Teacher of Psychology and Sociology (Part-time) from September 2024

Old Swinford Hospital seeks to appoint a knowledgeable and dedicated graduate teacher of Psychology and Sociology who can teach with equal passion, commitment and success at A Level.  

The post would suit equally a newly or recently qualified teacher (ECT/RQT) or a more experienced teacher seeking a new challenge. 

About OSH

Old Swinford Hospital is one of the country’s leading state boarding schools. The majority of the School’s students are boarders who come from a wide range of backgrounds in the UK and also from the EU and overseas. A third of our pupils are day pupils, who usually go home after lessons, unless they are involved in sport or music, CCF or DofE. The School is now on an exciting journey to become fully co-educational by September 2025. Girls joined us in September 2021 in Year 7, whilst the Sixth Form has been mixed since 2004.

OSH is calm place to work. It is inclusive, tolerant and welcoming. The atmosphere is supportive and orderly, and it is also very relaxed because for many of our pupils their school is also their home. Parents, pupils and staff are all on the same side and our pupils want to learn before going out into the wider world and making their own contribution to it. 

We have recently had two very favourable Ofsted visits, one for boarding and one for curriculum. You can see these via our website www.oshsch.com  We enjoy a very good academic reputation and regularly feature in the lists of the most academically successful maintained schools. We’re not about league tables, however. We pride ourselves on developing in our pupils a balance of academic achievement, character and resilience and we’ve been doing this now for nearly 360 years.

Our extensive extra-curricular programme contributes to our pupils becoming happy, healthy and interested young people, for whom drama, sport, music, art and outdoor pursuits feature in their everyday lives. 

A major building programme has recently been completed which includes a large extension to an already impressive sports centre, an all-weather floodlit sports pitch, a new teaching block with a specialist arts room, a performing arts centre and a new senior boarding house. 

Other recent developments include a new off-site sports ground and a new food technology centre. From September 2021, university style teaching accommodation has enhanced and extended our campus in a new block, ‘Swinford Court’. In September 2024 we are opening our second girls boarding house.

Please note that this position is a teaching post and not a boarding post, which means that boarding duties are not part of the contract, but we do find that many colleagues enjoy working in boarding once they are settled at OSH. The boarding contract is a supplementary one to the teacher’s contract and brings in extra salary. 

Psychology and Sociology

Psychology is one of our most popular subjects at A Level, with two classes in both Years 12 and Year 13. Following the AQA specification, the A Level course covers optional topics in Relationships, Schizophrenia, and Forensic Psychology. The department currently comprises of its subject lead, who is a senior AQA examiner, and is looking to expand its profile within the school. Students have been able to enjoy recent trips to West Midlands Safari Park and Dudley Zoo on the topic of phobias and students are encouraged to embark on EPQs related to the subject to increase their wider awareness of the subject. In recent years, several students of Psychology have gone on to study the subject at undergraduate level at prestigious universities including Lancaster, Cambridge and Durham.

 Sociology will be delivered at OSH for the first time in September 2024, with one class at Year 12 level. The school will follow the AQA examination board, and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to build the department from scratch, deciding on what would be the most suitable optional modules for Paper 2. The school has decided to add Sociology to its A Level provision owing to the national popularity of the subject as the 5th most undertaken A level, the successful take-up of Criminology as an enrichment topic after school for sixth form students, and the destinations of several ex students to degrees in Criminology, Sociology, Education and Law.

Person Specification

• Genuine resilience, a ‘can-do’ attitude and an enthusiasm for teaching young people;
• A belief that young people have potential and can achieve, despite any obstacles they may face;
• A graduate teacher with a keen academic interest in the subject and beyond;
• The willingness and ability to teach at all key stages, as well as supporting university and interview preparation (with training that we can give you if required);
• The ability to work as part of a successful and supportive team;
• Interest in taking an active part in the development of the curriculum within the school; 
• Commitment to becoming a pro-active, reliable and supportive form tutor.
• Interest in contributing to extra-curricular activities, including sport, music, drama and the adventure curriculum;
• Flexibility and imagination in developing new ideas and resources, as well as adapting to curriculum changes;
• The ability to make a contribution to the wider School curriculum and the personal development of our pupils; 
• Commitment to becoming a pro-active, reliable and supportive form tutor.
• Commitment to the protection and safeguarding of children and young people.

General Job Specification and Conditions of Employment 

The conditions of employment set out in the current School Teachers’ Pay and conditions Document will apply.  The person appointed is responsible to the Subject Leader to carry out the duties and functions of a teacher in accordance with the Teaching Standards and the stated aims and objectives of the School and the Department. 

The person appointed will:

• in consultation with the Subject Leader, plan, design and produce teaching materials and resources which are appropriate to age and ability and are in accordance with the School Development Plan and the Department Development Plan;
• in accordance with scheme of work, plan, deliver and review lessons which are appropriate to the age and ability of the students so as to facilitate progression in students’ learning and following the required examination syllabuses;
• manage the classroom and teaching equipment so as to create a supportive and positive learning environment which makes effective use of the available resources;
• attend meetings, carry out administrative tasks and duties as specified in the Staff Handbook;
• provide and facilitate the general progress and well-being of any individual student within any group of students assigned to him or her, providing guidance and advice to students on educational and social matters;
• implement the School policy with regard to registration, student absence, dress code and enforce School rules relating to behaviour and health and safety;
• participate in full staff and departmental meetings and to contribute to School decision making and  consultation procedures;
• be involved in the School Performance Appraisal process, to engage in professional development activities so as to enhance personal performance, fulfil personal potential and be able to participate effectively in the implementation of the School’s goals and Development Plan;
• establish individual active links with industry and business in order to extend both student learning and own professional development;
• assess, record and report on the development, progress and attainment of the students assigned to him or her within the School guidelines;
• to be an Academic Tutor to an assigned Tutor Group if required, and to carry out related duties in accordance with the general job description of Tutor; including meeting parents and contacting home when directed to do so by Heads of Year or SLT
• to carry out a share of supervisory duties in accordance with published rotas; this will include break duty and also a lunch duty in return for complementary school dinners
• to participate in appropriate meetings with colleagues and parents;
• Operate relevant equipment/ICT packages (e.g. MS Office, internet, intranet, EduLink, SIMS, Every, E-mail);
• Keep up-to-date knowledge of the range of external agencies and opportunities that can be used to provide extra support for students;
• Support Learning Support Assistants with day to day issues; 
• Participate in the promotion of the Department and School, including Saturday morning Open Days and other Open Evenings, Induction Days and the like, and the attendance at any marketing events as requested by SLT;
• Ensure effective communication with all colleagues (teaching and support staff);
• Undertake such other duties as the Headmaster or member of SLT may require from time to time reasonably require.

Equal Opportunities

Old Swinford Hospital welcomes applications for employment from all sectors of the community.

Suitability to Work with Children

Old Swinford Hospital is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants are required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check.