Head Of Biology

Role: Head of Biology

Start: May or September 2024

Reports to: Head of Science

Salary: MPS £35,368 – £47,152 / UPS £49,498 – £53,230 + TLR 2B

We are an outstanding new school in High Barnet and we are expanding our science team as we progress into our sixth year. We are looking for an exceptional biologist keen to take on the opportunity of planning, developing and overseeing our Key Stage 5 offer.

What is special about this role?

You will join a committed and passionate team in a school where pupils love science and have made strong progress in Key Stage 3 and 4, with a high take up of triple science. Our fully equipped labs, based on the second floor of our new build, support a rich practical curriculum. We have extensive enrichment and extra-curricular opportunities from the British Biology Challenge to Eco-Schools clubs to Ethics in Science. This is an exciting time to join as we welcome our founding pupils into our Sixth Form!

Who are we looking for?

Across school life, we embed high aspirations and a growth mindset in all of our children. We believe that every single child who joins us has the potential to be knowledgeable, articulate and successful. It’s important this resonates with all candidates. Equally important is subject expertise, which is critical to support strong curriculum planning and implementation. Read more about this role and our ideal candidate in our Job description & Person specification doc via our website arkpioneer.org/vacancies.

We will provide development and support for teachers new to leadership roles, ready to step up to curriculum oversight.

Why will you love our school?

There are lots of reasons! We’re lucky to be based in a brand-new building with top class facilities. We serve a wonderfully diverse community – we are non-denominational, mixed gender and two fifths of our pupils receive pupil premium funding. We’re led by our values – Aim High, Have Integrity, Be Kind and Model Determination and our team truly unite behind our vision. Curriculum is incredibly important to us and we’ve planned backwards from university readiness to give our pupils the very best in every subject discipline. We timetable collaborative planning and love to engage in ‘productive struggle’. Every team member is supported with coaching and tailored professional development, whatever stage they are at in their career. Our extended school day (we finish at 4 four days a week and earlier on Wednesday) allows us to offer a broad, rich curriculum and timetabled enrichment for every child – but we never have meetings after school. Our team say: ‘All staff are incredibly supportive and positive, and it is a great environment to work in’. Read more about our school & our recent Ofsted report on our website arkpioneer.org

What are the benefits of working with Ark?

We are lucky to be part of the Ark network of schools, and to build on the successes of numerous exceptional start-up schools in our North London region. Ark offers bespoke professional development to all team members and the opportunity to plan and moderate with colleagues in the same discipline, beyond our own school gates. Joining our network opens a breadth of opportunities – many of our team have taken on leadership roles progressing from one of our sister schools. Ark employees have benefits beyond the classroom including everything from shopping discounts to a supportive and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme. In short, you won’t find a better network of schools to join! Read more about Ark at arkonline.org

Would you like to find out more?

If you’d like to speak to our principal confidentially about the role and/or arrange a visit let Chloe c.conces@arkpioneer.org know. We will be hosting a number of ‘Joining Team Pioneer’ events in January and February where you come in and see our school for yourself, book via the vacancies page on our website arkpioneer.org/vacancies

Safeguarding

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment – this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, visit arkonline.org/sites/default/files/Ark_safe_recruitment.pdf