F/T Salary based on Sixth Form Colleges’ Pay Scale currently up to £44,256 p.a.
(plus 2023/24 pay award) dependent on skills and experience
Supported by Teachers’ Pensions Scheme pension arrangements

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for the above post, which offers an excellent opportunity to work in a strong department in this highly successful Sixth Form College.  

The College holds Good Ofsted status; Beacon status - one of the first four Sixth Form Colleges in the country to be awarded the latter. Following an external assessment process undertaken through 2020, the College was awarded the highest-level ScienceMark status - Platinum Level, for our science and STEM activities and work.  We are the first Sixth Form College in the country to be awarded the Platinum Award level status.  The College also holds Gold level status ArtsMark.

The post is open to new entrants to the profession (Trainees or ECT’s) as well as experienced teachers. The College has strong induction and staff development programmes, including very good support arrangements for newly qualified, qualifying or trainee staff (please see details of the College Traineeship Scheme). Remission time from timetabled teaching classes is provided for qualifying or trainee staff to support their training and development. 

The Economics and Business Department has a strong team working ethos, is very supportive and excellent schemes of work are in place. A mentor will work with the appointee to support their development. There is also an excellent college wide support and development programme for all new staff.

The successful applicant will be expected to take up the post from 29^th August 2023

Personal Qualities 

A suitably qualified graduate is sought with strong specialist knowledge of A Level Business and/or a related curriculum.  Applicants will either have a PGCE or equivalent teaching qualification, or for a trainee there would be a requirement to undertake a locally based 2-year part time PGCE course from September 2023 alongside ‘on the job’ training with remission time being given. (see attached details)

Applicants should be hardworking, enthusiastic and have a high level of commitment. They should have an interest in new developments and a specific ability and focus in fostering the learning and ensuring the success of 16-19-year-old students. Experienced candidates should be able to evidence excellent levels of value-added achievement and, for Post 16 work, retention levels.  A high level of integrity is required.  

Strong IT skills are required, including the ability to use Microsoft Teams and a range of learning technologies. Flexibility in this regard is increasingly important.

Responsibilities of Post Holder

The duties of the post will include the following:

1. Teaching A level Business and a second subject (e.g. A Level Economics or ICT or A Level Geography).  The teaching duties involve all those constituent duties expected of a professional teacher, such as preparation of work in line with departmental schemes of work incorporating the requirements of relevant specifications, counselling and assessing students and keeping up to date in the subject area including undertaking appropriate INSET.   

2. Working with and being responsible to the Head of Department and the specific Heads of Subject for the specific subject course areas with respect to those matters concerning the delivery of the departmental courses and other arrangements.

3. Generally participating in departmental matters, such as meetings and the work of the department, educational initiatives, curriculum development and developing resources.

4. Assume the role of Personal Tutor (see Pastoral section)

Nature of the Department and Courses Offered

The Economics and Business Studies Department currently has sixteen members of teaching staff. 

Departmental provision for the 2023/24 academic year includes:

Arising from recent Government announcements relating to their 16-18 qualifications reform (‘de-funding’) plans the offering of the AG Applied Business course will be discontinued from the 2024/25 academic year  

The Department’s results have been consistently strong including strong levels of value-added achievement and student retention. Very positive student feedback has been received. 

There are links with local industry and visits are part of the programme of opportunities available for students.   The department encourages the use of a variety of teaching methods and there is strong support for those wishing to develop new approaches. Progression to related subjects at university is high and we encourage students to find apprenticeships.

More information regarding each of the specific courses can be found in the Course Information Sheets which can be located via the Courses tab on the College website home Link. Information is also available on the College YouTube site relating to courses and guidance for prospective students. YouTube Link

Facilities 

Excellent teaching facilities are available with each department having its own self-contained suite of rooms, with projectors or interactive whiteboard facilities.  Departments are well resourced with a wide range of textbooks and support materials both within the classrooms and the College intranet.  There are good IT and internet facilities within the College including the provision of the ‘Moodle’ Virtual Learning Environment in which the department is fully actively involved.

Pastoral

All qualified and experienced full-time teaching staff are expected to fulfil both an academic teaching role and a pastoral role in the College and act as a Personal Tutor to a group of students.  This involves providing guidance, first level safeguarding and pastoral support, monitoring, target setting and encouraging progress, contact with parents, writing reports, compiling student references. Personal Tutors deliver the Tutorial Programme, which includes relationships and sex education, mental health awareness, study skills and progression guidance as part of a wide and varied personal development curriculum.

A firm commitment to this aspect of teaching in a sixth form college is essential.  It is likely that this role will be assumed in the first year of appointment for experienced staff and would apply from the second year for staff new to the profession.

Wider Contribution

Full time College teaching staff may also have opportunities to contribute to the EPQ Programme or the Additional Studies programme in College.   This is very wide ranging and can often enable staff to contribute particular skills and interests where they meet College needs.  There is always scope for extra-curricular contributions. Applicants should indicate if they have particular interests and this would be discussed at the time of interview.

Remuneration Package

Annual salary for a qualified teacher will be in accordance with Sixth Form Colleges’ Teachers Pay Scale, which from appointment for a full-time post currently involves a salary of up to £44,256 p.a. (plus 2023/24 pay award). Sixth Form College sector conditions of service apply which are very similar to schools’ sector arrangements. Salaries are reviewed by national negotiation with effect from 1^st September each year Progression through the Teachers pay scale is subject to acceptable annual performance appraisal. Alternatively, if applying for a Trainee role, please see information regarding the College Traineeship Scheme.

Teaching staff are also eligible to join the national Teacher’s Pensions Scheme, which the College continues to offer.

A Cycle to Work salary sacrifice scheme is also available to all College staff. 

To apply, a College application form (please see link at top left of this page) must be completed and submitted to humanresources@colchsfc.ac.uk (unaccompanied CV’s or third-party application forms will not be accepted).  Please note that our interview process will require that you attend the College in person as we do not offer a remote interview process.

Closing Date: 12 noon Monday 17^th April 2023