Head of Languages (Maternity Cover)

Brighton College Prep School is seeking a Head of Languages (Maternity Cover) to start in August 2024, for up to one year.

Specific duties:

• To pro-actively lead and direct the teaching and learning throughout the Languages department from Year 4 to 8, including the scholarship curriculum.
• To teach French and Spanish lessons.
• To manage the teaching of language lessons in accordance with whole school expectations and policies.
• To inspire pupils from Year 4 to Year 8 in the learning of Languages and to prepare them for Common Entrance and Scholarship examinations.
• To be aware of and implement, relevant national and ISEB curriculum developments.
• To ensure that all teaching, marking, assessment and reporting on pupil progress and attainment in all taught languages is consistent across the department and follows whole-school expectations and policies.
• To ensure best possible practice within the department and evaluate its effectiveness in the teaching of French and languages.
• To liaise with both parents and the Deputy Head (Academic) on departmental curriculum matters and manage ‘setting’ where appropriate.
• To make use of standardised tests (where appropriate) and to maintain detailed records of pupils for the department including those which monitor the progress of individual pupils and colleagues of the subject.
• To prepare and update a handbook for the department which contains, but is not limited to: Aims and objectives, staffing, resources, classroom organisation and practice, content of dept. meetings, schemes of work, BCEE/CE syllabus (where appropriate), principles of assessment, marking policy, homework, spelling, presentation, extra-curricular activities and the yearly development plan.
• To contribute to the school development plan.
• To work towards a successful subject review.
• To contribute to the program of activities available for ‘very able’ children.
• To supervise and observe teaching of French and languages across all year groups.
• To submit and control a departmental budget covering the ordering and restocking of text books, stationery and all consumables.
• To provide regular input to the IT platforms used by the school, including Firefly, the Parent Portal and the website.
• To hold a minimum of three departmental meetings per year and produce minutes, encouraging colleagues to play an active role in planning and review. 
• To liaise with the languages specialists at the Nursery & Pre-Prep and the Head of Departments at the College. 
• To attend the annual ‘Area III’ curriculum meeting, producing feedback and to attend appropriate and regular inset for CPD. 
• To delegate tasks within the department as required. 
• To complete the reporting cycle for all pupils being taught, including interims, reports and attendance at Parents’ Evenings as required. 
• To celebrate pupils’ work through displays throughout the department and across the school. 
• To promote digital learning via the effective use of ICT when teaching. 
• To create and maintain effective partnerships with relevant staff and with parents to support and improve pupils’ achievements and personal development. 
• To liaise with colleagues in order to maximise opportunities for cross-curricular teaching. 
• To prepare and encourage pupils to achieve success in any national, subject related events. 
• To provide relevant materials for display on Open Mornings and parent evenings.
• To provide an activity for the Year 8 post CE programme.

Additional responsibilities:

• To participate fully in the wider life of the school, including the possible teaching of games or the requirement to be a form tutor (Year 6 to Year 8)
• To attend relevant weekly meetings.
• To supervise pupils on school trips and visits, as required.
• To attend Admissions related events, including Open Mornings.