JOB DESCRIPTION: Classroom Teacher

Strategic Purpose:

• To exemplify excellent classroom practice that results in high standards of learning and achievement for the students in your care
• To support the Senior Leadership Team in establishing a culture that promotes excellence, equality and high expectations of all students and the LEAD Trust values
• To ensure that your professional practice is informed by rigorous self-evaluation and that it continuously improves learning and pastoral outcomes
• To ensure that you provide a safe and happy environment that promotes the welfare of children
• To ensure all safeguarding and child protection policies are adhered to

Core Responsibilities:

Teaching and Learning

• Set high expectations which inspire, motivate and challenge students
• Establish a safe and stimulating environment for students, rooted in mutual respect
• Set goals that stretch and challenge students of all backgrounds, abilities and dispositions
• Demonstrate consistently the positive attitudes, values and behaviour which are expected of students

Promote good progress and outcomes 

• Be accountable for students’ attainment, progress and outcomes
• Be aware of students’ capabilities and their prior knowledge, and plan teaching to build on these
• Guide students to reflect on the progress they have made and their emerging needs
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how children learn and how this impacts on teaching
• Encourage students to take a responsible and conscientious attitude to their own work and study
• Encourage students to develop study skills in order to learn more effectively and with increasing independence

Demonstrate good subject and curriculum knowledge

• Have a secure knowledge of the curriculum, foster and maintain students’ interest in
  the subject, and address students misconceptions
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of developments in the curriculum, and promote the value of scholarship
• Demonstrate an understanding of and take responsibility for promoting high standards of literacy, articulacy and the correct use of standard English in all work produced
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of appropriate teaching strategies for literacy

Plan and teach well-structured lessons

• Impart knowledge and develop understanding through effective use of lesson time
• Promote a love of learning and children’s intellectual curiosity
• Set homework and plan other out-of-class activities to consolidate and extend the knowledge and understanding students have acquired
• Reflect systematically on the effectiveness of lessons and approaches to teaching
• Contribute to the design and provision of an engaging curriculum within the relevant subject area(s)

Adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all students

• Know when and how to differentiate appropriately
• Understand how a range of factors can inhibit students’ ability to learn, apply this understanding to overcome these restrictions to learning
• Demonstrate an awareness of the physical, social and intellectual development of children, and know how to adapt teaching to support students’ education at different stages
• Have a clear understanding of the needs of all students, including those with special educational needs; those of high ability; those with English as an additional language; those with disabilities; and be able to use and evaluate distinctive teaching approaches to engage and support them

Make accurate and productive use of assessment

• Know and understand how to assess the relevant subject and curriculum areas, including statutory assessment requirements
• Make use of formative and summative assessment to secure students’ progress
• Use relevant data to monitor progress, set targets, and plan subsequent lessons
• Give students regular feedback, both orally and through accurate marking, and encourage students to respond to the feedback

Behaviour and Safety

• Manage behaviour effectively to ensure a purposeful, stimulating and safe learning environment
• Have clear rules and routines for behaviour in classrooms, and take responsibility for promoting good and courteous behaviour both in classrooms and around the site, in accordance with the academy’s behaviour policy
• Have high expectations of behaviour, and establish a framework for discipline with a range of strategies, using praise, sanctions and rewards consistently and fairly
• Manage classes effectively, using approaches which are appropriate to students’ needs in order to involve and motivate them
• Maintain good relationships with students, exercise appropriate authority, and act decisively when necessary
• Carry out break and lunch /bus supervision and other duties as directed and within the remit of the current School teachers’ pay and Conditions Document
• Promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people within the academy, raising any concerns by following the academy safeguarding policies and procedures

Fulfil wider professional responsibilities

• Make a positive contribution to the wider life and ethos of the academy
• Develop effective and collaborative professional relationships with colleagues, drawing appropriately on advice and specialist support
• Deploy support staff effectively
• Ensure that parents/carers and students are well informed about the curriculum, attainment and progress and about the contribution they can make in supporting their child’s learning and well being
• Provide the senior leadership team on request accurate, timely and coherent information about class, group or individual student progress and attainment in order to inform regular academy development planning
• Carry out any such duties as may be reasonably required by the Headteacher

Team working and collaboration

• Participate in any relevant meetings/professional development opportunities which relate to the learners, curriculum or organisation of the academy including pastoral arrangements and assemblies
• Work as a team member and identify opportunities for working with colleagues and sharing the development of effective practice with them
• Contribute to the selection and professional development of other teachers and support staff including the induction and assessment of new teachers, teachers serving induction periods and where appropriate threshold assessments
• Ensure that colleagues working with you are appropriately involved in supporting learning and understand the roles they are expected to fulfil
• Take part as required in the review, development and management of the activities relating to the curriculum, organisation and pastoral functions of the academy
• Cover for absent colleagues within the remit of the current School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions document

Administration

• Register the attendance of and supervise learners, before, during or after sessions as appropriate
• Participate in and carry out any administrative and organisational tasks within the remit of the current School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document

Professional Development

• Regularly review the effectiveness of your teaching and assessment procedures and its impact on students’ progress, attainment and wellbeing, refining your approaches where necessary and responding to advice and feedback from colleagues
• Be responsible for improving your teaching through participating fully in training and development opportunities identified by the school or as developed as an outcome of your performance management

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the post-holder may be required to undertake other duties which are broadly in line with above key responsibilities.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and individually take responsibility for doing so.

This job description is current at the date shown, but in consultation with you may be changed to reflect or anticipate changes in the job, commensurate with the grade and job title. This includes changes to National Teacher Standards and requirements of the professional role.

At L.E.A.D. we have a strong vision and four core principles, to lead, empower, achieve and drive, which you will be expected to demonstrate in your working practices.

Please download the candidate pack for full details on this role