correct use of spoken English (whatever your specialist subject)
• If teaching early reading, demonstrate a clear understanding of appropriate teaching strategies e.g. systematic synthetic phonics
• Use an appropriate range of observation, assessment, monitoring and recording strategies as a basis for setting challenging learning objectives for pupils of all backgrounds, abilities and dispositions, monitoring learners’ progress and levels of attainment
• Make accurate and productive use of assessment to secure pupils’ progress
• Give pupils regular feedback, both orally and through accurate marking, and encourage pupils to respond to the feedback, reflect on progress, their emerging needs and to take a responsible and conscientious attitude to their own work and learning
• Use relevant data to monitor progress, set targets, and plan subsequent lessons
• Set homework and plan other out-of-class activities to consolidate and extend the knowledge and understanding pupils have acquired as appropriate
• Participate in arrangements for examinations and assessments within the remit of the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document 2017
Behaviour and Safety
• Establish a safe, purposeful and stimulating environment for pupils, rooted in mutual respect using Nurture Group Principles and consistently apply the school’s expectations and rewards policy
• Manage the class effectively, using approaches which are appropriate to pupils’ needs in order to inspire, motivate and challenge pupils
• Co-create and update pupils’ All About Me profiles and risk assessments ensuring that pupils, parents/carers and all staff within the class team know and understand their responsibilities
• Maintain good relationships with pupils, exercise appropriate authority, and act decisively when necessary
• Be a positive role model and demonstrate consistently the positive attitudes, values and behaviour, which are expected of pupils
• Have high expectations of behaviour, promoting self-control and independence of all learners
• Carry out playground and other duties as directed and within the remit of the current School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document 2017
• Be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people within the school, raising any concerns following school protocol/procedures
Team working and collaboration
• Plan for and direct the work of the class team to ensure that pupils’ social, emotional and academic development is effectively promoted and supported
• Participate in any relevant meetings/professional development opportunities at the school, which relate to the learners, curriculum or organisation of the school including pastoral arrangements and assemblies
• Participate in and contribute to the annual review of Education, Health and Care Plans for all pupils in the class, including reporting on the learning needs, SEN needs, progress and achievements of the pupils.
• Work as a team member and identify opportunities for working with colleagues and sharing the development of effective practice with them
• Contribute to the selection and professional development of other teachers and support staff including the induction and assessment of new teachers, teachers serving induction periods and where appropriate threshold assessments
• Ensure that colleagues working with you are appropriately involved in supporting learning and understand the roles they are expected to fulfil
• Take part as required in the review, development and management of the activities relating to the curriculum, organisation and pastoral functions of the school
• Cover for absent colleagues within the remit of the current School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions document
Fulfil wider professional responsibilities
• Work collaboratively with others to develop effective professional relationships
• Deploy support staff effectively as appropriate
• Communicate effectively with parents/carers with regard to pupils’ achievements and well-being using school systems/processes as appropriate
• Communicate and co-operate with relevant external bodies
• Make a positive contribution to the wider life and ethos of the school
Professional development
• Regularly review the effectiveness of your teaching and assessment procedures and its impact on pupils’ progress, attainment and well-being, refining your approaches where necessary responding to advice and feedback from colleagues
• Be responsible for improving your teaching through participating fully in training and development opportunities identified by the school or as developed as an outcome of your appraisal
• Proactively participate with arrangements made in accordance with the Appraisal Regulations 2012
Other
• To have professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices of the school in which you teach, and maintain high standards in your own attendance and punctuality
• Perform any reasonable duties as requested by the Headteacher
What the school offers its staff
Applications are encouraged from ambitious KS2 Teachers who share our vision and belief that all children have the ability to achieve great success. We require highly committed educationalists who believe passionately about making a difference to the life of every student and who do so with integrity, humility and relentless positivity. Our primary aim is to appoint a high quality, enthusiastic KS2 Lead who can hit the ground running and continue to develop our growing KS2 provision.
If you have the desire to make a real difference to the lives of young people and want to join a team of highly dedicated staff, then we would love to hear from you – Read On!
About us…
High Well School is a Special School which caters for a minimum of seventy 10-16-year olds with an Education Health & Care Plan for severe and profound social, emotional and mental health needs as well as other learning difficulties. The School meets the needs of some of Wakefield’s most complex and vulnerable young people.
Our team endeavours to provide a nurturing environment with personalised support and specialist teaching to enable all pupils to re-engage in learning, develop their social and emotional skills and leave with not only appropriate qualifications but the skills required to succeed in life after school. This is reflected in our vision of ‘Preparing for Positive Futures’.
The Governing Body are seeking to appoint a talented and committed teacher with a track record of excellent outcomes for pupils, who can plan and deliver an engaging and personalised curriculum as a class teacher in KS2. The successful candidate will enjoy team work and have experience of working collaboratively with a range of staff and other professionals. The school follows Nurture Group Principles and is seeking to appoint a candidate who can create a safe classroom environment where pupils’ social, emotional and learning needs are met. The school welcomes applications from experienced primary, middle or secondary teachers from mainstream or special schools, who are able to teach across a range of subjects including Maths, English, Humanities and PSHE.
If you are successful in your application, you will join a good school on its journey to its next level of development. There are no two days the same at High Well School where every day is exciting and where you will be utilising the excellent support systems in place. Class sizes in KS2 are restricted to eight pupils, with highly talented and experienced teaching assistant support for every group to ensure pupils develop secure relationships with staff and enable personalised planning and delivery.
The school offers a bespoke and comprehensive induction package for new staff followed up with outstanding CPD and a genuine interest in your health and wellbeing. The successful candidate would benefit from opportunities for further professional development and career progression as we value and support our staff in all aspects of school life.
OFSTED told us that we are ‘Good school’ with effective and focused leadership which was great, but we wanted you to hear from our team! In our recent staff engagement survey staff told us that High Well is ‘a great place to work’ with an ‘open door policy for all leadership team members’ and a ‘responsive staff support and a commitment to also help staff achieve their goals!’.
The successful candidate will be joining a school that offers many other personal benefits including:
§ A subsidised Teachers Pension Scheme
§ Close, convenient links to the M62, A1 and M1 links to Leeds, Kirklees, Bradford, Barnsley & Wakefield
§ A talented and supportive Senior Leadership Team and dedicated Governing Body
§ A supportive environment in which your talents will be encouraged, nurtured and rewarded
If you like the idea of working with a talented school team, we would strongly encourage an onsite or virtual visit by calling 01924 572100 and asking to speak to the Headteacher or by emailing: headteacher@highwell.org.uk
Application Forms and vacancy details may be requested by visiting our school website at
Prospective applicants should note that appointment will be subject to verification of qualifications and teacher status checks, satisfactory enhanced DBS with barred list check, two satisfactory references and evidence of the right to work in the United Kingdom.
Closing date: at 3pm Friday 28th February 2025
Shortlisting: 03/03/25
Interview date: 07/03/25
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.