Junior School Principal Teacher (Kindergarten)

General Information

The High School of Glasgow is a vibrant, caring and high-achieving co-educational day school for pupils between the ages 3-18, which has been part of Glasgow’s story since the 12th century. We aim to create a happy and nurturing community in which each individual is enabled to develop their all-round potential from the academic to sport, the expressive arts and beyond. Our young people are encouraged to develop a sense of responsibility and to pursue excellence in all their activities and opportunities.

Drawing upon our Christian background and being a school community open to all faiths and none, our ethos promotes the importance of positive relationships, seeking to foster an atmosphere of mutual tolerance and support, traditional values and a concern for others. We benefit from excellent resources, modern purpose built accommodation and having our playing fields on campus. High School pupils take a positive and enthusiastic approach to the opportunities before them and demonstrate great fun, creativity and energy in all aspects of their school life. In the end we wish to see them develop into well-rounded, confident, articulate and caring young people who will seek to make a difference in life.

The School was founded at Glasgow Cathedral in the twelfth century, became the Grammar School of Glasgow under the control of the Town Council in the fifteenth century and was renamed the High School of Glasgow in 1834. In 1894 the Glasgow High School for Girls was founded. When education in Glasgow was reorganised in the 1970's, the Glasgow High School for Girls became a comprehensive school and lost its identity and the High School of Glasgow was closed. The new, independent, co-educational High School came into being in 1976 on the day after the closure.

The School is housed on two sites approximately two miles apart on the north side of the city. There are 689 children at the Senior School, 332 at the Junior School and a total of 488 girls and 533 boys. The Rector has overall responsibility for the whole school; there is also a Head Teacher at the Junior School. The modern buildings at the Senior School are set on extensive playing fields at Old Anniesland while the Junior School is situated in Bearsden in buildings which have been modernised and extended.

Junior School Developments have included a special area for pre-school kindergarten, a suite of rooms for Primary 1 and 2 children, refurbished Primary 4 and 5 classrooms and Art room, and at the Senior School a drama studio, a grandstand, containing a refectory and a multi-gym fitness centre, a new Information and Communications Technology building, a new state of the art Science Extension, opened in 2008 as well as refurbished sporting facilities including five rugby pitches and two artificial hockey pitches, the most recent being an international standard water-based pitch as part of our on-site 23 acres of playing fields.

Since 1976, the High School has established itself in a manner that its supporters could barely have expected in the 1970s. Over £12m has been raised through a combination of resources, appeals and individual donations. Very few schools can have received such support from its former pupils, parents and well-wishers and we benefit from a very positive school and club community. Through the High School of Glasgow Educational Trust we are able to support annually between 50 and 60 senior school pupils with bursaries who would not otherwise be able to attend the school.

The High School has established itself as one of the leading independent schools in the country with a high demand for places and an outstanding academic record.

Children who are happy, respected, secure and encouraged will do well, they will thrive. They will be open to getting involved, working hard and making the most of the opportunities and challenges around them. They will be open to doing their best in every circumstance and to developing a sense of responsibility for themselves and for the needs of others and the wider world.

Here at the High School we are firmly wedded to the belief that to nurture the whole child the values and ethos described above must be provided for within an atmosphere of tolerance, care and positive relationships. These values underpin all aspects of our daily life across classrooms, corridors, expressive arts, sport and beyond. They also allow our young people to have the opportunity to experience an all-round rich and supportive learning environment in which they can develop their potential to the full and are encouraged to aspire for excellence in all they do.

The Junior School

The Junior School consists of a one-year Kindergarten, which children join between the ages of 3½ and 4½ and Junior 1 to Junior 6 classes. There are twelve classes, each year being divided into two parallel groups. The Kindergarten, which is the principal entry point to the Junior School, can accommodate just over fifty children in a spacious building designed especially for them. The aim of the Kindergarten is to provide a happy, caring and safe environment in which each child is encouraged to develop according to his or her own ability and level of maturity. The many varied activities are intended to stimulate children, broaden the range of their learning experiences and help them to become confident and enthusiastic learners.

For pupils in Junior 1 to Junior 6, the day begins with Assembly, following a weekly programme that encourages pupil participation and the celebration of success. Our curriculum is based on the principles of Curriculum for Excellence, providing learning experiences through the four contexts and enabling our pupils with the skills to become life-long learners. A sound grounding is provided in the basic skills relating to Numeracy and Mathematics and Literacy and English, however all other areas of the curriculum are taught and with the expertise of specialist teachers in Art, Drama, French, ICT, Music, PE and Support for Learning. Pupils also benefit from working with the Junior School Librarian, we have Classroom Assistants allocated to each stage of the Junior School and a large team of support staff.

There are regular concerts, shows and an extensive programme of extra-curricular activities which has activities running prior to the school day, during lunch times and after school. Pupils in Junior 5 currently participate in a residential visit to York and in Junior 6, the pupils visit Newlands Outdoor Centre. Teachers are expected to give a commitment to the extra-curricular life of the school.

