Teacher Of Science

Recruitment
23/24

Teacher of Science

Minsthorpe Community College

Welcome
Dear Applicant

Thank you for your interest in Minsthorpe Community
College. We hope that the information contained within
this pack will help you decide if you have the right
qualities, skills, and experience to apply for our vacancy.

Minsthorpe Community College is a very special place.
Between us, we have more than 40 years’ experience
working here. When we became Joint Principals in
April 2019, we wanted to bring to life the vision and
values that we truly believe make this College and its
community the amazing place that it is. At Minsthorpe
Community College our core values of motivation,
commitment and care permeate through everything we
do. They are brought to life in all aspects of our College
life and not just put up on the walls as decoration. Our
vision for Minsthorpe will only ever happen when we
live through these values which we hold dear.

Minsthorpe’s core values are built on our response
to the following question. As a parent, looking for a
school, college, or university for our own children, what
is it that we actually look for in a place? Firstly, we want
a place where our children love to learn; somewhere
where they get up every morning and want to go to,
where they are motivated in all the subjects they study
and where there is a wide range of extra-curricular
activities for them to enjoy. Secondly, we want to find a
place where they will get a world-class education, where
teachers and students are committed to achieving
the very best to move them to the next phase of their
education. Finally, we want a place that will look after
our loved ones. A place where people care for each
other and put an arm around someone if they are in
need. We want to know that there is always an adult
available whenever needed and where children will
make friends that will last a lifetime.

Our vision for Minsthorpe is that every single person
has a part to play in strengthening our learning
community. Students, staff, parents, and governors
all have a crucial role to play each and every day. We
say to our students that we all have different talents
and whether you are an amazing mathematician or
can speak a foreign language, whether you are a great
footballer or a talented tennis player, whether you
love reading, are passionate about the environment
or have an incredible singing voice, everyone has a
part to play here. We are ambitious for our students
to be the best that they can be. We want them to be
motivated to come to College, committed to their
education and to care for each other.

We are seeking to appoint staff who will share
this vision and work with us to make it a reality.
At Minsthorpe, we invest in the recruitment,
development and retention of caring professionals
who are committed to constantly reviewing and
improving the quality of learning, teaching and
support. We expect that staff are motivated to work
collaboratively in setting high expectations for all
students with a relentless focus on student learning
and progress. In return, you will benefit from working
with caring colleagues who will support you in your
role and your personal and professional development.

If you would like to arrange a visit to the college, we
would be more than happy to show you around so
you can get a feel for who we are.

Email enquiries@minsthorpe.cc and we will
arrange a convenient time for you to come and visit
Minsthorpe Community College. We look forward to
hearing from you.

Mr Mark Gilmore/Mrs Rachael Merritt
Joint Principals

Mr Mark Gilmore & Mrs Rachael Merritt
Joint Principals

Vision

Vision & Mission

Staff
At Minsthorpe, we invest in the recruitment,
development and retention of caring professionals
who are committed to constantly reviewing and
improving the quality of learning, teaching and
support. We expect that staff are motivated to work
collaboratively in setting high expectations for all
students with a relentless focus on student learning
and progress.

XXXXXX

Mission

Students
At Minsthorpe, we motivate students through
an engaging curriculum which promotes lifelong
learning. We provide exciting educational
opportunities and an ethos of care, guidance and
support for all. We know that students learn best in a
safe, calm and orderly environment and our rewards
and sanctions support this. We expect that students
are committed to their own learning and progress
and to achieving their future aspirations.

Minsthorpe Community College:
A place where everyone plays a
part in strengthening our learning
community through motivation,
commitment, and care.

Parents and Carers
At Minsthorpe, we value the contribution our caring
parent body makes to their child’s education, as we
work together to motivate and support each student
in reaching their full potential. We want parents
and carers to work with us in ensuring their child is
safe and happy. We expect the full commitment of
parents and carers in ensuring their child attends
regularly and on time; completes home learning;
wears the correct uniform; is fully equipped and
ready to learn and behave the Minsthorpe Way.

Governors
At Minsthorpe, the Governing Body is committed
to challenging the College Leadership to secure
the highest standards of education for the
students of our community. It oversees the
financial performance of the College, ensuring that
budgets are well spent. Governors expect that all
stakeholders work together in the best interests of
the students to motivate and care for each other.

