part-time position from late August 2011

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

The post

This role represents an excellent opportunity for a dedicated teacher of Physics to teach a timetable comprising their specialist subject at International Baccalaureate level. Class size is a maximum of 12 for IB Physics (due to lab size) 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 Physics on International Baccalaureate courses. All IB students (about 240 students) must take a Group 4 i.e. Sciences subject. All Pre-IB students (30-40 students) take a Science course comprising of modules of Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Environmental Systems usually taught by subject specialists.

It is expected that the successful candidate would teach 9 or 10 hours of Physics. A full timetable at St. Clare's comprises 21 hours, so this is a substantial part-time post.

Physics at St. Clare's

Higher level IB Physics is approximately equivalent to A2 level. Standard level is in between A2 level and (I)GCSE. Higher level classes have 4 hours/week of teaching, while Standard level classes have 3 hours per week in IB1 and 2.5 hours per week in IB2.

Pre-IB Physics classes have 4 hours per week. Pre-IB Physics would be similar in standard to (I)GCSE single or double award Science.

There are usually up to 12 students in each IB Physics class and up to 12 in Pre-IB Physics class. Science classes are a compulsory part of the Pre-IB programme. IB Physics is a very popular option with approximately 30 students choosing it each year. The IB Physics results are excellent.

Sciences are an integral part of the IB programme. All IB students must take at least one Science subject, though many opt to take two. Physics, Chemistry and Biology are all offered at both Higher and Standard level. Astronomy is offered at Standard level only. Ecosystems and Societies (a transdisciplinary subject) is offered at Standard level either as a Science or as an Individuals and Societies subject.

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 currently enrolled on the Pre-IB programme.

There are up to 12 students in Pre-IB Science classes. Pre-IB Science is taught on a modular basis and includes Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Environmental Systems modules. Pre-IB Science classes have 4 hours per week. Pre-IB Biology would be similar in standard to (I)GCSE single or double award Science. The syllabi for the Pre-IB courses are designed by St. Clare's teachers, so there is considerable scope for creative course design.

Science is also offered as part of the St. Clare's IB Institute, a programme of Easter and summer IB revision and IB 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.

Information on subject content can be found at http://www.stclares.ac.uk/ib/ibsubjects

Science department

Currently there are seven teaching members of the department, including the Head of Department. There are also two science laboratory technicians.

There are 4 laboratories for Science teaching: one each for Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Environmental Systems and Societies. The labs are small (as are our class sizes) but well equipped. In addition there are two Science prep rooms. All laboratories are equipped with ceiling-mounted digital projectors.

Both the Chemistry and Environmental Systems and Societies laboratories have recently been refurbished to a high standard, while the Physics lab will be refurbished before the end of this academic year.

The person

Essential requirements

• degree and PGCE (or equivalent)
• experience of teaching your subject to IB level, A2 level or equivalent
• an excellent and innovative classroom practitioner
• willingness to contribute to the life of a busy boarding school
• efficiency and flexibility

Desirable

• ability to offer another 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 (currently £34.19 per hour) based on the number of hours taught. Salary is subject to income tax and National Insurance deductions.

The academic year for IB and Pre-IB teaching is 35 weeks from late August until mid-June (with appropriate breaks that are largely synchronised with local schools).

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.

Professional development – there is a generous professional development budget to allow teachers to keep up to date with educational developments and improve their classroom practice.

Pension - The teacher may be entitled to join the Teachers' Pension Scheme. The teacher's contribution is 6.4% of pensionable salary, but the percentage is subject to review from time to time.

Life Assurance - If the teacher is a member of the Teachers' Pension Scheme the cover is three times the average salary less any lump sum benefits already paid. The College also provides additional cover of one times the average salary.

References and checks

All offers of employment and contracts are issued subject to satisfactory references and satisfactory outcomes on completion of all necessary checks, including criminal records and establishing the right to work in the UK. In some cases some or all of these checks will have been undertaken before an offer is made. Taking up employment will be subject to the satisfactory completion of all necessary procedures.

Under the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools, we are required to undertake additional checks on all employees.

Full written references, and phone references on quoted referees, including current employer, may be obtained before or after interview. You should indicate specifically if you wish St. Clare's to refrain from contacting your current employer.

Police checks / Criminal Records Bureau checks will also be undertaken, for which employees / prospective employees are required to provide information and consent. A Certificate of Good Conduct from the country you have been working is essential if you have been working overseas.

Contact with all previous employers where the employee has worked with children or vulnerable adults is also required. This is to establish the reason for leaving the position. On occasions, further information and a reference may be sought in writing, by phone or by other means. By providing details of previous employment, it is assumed that the employee/prospective employee has given consent for this contact, and no specific consent of the employee / prospective employee will be sought.

Satisfactory completion of a health questionnaire.

The College reserves the right to contact any previous employer and to make any additional enquiries it considers necessary in order to meet its responsibilities in relation to employment of people working with students who are under the age of 18.

Further enquiries and applications

Please apply by detailed letter enclosing

• 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. Please (i) explain any gaps in employment and (ii) indicate 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). Note that we reserve the right to contact any of your previous employers

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

Closing date for applications: 10 June 2011
Interviews will take place at St. Clare's, Oxford during the week starting 13 June 2011. Please note that CVs without a suitable accompanying letter and/or details of referees with be discarded.