Principal Teacher (Kindergarten)

We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic and inspirational Principal Teacher of Kindergarten on a full time basis, starting in April 2018 or earlier. The successful candidate will be required to be on premises for Kindergarten opening at 8am each day.

This is a most exciting opportunity for an experienced teacher to lead, develop, extend and take forward an already thriving Kindergarten. The Principal Teacher of Kindergarten occupies an important place in the leadership, management and organisation of the pre-5 provision at the High School of Glasgow Junior School. They will be responsible for the efficient performance of certain management and support functions and will report directly to the Head Teacher of the Junior School. The Principal Teacher of Kindergarten will be expected to drive forward policy development in Kindergarten and positively contribute to the ethos of the school.

The successful candidate should have the experience and expertise required to fulfil the job description enclosed. He/she should be prepared to give time and commitment to projects beyond the classroom that would be beneficial to the education of the pupils.

The salary will be based on the national scales with a further 6% added by the Governors of the High School. The successful applicant will be enrolled in the Scottish Teachers’ Superannuation Scheme and the School will pay the employer’s contribution.

Candidates must be registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). The appointment will be subject to a successful application to join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme.

Application forms can be downloaded from the School website: http://www.highschoolofglasgow.co.uk and emailed to adminjs@hsog.co.uk by noon on Friday 2nd February 2018. It is intended that interviews will be held from week beginning 19th February 2018.

Job Description

Main responsibilities, in liaison with Senior Management:

• Day to day management of Kindergarten;
• Management of Quality Assurance and Improvement Planning for Kindergarten;
• Liaison on behalf of Kindergarten with relevant external agencies

Reporting:

The Principal Teacher is responsible to the Head Teacher of the Junior School and the Rector, who has overall responsibility for both the Junior and Senior Schools.

Main Duties:

• To teach in Kindergarten and assess, record and report on the progress of pupils and to provide day to day management of Kindergarten;
• To participate in policy decision making;
• To contribute to the Professional Development of Teachers in Kindergarten;
• To support and encourage members of staff in Kindergarten;
• To assist in maintaining a high standard of behaviour and to help promote a happy and productive atmosphere in the school;
• To carry out assigned administrative tasks;
• To assist in promoting effective links with parents and the local community;
• To keep up to date with current educational developments

Specific Areas of Responsibility:

• In liaison with the Head Teacher of Junior School, to have responsibility for the pre 5 curriculum and matters relating to Kindergarten;
• To develop and work with other members of the Kindergarten team to provide a happy, secure, stimulating and safe environment;
• To be responsible for liaison in connection with pre 5;
• To take responsibility for supporting and monitoring the work of staff in Kindergarten;
• To take responsibility for the pastoral care and welfare of the staff and pupils in Kindergarten;
• To assist with the organisation of special events within Kindergarten;
• To assist with promoting positive behaviour and discipline;
• To select, organise and advise staff on resources for assigned areas of responsibility;
• To be responsible for cover if a member of staff is not available in Kindergarten;
• To ensure the Kindergarten area is an attractive, interesting and stimulating environment;
• To liaise with external agencies e.g. Care Commission and the Local Authority;
• To ensure appropriate transition arrangements for entry and progression from Kindergarten are in place, including the testing of J1 where required;
• To undertake other duties as the Head Teacher may reasonably request.

Person Specification

Criteria

Qualifications - Essential

• As required by GTCS

Qualifications - Desirable

• Post-graduate qualifications
• Involvement in CPD or qualifications relating to Leadership and Management
  
  

Knowledge, Skills and Understanding - Essential

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of pre 5 curriculum /Curriculum for Excellence in learning and teaching, assessment, core skills and transferable skills
• Demonstrate delivery and development of high quality learning, teaching, assessment and reporting
• Demonstrate approaches to self-evaluation to monitor and review aspects of learning and teaching
• Able to take responsibility for pastoral care and welfare of staff and pupils
• Successful partnership working with learners, staff, parents/carers and external agencies to meet the needs of learners
• Can select, organise and advise staff on appropriate resources
• Commitment to the pursuit of excellence in educational standards and quality
• Ability to motivate staff
• Ability to provide leadership and develop leadership in others
• Ability to develop curriculum policy
• Ability to manage change effectively

Knowledge, Skills and Understanding - Desirable

• Evidence of developing the curriculum with creativity and innovation
• Has contirbuted to curriculum or policy development at a wider level e.g. Local Authority or national
• Working knowledge of requirements of external agencies e.g. Care Inspectorate
• Experience of working with a budget
• Evidence of effective management skills
• Experience of delivering staff training and development
• Experience of leading Professional Review and Development of staff
• Experience of policy development
  
  

Previous Experience - Essential

• Experience of contributing to school development planning and policy implementation
• Experience of working in Early Years

Previous Experience - Desirable

• Success in a relevant promoted post
  
  

Other - Essential

• Commitment to the school aims, vision and values
• Evidence of a high level of planning and organisational skills
• Ability to set standards and expectations which challenge and inspire both staff and pupils to high achievement
• Demonstrate strategic thinking and the ability to negotiate

Other - Desirable

• Successful contribution to whole school development