10

Minsthorpe Community College is a large, vibrant, and
inclusive community college with a student body of over 1500
students ranging from 11 to 19 years. We have six primary
schools in our pyramid and are pleased to welcome children
from neighbouring areas.

We have a highly skilled team of teachers and associate
staff that always act in the best interest of the students.
We offer excellent facilities for learning and teaching with
dedicated blocks for each subject area as well as community
dimensions including a sports & fitness centre and a
children’s centre.

Students enjoy a range of extra-curricular and enrichment
opportunities which complement their learning. Minsthorpe
Community College secures great GCSE and Post 16 results
year on year allowing students to progress into higher
education and employment.

Minsthorpe Community College places at the heart of its
development a commitment to high quality professional
development for all staff who join the college. We
understand that by investing in our staff we will create an
organisation with a shared vision and mission. "There is a focused,

purposeful atmosphere
around the school, which is
underpinned by the school’s
vision of motivation,
commitment and care.“

Ofsted, 2023

Why work at
Minsthorpe?

• The opportunity to work in a well-resourced,

• Excellent facilities for learning and teaching with

• Free membership of our state-of-the-art on-site

• Comprehensive induction and on-going

• Excellent care and support for all staff, including

• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme

• Nationally agreed terms and conditions in

As a college we are
committed to provide
the following benefits
for employees:

"Pupils are confident, well-
mannered and eager to
share their opinions. They
work hard in lessons and
are keen to succeed.“

Ofsted, 2023

Learning and
Teaching the
Minsthorpe
Way

Teachers and Student Support colleagues at
Minsthorpe Community College strive to plan and
deliver lessons to a consistently high standard
rooted in fundamental Core Principles of effective
pedagogy. We insist on excellent standards of
behaviour for learning from all students and it is
our daily goal to inspire students to learn & think
critically, challenge & support them to achieve and
make progress and equip them with the necessary
skills to be lifelong learners and effective members
of society.

We have high expectations of all our students
at Minsthorpe Community College and BE FAIR
EVERYWHERE supports students to understand
how we expect them to behave in lessons and
around the College site. Parents are asked to
watch the relevant BE FAIR EVERYWHERE video
with their child to ensure they are clear about our
expectations.

Be Fair Everywhere

Staff address any
misbehaviour,
including low-level
disruption to learning,
appropriately. Pupils
behave well.

Ofsted, 2023

At Minsthorpe Community College our core
values of Motivation, Commitment and Care are
at the heart of everything we do. Our curriculum
intent is to raise the achievements and
aspirations of all learners through the delivery
of a highly personalised, broad, ambitious, and
inclusive curriculum that:

• Deepens students’ understanding and

• Ensures students are literate and numerate

• Enriches students’ learning experiences

• Builds students’ character

• Empowers students to realise their

Curriculum
"Teachers and pupils
are clear about
expectations and
procedures through the
‘Minsthorpe way’ ... As a
result, the school is
calm and orderly.”

Ofsted, 2023

We are an inclusive Post 16 provider and cater for learners at
all levels and have an established reputation for very strong
exam performance, a passion for teaching and learning and
an unwavering focus on helping every student achieve their
best possible goals.

Minsthorpe Post 16 is committed to delivering high quality
teaching which provides challenges and opportunities for
individual learners. Students have the opportunity to be
creative, innovative and enterprising, whilst benefiting
from strong care, support and guidance. The Post 16
team continues to provide our students with support and
motivation to raise their aspirations, succeed in learning and
position themselves for a better future.

We have a well-established ethos of care and support.
Our students and staff enjoy working together as ‘Team
Minsthorpe’ and everyone is committed to ‘Learning and
Behaving the Minsthorpe Way’, because we know this
will deliver the best education for the young people. We
cannot achieve this alone, and we firmly believe in a strong
partnership between the college and everyone within our
community.

"The school has ensured that the
sixth-form curriculum meets
students’ needs and interests ...
This helps sixth-form students to
progress on to higher education,
apprenticeships and
employment.“

Ofsted, 2023

Student
Support

We provide Motivation, Commitment
and Care for students requiring additional
support with the aim of ensuring that they
achieve their best possible outcomes,
transition to Post 16, and have ambitions for
jobs, further education, and careers and that
they can thrive as independently as possible,
depending on their needs.

