Head of Art(iGCSE/A-level)

Head of Art

Reporting to: Executive Principal, Head of Upper School, Deputy Head – Academic, Director of Whole School Creative Arts, and Chinese Executive Principal and Chinese Assistant Head for Integrated Curriculum.

Line manages: All Art Teachers

Management Group Member: Academic Middle Leaders

Accountability and General 

The Head of Art is accountable to the Executive Principal, through the Director of Whole School Art and the Head of Upper School and Deputy Head - Academic, for the management of the Art Department at Wycombe Abbey School.  The Head of Art will also work with the Chinese Principal’s team regarding the delivery of the Chinese National Curriculum for Art and the associated Integrated Curriculum.  The Head of Art is required to lead, co-ordinate and allocate the work of the Department and to foster departmental morale. The Head of Art is responsible for the effective management of the teaching and support staff of the Department, for establishing and administering the departmental budget, for overseeing good maintenance of departmental equipment, and for the development and provision of the Department’s curriculum. The Head of Art is accountable to the Executive Principal for pupil discipline in their department and for departmental adherence to health and safety procedures as specified by the SLT. 

The Head of Art participates in the school Appraisal/Performance Management Scheme as line manager of departmental members.  The Head of Art is also expected to keep abreast of the latest developments in Art teaching and with curricular issues and debate.

Art at Wycombe Abbey School

An inspiring Art environment means that all pupils at Wycombe Abbey should be exposed to, and have the chance to succeed in, Art. We aim for all pupils to receive a varied and stimulating art experience in the lower grades which may inspire them to follow Art courses for examinations. Pupils following examination courses in Art should have the highest levels of resourcing and support possible.

Authority

The Head of Art has delegated authority for the day-to-day running of the Art Department.

Relationships

The Head of Art works closely with the Head of Upper School, Deputy Head – Academic and the Director of Creative Arts to agree the annual departmental budget, and on matters relating to staff Appraisal/Performance Management and Continuing Staff Development. The Head of Art works closely with the Head of Upper School and Deputy Head – Academic, and the Chinese Principal team on all curricular matters relating to the department as appropriate. The Head of Art works closely with the school’s Examination Officer on necessary paperwork in relation to public examinations and on presentation of candidates.

The Head of Art works closely with the Executive Principal and Chinese Principal on matters of pupil discipline in class. The Head of Art works closely with Wycombe Abbey Lower School teachers on shared teaching interests.  

The Head of Art is expected to work closely with other Heads of Department to co-ordinate cross-departmental teaching strategies. 

The Role – in detail

The Head of Art is a member of the Academic Middle Leaders working closely with the Director of Creative Arts, Head of Upper School and Deputy Head – Academic, and the Chinese Principal Team. Pupils, staff and parents will look to the Head of Art to inspire, lead and challenge. The Head of Art will be able to set positive agenda academically and pastorally. 

The Head of Art is responsible for monitoring and suggesting improvements to the quality of education offered to the pupils in the School through promoting the highest possible standards of education, equality of opportunity, and an environment which is conducive to excellence in learning and teaching in Art. The Head of Art helps sustain good practice, culture and structures to maximise the opportunities and progress expected of pupils and supports teachers by ensuring schemes of work and planning is properly carried out.

The Art teachers are the classroom practitioners ensuring that the curriculum is carried out in practice.  The Head of Art, as line manager of those teachers and chair of their meeting, has a key role in managing and coordinating the teachers and ensuring that the teachers are given regular feedback on their performance. The Head of Art is thus intrinsically involved in the Appraisal/Performance Management System and subsequently Continuing Staff Development. 

The Head of Art is directly responsible for all the external examination results of the department at IGCSE and A Level. The Head of Art is also expected to ensure that Art has a super-curricular profile within the academic landscape of the school. The latter may involve mentoring pupils (or identifying and assisting mentors) within the school’s Sixth Form Academic Enrichment Programme, the provision of a programme of academic speakers and excursions, where relevant. 

The Head of Art is expected to support the Marketing Department in the celebration and promotion of academic successes and initiatives relevant to their department. 

The Head of Art is expected to teach a reduced timetable within an academic department. The Head of Art is expected to make a full contribution to the life of this busy boarding and day school including acting as a tutor. The Head of Art may be required to attend school events in the evening and at weekends. 

