Additional information for teachers on pre-university courses

(International Baccalaureate Diploma and Pre-IB)

The academic programmes

St. Clare’s has a strong pre-university programme, based on the International Baccaluareta Diploma. Initially introduced alongside A levels in 1977, for many years the College has taught the IB Diploma as its only university entrance qualification. With over 200 students in the two IB Diploma years, the College’s IB programme is one of the largest and best established among the 1000+ IB schools and colleges world-wide.

St. Clare’s offers a wide range of subjects in the IB Diploma, including over 20 native languages, and minority subjects such as Theatre Arts, Music and Environmental Systems. Many staff are IB examiners, workshop leaders or participate in curriculum development. The College is an active member of IBSCA, the UK IB Schools and Colleges Association, and in June 2000 hosted the first student conference for UK-based IB students. We shall be holding another conference in June of this year, with Professor Richard Dawkins as keynote speaker, and intend that this should become a regular feature.

Almost all IB students proceed to university, the largest group to UK universities, and smaller numbers to the USA.

The Pre-IB programme prepares students for the IB programme, or provides a study break for students who will return to their own countries to complete secondary education. The programme is flexible, depending upon the linguistic needs of students, but includes English language plus other subjects studied in English, in varying proportions. The principal subject studies are General Science and Humanities. These concentrate on skill development, and are also essential vehicles for practice and development of English language. Increasing proportions of students on this programme are Chinese, and plans are in preparation for catering better for the distinctive needs of these students.

(The College also offers a one-year University Foundation Course. This is taught at the Academy site for adults, and combines elements of the adult English language course and Liberal Arts. This is separately staffed).

Residential provision

The College welcomes both residential and day students, and is making particular efforts to increase the numbers of local British students. However, currently, the majority of students are residential, with weekly/flexible boarding recently introduced. Unlike many residential establishments, teachers do not have residential duties. However, it is essential that teachers at St. Clare’s become aware of the 24 hours a day, 7 days a week provision that is offered.

Pre-university students are cared for in their houses by house wardens. Appointments to these posts are not necessarily linked with appointments to other posts in the College, and a number of wardens hold the post as their only College appointment. However, we are always pleased to be able to engage teachers as wardens, on appointment, if vacancies exist, or subsequently.

Activities

The College has extensive activities provision, with a department of four full-time and two part-time activities teachers. There are also many visiting teachers/coaches.

All full-time and substantial part-time teachers are expected to make a contribution to extra-curricular activities, by arranging and engaging in at least 36 hours per year for full-time teachers, although many teachers will do considerably more than this. The contribution can take the form of academic-related activities (e.g. an academic society, or weekend trips to museums), or be part of the general activities programme (e.g. sports coaching, leading International Affairs discussions, leading a service project).

Aspects of activities that are receiving particular attention currently are outdoor education and service projects. The College established an educational fund-raising project for Tanzanian primary school in 2000, and undertakes a number of regular local service projects, such as visiting refugees in a nearby detention centre.

Pastoral care - Personal tutors

Each student is assigned a personal tutor, who is responsible for general oversight of a student’s welfare and progress - academic, social, personal etc. Personal tutors meet with each student individually each week. They also meet together to discuss general matters. Collectively, they plan and deliver a programme of personal, social and health education. The work of personal tutors is co-ordinated by the Dean of Students. Personal tutors are appointed to their posts separately, i.e. it is not a requirement that teachers become personal tutors. Personal tutors include not only teachers, but also wardens, the librarian, and, on occasions, other staff. An additional allowance is paid to personal tutors.

Management

The Pre-university courses are overseen by the Pre-University Management Group (PUMG), which consists of the Principal, Vice-Principal, Assistant Principal, Director of Studies and Dean of Students. The Director of Studies (who is also IB Diploma Co-ordinator) and Dean of Students work exclusively on the pre-university programmes, while the Principal, Vice-Principal and Assistant Principal have whole organisation responsibilities. The PUMG determines overall direction and policy for the programmes. Subject teachers are members of academic departments, grouped to form 7 major departments (English A, English as a second language, Modern languages, Social Studies, Science, Mathematics, and Arts). The Academic Steering Group, on which heads of these departments serve, oversees academic matters. Personal Tutors, meeting regularly, advise/decide upon more general aspects of welfare and provision. House wardens also meet regularly.

Management of St. Clare’s is complex, and we increasingly look to teachers to contribute to College development by joining working parties and being prepared to propose and take the lead in certain new initiatives.

The IB Summer Institute

Summer 2002 sees the launch of our new IB Summer Institute. This offers a range of IB revision and preparatory courses for students, as well as study opportunities for teachers. This will be open to IB students and teachers from all IB schools. It extends and develops from our more limited programme of courses offered for many years.

Life as a teacher at St. Clare’s

St. Clare’s provides near ideal conditions for academic teachers. Small classes, generally well motivated students aged 16-20, with small teaching groups, able and pleasant colleagues and good facilities make the place a very congenial workplace. Internationalism is a strong element of the College, and we take our mission of promoting international education and understanding seriously. We are also deliberately broadening the role of full-time and major part-time teachers, as part of more deliberate consideration of the 7 day a week, 24 hour a day residential life of students. We are looking for people who are interested in significant involvement outside the classroom, through activities, involvement in College thinking and development, and, perhaps, taking on additional, paid responsibilities as a personal tutor or warden. We like to think St. Clare’s is a stimulating place to work. Teachers work hard, but generally seem to enjoy the work. Perhaps that’s why staff turnover is so low. (At one time, the average length of service of full-time teachers was increasing by one year every year). This is not to say that there are no frustrations. We inhabit a series of buildings erected about 100 years ago as family homes. These do not always make ideal teaching spaces for 21st century teaching. Space is at a premium.

Professional development is both expected and actively encouraged, and we have a scheme for two-year leave of absence for permanent teachers who wish to teach on a short-term contract elsewhere. We also wish to encourage teachers to develop research or other interests, contributing to personal professional development, and thinking and practice in international education.

The academic year

Three terms: Late August – mid-December Early January – Easter Easter to mid-June New teachers are expected to attend a short induction programme in mid-August. Oxford Oxford is a supremely civilised city, with beautiful architecture, a relatively small population (around 120,000), and a disproportionate number of students (some 30,000 of the total population). There are two universities, and many independent and other colleges. The cultural life is varied and extensive: excellent theatres, concerts, cinema, restaurants, bookshops etc. Nightlife is not too bad, with good late cafes and some interesting live music places and clubs. It is also very easy to get to London. Train and bus services are excellent (1 –1 ½ hours) making travelling to London for a day, or for an evening concert or theatre trip quite straightforward. The city centre is small and easily manageable on foot, or bike. Within the city boundaries are large open areas, including two rivers (for punting, rowing etc), a canal, College gardens and grounds, and fields. Property in Oxford is expensive – to buy or rent. The cheapest houses within Oxford city are around £160,000. Renting a two bedroom flat starts at around £650 per month. If you can afford to buy in Oxford, you will be sitting on an appreciating asset (barring a UK property crash – not expected), which means that you will be well placed to buy anywhere else in Britain. But you are likely to need a substantial deposit. Houses outside Oxford itself can be cheaper, but in general, property in this region of England is expensive. St. Clare’s does not provide accommodation for teachers, unless they are also wardens. However, we are aware that getting accommodation sorted out may well be problematical for new members of staff, and we are prepared to consider ways to help.

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