We are parent and child centred, work in
partnership with stakeholders, and have
open, robust but respectful conversations
with colleagues as we all strive for those best
outcomes. We are a skilled, experienced,
and knowledgeable team and have good
knowledge of the complex education
system and can advise and support families
about appropriate provisions, support and
managing the bureaucratic and legislative
challenges for students with SEND.

Post 16

At Minsthorpe Community College we are
committed to the Continuing Professional
Development (CPD) and learning of all members of
staff at every career stage and level of experience.
We recognise the value of evidence-informed
training with an overall to impact positively on
students’ outcomes and experiences. We are
active partners in many local networks, including
the Wakefield and Selby Teaching School Hub.

Associate
Teams
Our core Associate staff teams consist of
Administration, Finance, IT Services, and Data
& Exams. These teams are based in The Hub,
which is a large open-plan office in the centre of
college, where they are easily accessible to offer
support, advice, and guidance to staff, students
and each other.

Our ongoing Professional Development &
Learning programme is planned and structured
to develop the knowledge and skills of teachers
and student support staff around the Core
Principles of Learning & Teaching whilst giving
them a growing awareness of key elements.
Our Early Career Teachers have full access to
the UCL Early Career Framework and leaders
engage with NPQ programmes to support their
development.

Professional
Development

Our Core Principles of Quality Learning &
Teaching are formed based on a wide range of
experience and expertise within Minsthorpe
Community College but equally through
accessing well-regarded and researched
pedagogical texts. Resultant CPD will draw on
these texts to form the basis of their content
and delivery.

CPD: The
Minsthorpe
Way

Thank you for taking the time to read
this overview of Minsthorpe Community
College. We recommend that you explore
our website to discover more about us:
www.minsthorpe.cc

Catherine Green
Director of HR & Associate Teams
January 2024

Professional
Learning and
Development
Associate Staff

Associate staff engage in whole College
statutory training e.g., Safeguarding but equally
have access to other training pertinent to their
respective roles. The list below is not exhaustive
but gives a flavour of the range of training
opportunities available:

• Access Arrangements training;

• HLTA status

• Apprenticeships

• Team Teach

• Invigilator training

• First Aid

"The curriculum is
ambitious for all pupils ...
Pupils with special
educational needs and/or
disabilities (SEND) are
involved in all aspects of
school life."

Ofsted, 2023

Teacher of
Science MPR/UPR Full time

Permanent
Start Date September 2024

We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and talented
classroom practitioner with the ability to teach Science
across the age and ability range. A Chemist or
Physicist would be desirable, but not essential. The
successful candidate will have an affinity with young
people and be outward thinking in their approach to
teaching and learning with the enthusiasm to further
develop this popular subject. The inspirational
learning and teaching shown by the successful
candidate should encourage students to study at Post
16 and beyond.

Minsthorpe Community College is a place where
everyone plays a part in strengthening our learning
community through Motivation, Commitment and
Care. Our most recent Ofsted report (2023) described
us as a “Good college” who “invests in staff’s
development. This means that staff feel valued and are
proud to work at the school ... Leaders support staff
well and consider their workload and well-being."”

The successful candidate will be:

• A dynamic and energetic practitioner with high

• Passionate about their subject, able to engage

• A team player who will uphold our College values

We provide:

• A well-resourced, forward thinking and

• Additional PPA time.
• Free gym membership
• Excellent care and support for all staff including

opportunities for Professional Development.

The successful candidate will have to meet the
requirements of our Person Specification and be
subject to an enhanced DBS check. A prohibition
from teaching check and an online search will also
be completed for all applicants.

Minsthorpe Community College is committed to
equality of opportunity and upholding the
principles of the Equality Act 2010. We positively
welcome applications from all sections of the
community. Only applications submitted with a
completed Minsthorpe Academy Trust Application
Form will be considered.

Full-time permanent employees are provided with
free membership of our state-of-the-art on-site
Sports & Fitness Centre, as well as the facility of an
‘outstanding’ Children’s Centre.

Further particulars for this post can be obtained
by visiting our Web Site at www.minsthorpe.cc

If you would like to arrange a visit to the college,
we would be more than happy to show you
around so you can get a feel for who we are. Email
enquiries@minsthorpe.cc and we will arrange a
convenient time for you to come and visit
Minsthorpe Community College.

