What makes Ridgewood School special?

At Ridgewood School we are extremely proud of our school and the high quality of education that we provide, including our popular and highly successful Sixth Form. Our school motto, ‘Prepare for the road ahead,’ represents our belief in preparing our students for their future, not only in terms of academic achievement, but also in terms of the training, enrichment and experiences which will enable them to become model citizens and responsible members of the community. Our school values: Respect-Responsibility-Resilience, underpin what we do every day and contribute to our ethos in everything we undertake as a school community. In our most recent Ofsted, we achieved a ‘Good’ rating in all categories, and we are committed to this trajectory of success for our students as we aspire to move from ‘Good to Great.’ As part of this journey, in July 2023, we joined Leger Education Trust and collaborate with other schools within the trust to develop both our students and staff and be the very best that we can be.

We are looking to appoint a talented and enthusiastic Teacher of Science.  Our Science team aims to develop scientifically literate and curious citizens of the future, whose fascination with the subject drives them to continue to pursue scientific disciplines in the future. At Ridgewood, Science is a fundamental part of the day to day lives of our students. Our subjects remain popular at Post-16 with the three traditional Science A-Level routes, complimented with Medical Science. We are a large team of eleven teachers and two technicians who are all passionate about science and providing great learning opportunities for our students.'

Why is the role of Teacher of Science right for you?

We are committed to offering the staff who work at Ridgewood every opportunity to become the best they can be. Our training packages, for staff at all stages of their careers, are second to none. As well as our whole school and departmental training, we also offer a personalised coaching programme, NPQs and bespoke CPD, relevant to the person’s role.  In 2025, we received the Teacher Development Trust Gold Award, demonstrating our commitment and passion to providing excellent CPD for all teaching and associate staff.

If you are seeking a dynamic, innovative and caring school, dedicated to the development of staff and our students’ success, Ridgewood is the school for you.

We strongly encourage visits from potential candidates – please contact the school to arrange this.

The closing date for this post is 9am Wednesday 18 March 2025. Interviews will be held soon after.

Ridgewood School reserve the right to close this advert prior to the closing date above.

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants will undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers. The role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS certificate, the role is engaged in regulated activity and will therefore require a children’s barred list check. Shortlisted Applicants will be required to complete a self-disclosure.

The school operates a no smoking policy.

You are required to carry out the professional duties of a classroom teacher as set out in the current School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document. 

You are expected to demonstrate consistently high standards of personal and professional conduct.

You should also have due regard to the current Teachers’ Standards which your performance will be assessed against as part of the appraisal process.  

Teaching

·         Maintain an up to date knowledge and understanding of the professional duties and responsibilities of teachers and the statutory frameworks.

·         Plan teaching and differentiate appropriately to build on existing student capabilities demonstrating knowledge and understanding of how students learn by having a clear understanding of their individual needs e.g. EAL, disabilities etc.

·         Use a wide variety of strategies to create a positive learning environment and maximise achievement for all students.

·         Apply a range of teaching and learning strategies to reduce individual barriers to learning and to meet student needs.

·         Use relevant data to monitor progress, set targets, and plan subsequent lessons, taking account of students’ prior levels of attainment.

·         Be responsible for the preparation and development of teaching materials, teaching programmes and pastoral arrangements as appropriate.

·         Regularly review the effectiveness of your teaching and assessment procedures and their impact on students’ progress, attainment and wellbeing.

·         Be accountable for the attainment, progress and outcomes of the students you teach.

·         Work with other staff on curriculum and/or student development to secure co-ordinated outcomes.

·         Demonstrate an understanding of, and take responsibility for promoting, high standards of literacy including the correct use of spoken English (irrespective of your specialist subject).

          Make accurate and productive use of assessment to secure students’ progress.

·         Mark and monitor students’ class-work and homework, providing regular and constructive oral and written feedback, and set appropriate targets for students’ progress.

·         Use a range of monitoring and assessment strategies to evaluate student progress and to improve your own planning and teaching.

·         Support and promote the school’s ethos, aims and core values in order to promote the welfare, progress, attainment levels and continued development of the school and its students.

·         Participate in arrangements for preparing students for external examinations.

Behaviour and Safety

·         Establish a safe, purposeful and stimulating environment for students using praise, sanctions and rewards in a consistent and fair manner.

·         Manage classes effectively, using approaches which are appropriate to students’ needs in order to inspire, motivate and challenge students.

·         Maintain good relationships with students, exercising appropriate authority.

·         Be an appropriate role model and demonstrate consistently the positive attitudes, values and behaviour which are expected of students.

·         Have high expectations of behaviour, promoting self-control and independence of all learners.

General

·         Contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of the school’s policies, practices and procedures to support the school’s values and vision.

·         Play a key role in assemblies, open evenings and other major school events.

·         Work as a team member and identify opportunities for promoting productive relationships with colleagues and for sharing the development of effective practice with them.

·         Further support the climate for learning, improve the school’s ethos and maintain our culture of achievement and high expectation.

·         Develop effective working relationships with schools, partners, and other agencies.

·         Follow the school’s safeguarding policies and procedures to create and maintain a safe environment for student learning.

·         Participate fully in CPD activities and appraisal arrangements.

·         Any other reasonable duties as requested by the Headteacher

This job role sits alongside the requirement for staff to abide by all school policies and relevant national and local requirements including terms and conditions and national standards.  This job profile is not exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake other duties as necessary and appropriate.