St. Clare's, Oxford - Job vacancies - part-time teacher of History

with a focus on 20th Century History
from late August 2008

Please read in conjunction with Notes for applicants and Additional information for teachers of IB courses.

This role represents an excellent opportunity for a dedicated teacher of History to teach their specialist subject at International Baccalaureate level and Pre-IB level. Class size is a maximum of 15 and the students are invariably well-behaved and keen to learn. These are optimal conditions for a teacher to plan and deliver excellent lessons in a supportive and collegial environment.

This post is for a part-time teacher of History on International Baccalaureate and Preparatory IB courses. All IB students (about 230 students) must take a Group 3 i.e. Social Studies subject. All Pre-IB students take a Humanities course.

The teacher would be expected to take a SL (standard level) class at IB level as well as contribute to teaching on the Pre-IB course. SL IB History focuses upon 20th Century Wars, 20th Dictatorships, and the Cold War. PIB History focuses upon the Arab-Israeli Conflict since the First World War, South Africa since 1948, and Northern Ireland since 1969.We mainly concentrate upon political, military, social, and economic aspects of the past.

The Pre-IB course is a College-devised programme which offers up to one year of preparation in academic subjects and English language (as necessary) to students not yet ready to begin the IB programme. While some students come for the whole year, others join the programme for one or two terms. We also accept a number of students, principally from Brazil, who are taking a study break from their own schools, to which they will return to complete secondary education. Up to 40 students are enrolled on this programme. The Humanities part of the Pre-IB course is comprised of modules of History, Geography and Economics/Business.

The Social Studies department currently offers the following subjects at IB:

History HL and SL
Geography HL and SL
Economics HL and SL
Business and Management HL
Psychology HL
World Politics SL

In addition, Ecosystems and Societies is offered as a transdisciplinary subject (either a science or a humanities course), but at Standard Level only.

These subjects are also offered as part of the IB Institute, a programme of Easter and summer revision and preparation courses for students from all over the world. While teaching on this programme is not required, there are openings for members of the department to undertake this.

Some information on subject content can be found at here

Social Studies department

Currently there are eight members of the Social Studies department, including two joint heads of department. There are two teachers of History (one full-time), two full-time teachers of Business and Management and Economics as well as a part-time teacher of this subject, two full-time teachers of Geography (both of whom also teach Ecosystems and Societies) and a part-time teacher of Psychology.

Economics / Business & Management subjects are taught in a group of well-appointed classrooms in a dedicated building. Each is equipped with a whiteboard, television with video player and DVD player and ceiling mounted digital projector.

The person

Essential requirements:

degree in History
ability to teach your subject to IB level, A2 level or equivalent
an excellent and innovative classroom practitioner
efficiency and flexibility

Desirable:

PGCE (or equivalent)
ability to offer another Social Studies subject to IB and/or Pre-IB level
experience of working in an international environment
experience of working with students of different language / educational backgrounds

Terms and conditions

Salaries for full-time teachers are based on the St. Clare's pay scale (in excess of the main professional scale for maintained schools), according to qualifications and experience. For part-time posts, the salary will be hourly paid. Current rates are £31.75 for classes i.e. 5 or more students and £26.99 for tutorials i.e. 4 or fewer students. Salary is subject to income tax and National Insurance deductions.

The academic year for IB teaching is 35 weeks from the start of September until mid-June (with appropriate breaks that are largely synchronised with local schools). The successful candidate would be expected to teach throughout these weeks. It is highly desirable if s/he could also attend relevant meetings before and after the academic year as well as on occasional Wednesday afternoons.

Classes are timetabled between 09:00 and 16:15, Monday to Friday. Teachers are provided with free lunch in the dining room or café on working days.

Further enquiries and applications

Please apply by sending:

a detailed letter explaining how you would be particularly suited to this position
a full CV to include a full employment history with names, addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers of all previous employers where you have worked with students aged under 18
details of three referees to include addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers (please ensure they know they may be contacted and will respond promptly)

to Tom Walsh, Vice Principal
St. Clare's, Oxford, 139 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7AL
Tel: +44 (0)1865 517368
Fax: +44 (0)1865 310002
Email: recruitment@stclares.ac.uk

Closing date for applications: 11 June 2008

Appointments will be subject to CRB check and satisfactory references.