Please send completed application forms to Cath
Green, Director of HR & Associate Teams: -
cgreen@minsthorpe.cc by midday – Monday 18th
March 2024

Job Description
Overall Purpose
of the Post

To carry out the professional duties of a
teacher as circumstances may require and in
accordance with the college’s policies under the
direction of the Principals.

To be an effective professional
who demonstrates thorough curriculum
knowledge, can teach and assess effectively,
take responsibility for professional development
and has students who achieve well.

All adults working in, or on behalf of the college
have a responsibility to safeguard and promote
the welfare of children. This includes:

A responsibility to provide a safe environment in
which children can learn and develop.

Identifying children who may be in need of extra
help or who are suffering or are likely to suffer
significant harm. All staff then have a
responsibility to take appropriate action to
prevent concerns from escalating, working with
services as needed.

Employment
checks required

Proof of eligibility to work in the UK

Proof of relevant qualifications (original certificates)

Two satisfactory references

DBS Enhanced Disclosure check

A Prohibition Order check and on-line search

A medical assessment prior to commencement of
employment.

Key
Accountabilities

To be involved in links as appropriate with
outside groups including feeder schools, higher
education and industry and commerce, in order to
enhance curriculum continuity and enrich the
learning experience.

To assess and mark students work
(classwork, homework etc), Key Stage tests and
Examinations and keep a record of marks in line
with subject and area policy and recording
procedures.

Complete the appropriate documentation in
the Lesson Record Folders.

To supervise the use and care of all teaching
rooms used, and areas used by the subject and
enhance them with appropriate display work.

To supervise the work of any support staff
and supply teachers as required.

To help supervise the work of any technical
staff supporting the area.

To be a Group Tutor of an assigned Group and
to carry out related duties in accordance with the
job responsibilities of a Group Tutor.

To carry out a share of supervisory duties
in accordance with published rotas.

To participate in appropriate meetings
with colleagues, parents and other
outside agencies/persons, relative to the above
duties and responsibilities.

Other duties commensurate with the grade of
the post as directed by the Principal/Line Manager.

To assist in the formulation of the aims
and objectives of the curriculum area within
the overall college aims and objectives.

To contribute to the teaching of the
subject throughout the college, providing a
learning experience which provides students
with the opportunity to achieve their potential.

To contribute to and implement methods
of student assessment, monitoring and
reporting and contribute to raising standards of
student attainment.

To review your own professional
development and maintain professional
standards

To contribute to the development of
appropriate subject syllabuses, materials and
schemes of work which fulfil the requirements of
the national Curriculum and which match the
college and area aims and objectives, taking
into account students’ aptitudes and abilities.

To support other members of the
curriculum area and students as appropriate.

To contribute to an annual review of the
subject and curriculum area and discuss with
Team Leaders/Assistant Leaders future
developments.

Actively participate and contribute to the
general management of the college by:-

maintaining good order and discipline
among students;
safeguarding their health and safety on
the premises and off the premises when
engaged in authorised activities;
contributing to discussions on matters of
college policy, curriculum and organisation.

To play a part as appropriate in
the development, consolidation and evaluation
of cross-curricular developments by close
liaison with other staff.

Duties and
Responsibilities

Person
Specification

Education, Training
and Qualifications

Qualified Teacher Status.

Recognised degree or equivalent in
relevant subject.

Evidence of continuing
professional development.

Experience

Experience and expertise in teaching Science.

Exemplary classroom practitioner.

An awareness of curriculum issues relating
to relevant subject area.

Meeting the needs of students with SEND.

Pastoral work in a school setting.

Commitment to safeguarding and
promoting the welfare of students.

Internal assessment of
controlled assessment/coursework.

Skills and Knowledge

An ability to lead and inspire students of all abilities.

An ability to establish clear expectations
and constructive working relationships amongst
staff and students.

Differentiate teaching so that all students experience
stretch and challenge in lessons.

Evidence of working through sequences of lessons and
developing schemes of work.

Set challenging targets for students and analyse data to
inform teaching.

Proven communication, organisational
and interpersonal skills.

An ability to work effectively as part of a team but also
to be able to work independently.