Areas of Responsibility

The Head of Art will have the responsibility of ensuring and securing:

- Chinese National Curriculum and Integrated Curriculum progress through Grades 7, 8 and 9

- Best practice in Chinese National Curriculum, Integrated Curriculum and examination curricula

- Performance Management of Staff in Chinese National Curriculum, Integrated Curriculum and examination curricula

- Art & Design IGCSE Examination Results

- Art & Design A Level Examination Results

- Long-term plans, Timelines and Schemes of Work

Department Administration: A. Academic

The Head of Art discharges responsibility for the formulation, monitoring, and revision of courses appropriate to pupils at all stages of the Upper School, and all abilities. The Head of Art is responsible for overseeing the appropriate implementation of whole-school policies within the Art Department and for defining the Art Department policies and strategies, including the setting, monitoring and reviewing of targets.  

When relevant The Head of Art also arranges departmental INSET appropriate to these targets, in conjunction with the Head of Upper School and Deputy Head - Academic. The Head of Art is responsible for encouraging, guiding, and assessing probationary teachers.

The Head of Art organises the setting, production, and marking of internal examinations.  The Head of Art attends to necessary paperwork in relation to public examinations and the presentation of Art & Design candidates.  The Head of Art liaises, in conjunction with the Examination Officer, with external assessors and moderators.

The Head of Art has responsibility for implementing appropriate learning support strategies in the Department for pupils with identified learning difficulties, in conjunction with Head of Upper School and Deputy Head - Academic.

The Head of Art in consultation with the Executive Principal, and Head of Upper School and Deputy Head - Academic, has responsibility for the early identification and nurturing of particularly able pupils in the Department.

The Head of Art in consultation with the Head of Sixth Form coordinates the preparation of UCAS subject references for the Art Department.

The Head of Art co-operates and liaises on curricular matters with teachers at the Lower School and promotes teaching continuity and sharing of resources between the two parts of Wycombe Abbey School.  

The Head of Art liaises with the Head of Upper School and Deputy Head - Academic on the matter of cover for absent members in their department.

The Head of Art has responsibility for maintaining and updating the Departmental Handbook, and for circulating the Handbook contents to other members of the department and of keeping accurate records as required by school policies

Department Administration: B. Fabric and Appearance

The Head of Art is responsible for informing the Operations Department of necessary repairs and maintenance for their department, in consultation with the Head of Upper School and Deputy Head - Academic. The Head of Art is also responsible for enhancing the appearance of their department classrooms with the use of appropriate and stimulating display materials.

Administrative

To keep accurate records as required by school policies.

Safeguarding

The Head of Art is expected to ensure the wellbeing of our pupils is paramount in all matters and to liaise with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) as and when required.

Meetings

The Head of Art attends Heads of Department meetings and plays a full part in the discussion of all matters relating to the academic welfare of the school. 

The Head of Art also holds and records regular departmental meetings. 

The Head of Art will also attend further committees as required and relevant.

The Head of Art has responsibility for coordinating academic department input to academic meetings related to, examination results, assessment and reporting, and subject choices in liaison with the Director of Creative Arts.  This will be under the direction of the Head of Upper School and Deputy Head - Academic.

The Art Department attends Parent - Tutor Conferences and has responsibility for instructing members of the Head of Art teaching staff prior to these meetings.

General 

The Head of Art is expected to undertake any other reasonable duties as assigned by the Executive Principal, Head of Upper School, Deputy Head – Academic, Chinese Principal team or Director of Creative Arts.

Requirements

• International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC) prior to the start of contract.
  
• formal proof of identity with photo ID (Passport).
  
• two signed, confidential references (one of which will be from the candidate’s current headteacher) before the start of contract.
  
• Verification of original qualifications.
  

Benefits

• Basic salary: Negotiable
  
• Accommodation in staff accommodation on the school site in Xiaoshan(No housing allowance）
  
• Annual flight allowance 
  
• About 3-month paid holidays, including winter/summer vacations and all Chinese public holidays(Following the boarding school's calendar).
  
• A tuition waiver of 100% for 1-2 children.
  
• Relocation allowance at the beginning and end of employment
  
• Medical insurance with Cigna (China)
  
• Professional induction training.
  
• Free 3-meals per day including all family members.
  
• Visa support.
  
• Generous support for personal professional development locally, regionally and internationally