We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic and ambitious Assistant Director of Social Science to join the high‑performing team at Shelley College. This is an exciting opportunity for an aspiring or experienced middle leader who is passionate about raising standards, delivering excellent teaching and learning, and supporting colleagues to achieve the very best outcomes for students.

Working closely with the Director of Social Science, you will help lead a dedicated and experienced faculty, contributing to the strategic development of the department and ensuring the consistent delivery of high‑quality lessons across all Social Science subjects. You must be able to teach at least one of the following subjects: Business, Criminology, Sociology or Economics, and be willing to upskill across teaching disciplines.

You will play a key role in driving improvements in progress and attainment, developing the curriculum, monitoring teaching and learning, and supporting colleagues to continually grow and improve their practice. The role involves working alongside teachers, TLR holders, senior leaders and governors to support whole‑school priorities and help maintain high standards of behaviour, engagement and safety. You will also support the development, implementation and evaluation of departmental improvement plans, ensuring that students of all abilities have access to a curriculum that meets their needs and allows them to thrive.

At Shelley College, you will join a supportive and collaborative school community where professional development is valued, and where leaders at all levels are encouraged to innovate, reflect and grow. This role offers an excellent opportunity for someone committed to shaping the future of Social Science and making a measurable difference to students’ lives.

The Ideal Candidate will:

• Be able to teach Business, Criminology, Sociology or Economics and demonstrate a willingness to upskill across teaching disciplines
• Be an excellent practitioner with strong subject knowledge and a proven track record of securing strong student outcomes.
• Have experience leading or contributing to improvements in teaching, learning and curriculum design.
• Demonstrate the ability to coach, support and inspire colleagues, offering constructive guidance to help improve teaching standards across the faculty.
• Be able to analyse data effectively to track progress, identify gaps and implement strategies that raise attainment — including for disadvantaged and SEND learners.
• Communicate clearly and work collaboratively with staff, students, families and senior leaders.
• Have a strong understanding of behaviour for learning and contribute to maintaining a positive, high‑expectations culture within the faculty.
• Be committed to safeguarding, maintaining a safe learning environment and ensuring risks are identified and managed effectively.
• Be reflective, solution‑focused and aligned with Shelley College’s ethos, values and ambition for continuous improvement

Overall Purpose of the role:

As Assistant Director of Social Science you will be required to meet the general requirements of this post, as specified in the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document.  In addition, you will be required to fulfil any reasonable expectations from the Senior Leadership Team. The post will require you to work in partnership with the Social Science teaching staff, TLR holders, Senior Leadership Team and governors to ensure the continuous improvement of the Social Science Department..

Safeguarding Requirement:

This post requires the post holder to work in settings with children and young adults. Any employment offer is therefore subject to the results of an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). People who may have contact with younger children (i.e. primary school age) are also required to complete a declaration about family or other members of their household.

Applicants will be required to provide evidence of identity and qualifications and offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references. For applicants who work or have recently worked in a school, one of the references must be from the Head.

Key outputs:

1. To work with the Director of Social Science to lead staff within the Social Science faculty to promote and facilitate the delivery of excellent teaching and learning and to:

                    a. Help lead the faculty in accordance with the school’s aims and ethos

                    b. Improve students’ levels of progress and attainment in Social Science

                    c. Help improve the quality of teaching and learning in Social Science

                    d. Support high standards of student behaviour for learning and engagement in Social Science

                    e. Contribute to maintaining a safe environment for all students.

           2. Help lead the faculty in a manner that supports Shelley College’s ethos and aims

           3. Ensure students work in safe environment, taking responsibility for ensuring the risks are identified and managed well

           4. Support whole-school aims and the school’s senior leadership team in raising standards of teaching and learning and student outcomes

           5. Help develop, implement, monitor and evaluate a development plan for the department

           6. Help to monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching and learning in the faculty

           7. Ensure a suitable curriculum is in place for students of all abilities

           8. Help to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate the development plans for the faculty

           9. Coach and guide colleagues to improve standards of teaching and learning across the facult

          10. Support other subject leaders to raise standards by sharing good practice and collaborating with colleagues to plan curriculum developments

11.              11. Agree clear, achievable outcomes with staff and/or students

                     12. Help colleagues that you line manage to produce their own personal development plan. Review progress towards objectives consistently within the school’s framework for benchmarking

                     13. Devise and implement strategies for narrowing the attainment gap in Business and Economics for different groups of students, with a focus on SEN and disadvantaged

                     14. Develop the curriculum, in line with national developments and the best interests of students

                     15. Track students’ progress, rewarding success and intervening to improve standards

                     16. Identify best practice within the faculty and across the school and help to share it with others

                     17. Be able to teach Business, Criminology, Sociology or Economics and demonstrate a willingness to upskill across teaching disciplines

                     18. To undertake any other duties associated with the role, as may be decided by your line manager or the Principal.

Expertise in role required:

Essential

• Qualified Teacher Status
• Degree or equivalent
• Evidence of continuing professional development and a willingness to undertake further development as appropriate
• Able to teach to a high standard
• Successful experience or the ability to teach subject at GCSE
• Able to view departmental goals in a whole school context
• Able to develop strategies for engaging students, develop the curriculum and secure improvements
• Able to analyse data with a view to developing strategies to improve performance
• Able to monitor and evaluate impact of interventions and strategies
• Detailed knowledge of current developments in subject area for all levels
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent behaviour management skills
• Commitment to the safeguarding of young people

 Other (physical, mobility, local conditions)

• Is willing to work flexibly within scope of overall hours, e.g. evening meetings

Desirable

• Successful experience or the ability to teach subject at A Level
• Experience of developing departmental strategies and effective implementation
• Experience of implementing whole school strategies
• Knowledge of innovating teaching and learning strategies
• Highly competent in ICT and the use of computers
• A willingness to be fully involved in the wider life of Shelley College, including extra-curricular activities.

In order to be considered for interview, you must fully complete the online application form  through MyNewTerm website (https://mynewterm.com/) and demonstrate your ability to meet the requirements of the job by giving clear, concise examples of how you meet each criterion. Any applications that do not demonstrate how your abilities, skills and experience meet the requirements of the role or any applications that have incomplete sections, unanswered questions or ‘please see CV’ will not be taken through to the shortlisting stage

Please contact the team at Shelley College at shelley.recruitment@sharemat.co.uk if you have any questions with regard to this vacancy or if you need any support in making an application.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to enhanced DBS disclosure, and a 'prohibition from teaching' check will be completed for all applicants.

We are committed to Equal Opportunities and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and characteristics.