Head of Math(iGCSE/A-level)

Wycombe Abbey School Hangzhou (WAISHZ) is situated in Xiaoshan District, south the center of Hangzhou. The site itself comprises two schools, a Lower School and an Upper School, providing exceptional education for students from EY through to Year 13 (Grade 12). Heads of Department will be expected to develop exceptional working relations with the leadership of the Lower School and the Upper School. This is a unique opportunity to gain experience in a start-up school, with WAISHZ opening in August 2021.

Wycombe Abbey School Hangzhou will be established as a private school enabling local Chinese nationals to enjoy the benefits of a Wycombe Abbey School education.  The majority of the student body will be Chinese nationals studying a unique programme where an internationalised programme complements the Chinese National Curriculum. The students will be taught in both Mandarin and English so that they can graduate from the School with undergraduate levels of both Mandarin and English and thereby flourish at premium universities all around the world.

A Wycombe Abbey education guarantees much more than just academic success.  Wycombe Abbey School Hangzhou offers boarding to students from G1 through to G12 (Years 2 to 13) with outstanding facilities for learning, innovation and enterprise, performing arts and sport that are the hallmark of all schools in our Wycombe Abbey Schools Group.  Students will be prepared for undergraduate life in universities all around the world and for an increasingly international workplace, with close personal attention paid to the development of each student’s confidence, resilience, independence and character alongside the development of the collaborative skills required in life beyond school.

This Job Description will be reviewed at least once a year and it may be subject to modification at any time after consultation with The Executive Head and the Head of Upper School.

• is ultimately responsible to the Head of Upper School under the Line Management of the Assistant Head (Academic).
  
• is a member of the Middle Management Team with a clear responsibility to demonstrate leadership through example and delegation.
  
• is responsible for ensuring the excellent academic progress of all students in their subject through the promotion of effective teaching and learning and through ensuring appropriate intervention programmes.
  
• is responsible for the assurance of quality teaching in the timetabled curriculum lessons, including organising appropriate processes and training to monitor, support and develop this.
  
• is responsible for generating internal examinations in line with the annual Academic Timetable.
  
• is responsible for the timely administration of paperwork relating to external examinations in the subject, working closely with the Director of Examinations.
  
• is responsible for the integration of technology, internationalism and bilingual learning in the delivery of the curriculum.
  
• is responsible for ensuring curriculum compliance and dual language is a clear focus within the compulsory curriculum.
  
• is responsible for ensuring excellent subject collaboration, liaison and cooperation between the Lower School and the Upper Schools.
  
• is responsible for the line management of the academic department including chairing meetings, performance management, and budget management.
  

The tasks of the Head of Department (Upper School) are as follows:

1. Teaching

• teach an allocated timetable as agreed with the Head of Upper School and Assistant Head Academic and demonstrate exemplary professional practice in the classroom.
  
• maintain the School’s standards for High Quality teaching and learning. 
  

2. Staff Management

• play a key role in the selection and recruitment of teaching staff within the department.
  
• in normal circumstances conduct the Performance Management of the teachers in the academic department.
  
• support members of the department in their professional development, and provide day-to-day advice.
  
• allocate staffing responsibilities for the timetable.
  

3. Quality Assurance and Securing Improvement

• conduct mark scrutiny and lesson observations.
  
• establish a supportive culture within the department, including the sharing of good practice.
  
• complete the annual review of departmental results.
  
• complete and implement the departmental development plan.
  
• oversee the regular monitoring of all students and the tracking of their academic performance in the subject, liaising with the Assistant Head Academic when appropriate.
  
• ensure that appropriate intervention measures are taken to support academic progress with underperforming pupils.
  

4. Curriculum and Departmental Handbook

• oversee all schemes of work and decisions regarding courses and examination boards.
  
• write and annually update the department’s handbook and development plan.
  

5. Marking, assessment and setting

• establish clear assessment criteria at all key stages in line with school policies.
  
• ensure consistent marking of all internal assessments, tests and internal examinations.
  
• make decisions with regards to setting based on sufficient and accurate data, providing updates to the timetable, and ensuring appropriate communication is maintained with parents. 
  

6. Meetings

• hold regular departmental meetings and send minutes to the Assistant Head Academic.
  
• attend the Heads of Department Meetings.
  

7. Administration

• complete all exam entries, organisation of coursework and controlled assessment for the department.
  
• liaise with the Director of Examinations with regards 
  

Requirements

Candidate Profile:

The Head of Department – Upper School is expected to:

• be a role model for students and staff in the Upper School.
  
• be internationally minded.
  
• possess exceptional stamina and the flexibility to work beyond the constraints of a Job Description.
  
• be both a team player with clear communication and listening skills and a decisive decision maker with the initiative and energy to implement change in the defined areas of authority.
  
• have a full working knowledge of the English National Curriculum and understand (and some familiarity with) the predominant curriculum in Grades 1 to 9 will be the Chinese National Curriculum.
  
• work closely with the Head of Lower School and Lower School Leadership Team to ensure that the Lower School Curriculum prepares students to enter the Upper School with required knowledge and skills.
  
• have the ability to work within and apply all school policies e.g. behaviour management, child protection, Health and Safety, and Equal Opportunities.
  
• be skilled in managing meetings allowing an appropriate balance of information and discussion to prevail.
  
• maintain a high profile and daily presence with colleagues including regular attendance at break in the Staff Common Room.
  
• maintain close contact with members of the department and establish respectful working relationships with each through close collaboration on decision making.
  
• be collegiate in style, seeking to take every opportunity to involve teachers in the department in decision making.
  
• be able to manage a range of tasks simultaneously and to demonstrate a clear understanding of priorities and delegation.
  
• demonstrate excellent communication skills and a clear understanding of appropriate lines and media of communication throughout the school community.
  
• take initiative and act with decisive authority in the defined areas of responsibility.
  
• have strong ICT and data analysis skills.
  
• have effective mentoring skills.
  
• maintain up-to-date knowledge of best practice in teaching the subject, national curriculum developments, the details of courses offered by different exam boards, and changes in course requirements.
  

Child Safeguarding:

Wycombe Abbey School Hangzhou is committed to Safeguarding and Child Protection promoting the welfare of children. The successful candidate will be required to

• attend in-house Child Safeguarding programmes;
  
• promote and safeguard the welfare of all students in the school.
  
• report to School’s Designated Safeguarding Lead any concerns they have for the welfare of a student. This may include unsafe practices witnessed within the school as outlined in the school’s Whistleblowing Policy.
  
• keep professional relationships with students where personal boundaries are respected and maintained.
  
• seek advice from a Line Manager or School’s Designated Safeguarding Lead with issues or concerns related to Child Safeguarding.
  

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 30K-40K/month
  
• 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