An ability use ICT in the classroom to create
an inspirational and creative learning environment

Personal Attributes

Confidence, flexibility, and adaptability.

Empathy for students, parents, staff, and
the community.

Good communication skills.

Energy and commitment.

High expectations of students and their behaviour.

Ability to share practice and contribute to subject
decision making.

A commitment to equal opportunities.

Maintains high professional standards.

Enjoy working alongside young people and adults.

Be supportive of the aims and ethos
of Minsthorpe Community College

Overview of
Curriculum Area

Accommodation
The Science Curriculum Area occupies the first floor of a
recent refurbished building. The accommodation comprises
14 teaching laboratories, a large central preparation area with
associated stores, and a curriculum base for staff, Head of
Science office, a small computer room, and a tutorial room
which includes a photographic darkroom. The laboratories
have been designed to a high specification and contain solid
grade laminate furniture, mobile teacher’s desk, a mixture of
white boards and interactive white boards (all labs have an
IWB), display boards, and standard laboratory fixtures.

Staffing
There are currently 11 full time and 6 part time teaching staff.
The Science Team Leaders are Matthew Sutton and Francesca
Hart. There are three staff with Key Stage and subject
responsibilities, additionally we also have a Teaching and
Learning Coordinator. There are two technicians based in the
area. The Science team work very closely together, with a fully
resourced curriculum that we are continually review and
improve. The school values of Motivation Commitment and
Care genuinely feeds throughout the department, we work as
a team to support both staff and students alike.

Curriculum
We teach to a two-week timetable with three double period
lessons each day. Tutors have an additional morning
registration session to deliver key messages and a pastoral
curriculum. The school day finishes at 2.30. Additionally, we
offer year 11 commitment sessions from 2.30 to 3.30 plus a
wealth of extracurricular activities between this time also.

The science team at Minsthorpe are committed to providing a
stimulating, engaging and intellectually challenging learning
environment. Through learning and teaching the ‘Minsthorpe
way’, students establish a firm understanding of practical
science along with a knowledge rich curriculum. We believe
our curriculum allows students to acquire specific skills and
knowledge to help them think scientifically, gaining a deeper
understanding of the scientific process and an understanding
of the uses and implications of Science in the world around
them. We strive to enrich our curriculum with a multitude of
STEM centred clubs, activities, and off-site visits throughout
KS3-5.

In years 7 to 9 all students study Science for 4 periods per
week and follow a course based on the current AQA Key Stage
3 Programme of Study. In years 10 and 11, students follow
the AQA combined science GCSE 9-1 trilogy specification, with
6 lessons per week. At the end of year 9 students can choose
to continue to separate sciences as part of their GCSE options.
This allows for a further 3 additional science lesson per two
weeks.

At Post-16 we offer A-Level Biology, Chemistry and Physics, these are now linear courses and are
taught through year 12-13. All practical work along with the endorsement award is overseen by the
key stage and team leaders. We also offer level 2 and 3 BTEC Applied science. The breadth of our
provision for post-16 learners in science is something we are proud of as a team.

Achievements

The Science Curriculum Area continues to focus on raising standards of achievement for every
student, at all key stages. We have a rigorous approach to monitoring student progress and are
continually looking to improve our own teaching practice using the bespoke packages of CPD on
offer in department and whole school.

Enrichment
As a department we strive to enrich the Science Curriculum as much as possible, through
science lessons and across the College. We run a STEM club every Wednesday after college and
continually promote STEM with activities around school - these range from Engineering
workshops and Robotics at KS3 to external visits at KS4 introducing students to medicine via
local University partners. Post 16 have the opportunity to carryout practical work in a university
laboratory which contributes to their practical endorsement award. Our continued work through
STEM along with the exceptional support from our Careers Lead has enabled Minsthorpe to be
one of the first schools in the region to be awarded the Careers Standard for our CEG.

Culture and Ethos
The Science area is a vibrant place to work, with hard working and supportive staff. We strive to
continue to raise attainment at all key stages and promote science across college. We have high
aspirations, and we are constantly driving to be the best department we possibly can – we are
unapologetically ambitious, always demanding the best Science outcomes for the young people
in our community.

Matthew Sutton & Francesca Hart
Curriculum Team Leaders
Science