We are looking to recruit…………

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an outstanding Director of Learning – Business and Computing, to join Whitcliffe Mount School. Do you have what it takes to provide outstanding teaching and learning experiences across Business and Computing for students of all abilities? The successful candidate should be an inspirational leader with a proven track record of driving up standards; a committed and flexible team player who can inspire others to raise aspirations, through an exciting and ambitious curriculum. 

As a Director of Learning, you will be required to lead, coach, guide, and inspire staff across the Business and Computing faculties, helping them to engage and enthuse learners of all abilities in these subject specialisms. At Whitcliffe Mount, we want all our students to enjoy these subjects and to become confident, independent learners. We want our staff to feel supported and inspired to achieve their personal best. 

The successful candidate will strategically lead the faculties, with support from the school’s leadership team. They will continue to raise standards and outcomes across Business and Computing, helping to further develop the subjects at Whitcliffe Mount School. 

About Whitcliffe Mount: 

Whitcliffe Mount Academy is a large secondary academy in Cleckheaton, within close commuter distance of Huddersfield, Bradford, and Leeds. The academy is committed to supporting all pupils to achieve, develop and thrive so that they can be happy and successful. 

The academy is a proud partner of the well-regarded and high-performing SHARE Multi-Academy Trust and is part of the Teaching School Hub for Kirklees and Calderdale. Whitcliffe Mount provides staff with a wealth of support and a wide range of opportunities to collaborate, network, and share best practice. 

Whitcliffe Mount has a wonderful academy community and is a great place to work, where all team members play a vital role in making a positive impact on the life chances of others. 

The academy is proud to offer:

• A supportive and ambitious environment where all students are encouraged to go beyond what they think they can achieve and to enjoy learning, helping them to lead successful, healthy and happy lives
• A vibrant place to work which equips staff to deliver their best every day, under the strong belief that Valuing People, Supporting Personal Best is the key
• A commitment that staff are happy, engaged and well supported at work, taking pride in students’ attendance, behaviour, progress and development as well as their own
• Excellent training and guidance relevant to individual job roles, so expectations are understood and staff are motivated
• Great benefits, as an employer of choice, including outstanding CPD, supportive line management, and meaningful networking opportunities across the trust to aid personal development
• Supportive leadership, encouraging healthy work-life balance
• A high-quality teaching and learning environment, alongside good facilities
• A culture where children are happy, settled and confident, accessing a broad and balanced curriculum which provides a memorable educational experience for pupil sand staff

The ideal candidate will:-

• Be educated to degree level with QTS in their subject;
• An inspirational leader with a proven track record of inspiring and motivating others;
• Be passionate about leading and supporting the Business and Computing departments in delivering ambitious learning and improving students’ levels of progress and attainment;
• Have a clear vision and lead by example;
• Love encouraging, motivating and inspiring children through the support they give in order to encourage their learning;
• Be committed to our ethos that all pupils can achieve at Whitcliffe Mount School:
• Have great references demonstrating they are a suitable candidate, safe to work with children.

Overall Purpose of the Role:

As Director of Learning for Business and Computing 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 principal/Trust. The post will require you to work in partnership with the Business and Computing teaching staff, TLR holders, Senior Leadership Team, governors to ensure the continuous improvement of Business and Computing across the school/Trust

Safeguarding requirements: 

• 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 MUST complete the MAT’s standard application form to be considered, 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 Headteacher. 

Key Outputs: 

1. Help to develop a culture in which every student is valued, encouraged and supported to feel a strong sense of belonging.  
2. Develop a clear vision and strategy for the Business and Computing departments, rooted in the aims, values and ethos of the school - ‘Together, we are proud to be our best’. 
3. Lead the Business and Computing departments to ensure that curriculum plans are ambitious, well sequenced and implemented effectively.  
4. Deliver a broad, balanced and exciting curriculum for students of all abilities and interests.  
5. To work with the SLT link for Business and Computing and Business and Computing teachers to promote and facilitate the delivery of excellent teaching and learning and extra-curricular in Business and Computing.  
6. To foster a love of learning and ensure that students are knowing, remembering and practicing more with growing confidence and engaging in their own development.  
7. To contribute to raising standards of student achievement and attainment. 
8. To monitor, track and support the overall progress and development of all, setting appropriate improvement goals. 
9. To share and support the school’s responsibility to provide and monitor opportunities for personal and academic growth. 
10. To facilitate and encourage a learning experience which provides students with the opportunity to achieve their individual potential. 
11. To reward and celebrate students’ success.  
12. To maintain good discipline in accordance with the school’s policy and to encourage good practice with regard to punctuality, behaviour standards of work and homework.  
13. To ensure the learning needs of individual students are met, particularly vulnerable groups, such as those with SEN, disabilities or disadvantages students.  
14. Where necessary, to liaise with parents and others to support students. 
15. To provide regular, high quality feedback to students that supports future learning and progress.  
16. To undertake assessment of students as requested by external examination bodies, departmental and school procedures. 
17. To use the outcomes of on-going assessment to help shape future planning.  
18. To self-evaluate and undertake professional development to help achieve the highest possible standards in their role. 
19. To coach and guide colleagues to improve the quality of teaching and learning through up to date CPD. 
20. Maintain a visible presence around the school, supporting duty teams and others by insisting upon and helping to maintain high standards of student conduct in lessons and around school.  
21. To attend meetings and complete additional administration tasks as required by the role. 
22. To promote and actively support the school’s responsibilities towards safeguarding and health and safety.  

Expertise in Role Required (At Selection – Level 1):

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
• Evidence of impact in the classroom
• Successful experience or the ability to teach subject at GCSE
• Successful experience or the ability to teach subject at KS3
• 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
• Detailed knowledge of current developments in subject area for all levels
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent behaviour management skills
• A willingness to be fully involved in the wider life of Whitcliffe Mount School, including extra-curricular activities.
• Good role model in terms of promoting the trust’s aims and values, together with professional standards for teachers and leaders.
• Is willing to work flexibly within scope of overall hours, e.g. evening meetings.

Desirable

• Experience of implementing departmental school strategies
• Able to view department goals in a whole school context
• Able to monitor and evaluate impact of interventions and strategies
• Knowledge of innovative teaching and learning strategies
• Highly competent in ICT and the use of computers

Expertise in Role – After Initial and Advanced Development

• Evidence of monitoring and evaluating interventions and strategies
• Evidence of data analysis and strategies used to improve performance 
• Evidence of ongoing continuing professional development