Sociology Teacher with Geography or History

Start date: April 2024 or as soon as possible

Location:Ark Alexandra Academy, Hastings, East Sussex

Salary:Ark Outside London Main/Upper Pay Scales: £30,570 to £48,390 + up to £5K relocation package and potential TLR for the right candidate

Hours:Full-time

Contract: Permanent

Closing date: 9.00 am on 08 January 2024

Interview date: Interviews to be arranged as suitable applicants identified.

Based in the UK and considering making a move to Hastings? We are able to offer relocation allowances of up to £5,000 to support you with the process.

We are excited to welcome applications from enthusiastic Sociology teachers who are able and willing to also teach Geography and/or History to join our dynamic and supportive team. This role would be suitable for an experienced qualified teacher or an Early Career Teacher (ECT) looking to start their career in a secondary school setting after completing their training placements. Join us as we make a difference in the lives of our students and help them unlock their full potential.

The successful applicant will be joining a supportive and friendly team, made up of teachers with a wide-range of experience within the wider humanities department, which includes Politics, History and Sociology. As part of the Ark Network there is support in both subject areas from the network lead and many CPD opportunities to help develop your pedagogy and curriculum. This is additional to the internal weekly co-planning that takes place.

Sociology is a highly successful and popular subject at A Level. A strong foundation of resources is in place and in addition the Ark Network provides additional support regarding curriculum planning and assessment.

This is a unique opportunity to teach Sociology A level in a highly academic sixth form setting (entry requirement of at least a grade 6) with class sizes less than 15 on average.

Sociology sits within the Humanities department alongside politics, geography, and history. Our vision is to “empower the students to shape the future”. The ideal candidate would have experience of teaching geography and/or history at KS3 and KS4. Both subject areas are equally popular as GCSE options and have carefully sequenced and resourced curricula.

For more information on the role and department, please read the job description and person specification in the information pack available for download.

We’re looking for an individual who:

Can teach Sociology as well as Geography and/or History

Can deliver engaging and interactive lessons to students, fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment

Can articulate a love of their subject

Is able to communicate effectively with students of all abilities

Cares about students, their learning, and their futures

Can manage behaviour effectively to create a safe, respectful and nurturing environment so that students can focus on learning

Is committed to participating in professional development programmes and will engage in mentoring opportunities provided by the school and network

Our school:

Ark Alexandra is a two-campus secondary academy with a Sixth Form provision in Hastings, East Sussex and is the largest secondary with 6th form in the Ark network. A popular school, we have grown to have over 1,600 students this year. We work across a split site which brings with it unique opportunities for growth and development. At our most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2021, Leadership & Management, Behaviour & Attitudes, Personal Development and Sixth Form were all judged to be Good.

Ark Alexandra works closely with our feeder primary schools, Ark Blacklands, Ark Little Ridge and Ark Castledown, all of which have exceptional leadership graded as Outstanding by Ofsted.

As a Church of England school, our values of faith, excellence and kindness underpin our ethos, culture and behaviour. We have an inclusive admissions policy that welcomes, without preference, students of all faith and none. Our vision is to create a truly great school for the young people in Hastings. We believe that everyone deserves to be accepted, included, and empowered to live a purposeful and fulfilling life.

What we offer:

Salary higher than the national pay scales

Twice as many training days as standard and network-wide events with Ark colleagues, held by the best minds in education

Weekly staff training designed to meet the needs of the school

Coaching for every teacher

Protected co-planning time

Access to the high-quality, professional development, including nationally recognised qualifications such as the NPQML and NPQSL

Opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across the network

At Ark Alexandra in Hastings, we are committed to helping staff with relocation. In addition to offering up to £5,000 we can help you make a smooth transition into our school and sea-side community. We recognise the challenges of moving to a new area, and as such we offer:

Information on local housing options, and connections to good property agents

Advise on school enrolment for staff members' children

Additionally, we foster a welcoming environment by connecting new employees with existing staff members who can offer guidance on settling into the community of Hastings.

The school's commitment to supporting the relocation process reflects our dedication to creating a supportive and inclusive work environment for all staff members.

How to apply:

Please click the 'apply' button below to complete an online application form by 9am on 08 January 2024, however we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this advert may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. Early application is strongly encouraged. You will be able to pause, save and log back in to complete your application up until the vacancy closes.

If you’re interested in further information about our school, please visit our website – via the button below or to find out more about Ark Schools, please download and read Why Join an Ark School? available for download from the application website.

To arrange an informal conversation about the role or an informal visit, please contact HR on [email protected]

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link.