Charter Academy

Hyde Park Road

Southsea
PO5 4HL

Dear candidate,

Thank you for taking the time to find out more about the role of Head of
Mathematics at the new Charter Academy in Portsmouth. This
application pack is intended to give you some more information about the
academy, the network of ARK Schools and the role.

As the Head of Mathematics, this is an exciting opportunity to play a

leading role in helping establish a new secondary school in the centre of
Portsmouth. The academy is part of the ARK Schools network and so it will
have access to resources, opportunities, ideas and expertise from across
the group. ARK Schools is committed to developing excellent teachers
within its network, through training, remuneration and network benefits.

The successful candidate will be an exceptional teacher and leader, who

can support the drive to radically raise standards though improving
teaching and learning and instilling a culture of high aspiration for all
students. The ideal candidate will be skilled and passionate about their
work, committed to making a difference to the lives of young people and
have an absolute belief that all children can and will achieve.

To apply for the role, please complete the application form and send it to
Hannah Obertelli at hannah.obertelli@arkonline.org as soon as possible. If
you have any queries, please contact Hannah on 0207 395 2050.

Yours sincerely,

Dame Sharon Hollows

Principal, Charter Academy

Charter Academy is committed to safeguarding children; successful candidates will be
subject to an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check. ARK is always happy to receive
speculative applications from excellent teachers and support staff.

A new Academy for Portsmouth

Charter Academy
The academy will be a non-selective, co-educational school with a Church
of England ethos. It admitted its first cohort of year 7 pupils in September
2009 in the existing St Luke’s School buildings. All current pupils and staff
of St Luke’s transferred to the academy automatically. From 2010, there
will be 120 places available each year, reflecting Portsmouth City
Council’s population predictions for the city

It will specialise in mathematics and music and the performing arts. The
mathematics specialism will enable all students to understand the
practical applications of mathematics and to reap the benefits of confident
numeracy.

ARK believes that children learn and develop with greater confidence in a
small school environment so the academy, like other ARK schools, will be
structured as two small schools, one for KS3 and one for KS4/5.

Success so far
Charter Academy promotes the highest aspirations, motivation and
achievement for all its students and a very positive culture and ethos has
been established since its opening in September leading to a dramatic
improvement in pupil behaviour. The local police have commented that
crime in the area has dropped significantly since the academy’s opening
and many local primary schools are now encouraging first choices to be
Charter Academy.

New buildings
The new academy will benefit from a multi-million pound building project
which will refurbish some of the current school buildings, fully replace
others and provide a new sixth form block. The buildings will be
completed in 2012.
About ARK Schools

ARK Schools is part of the children’s charity ARK which runs a range of
health, welfare and education projects in Southern Africa, Eastern Europe,
India and the UK. It was created in 2004 to work with the DCSF, local
authorities and others to set up new schools and replace existing schools
through the academies programme. Its aim is to operate a network of
outstanding, non-selective, inner-city academies offering high quality
education to children of all abilities and backgrounds.
ARK Schools runs a network of eight academies across London and in
Birmingham and Portsmouth. ARK Schools has no religious affiliation and
is committed to comprehensive education.

The ARK Schools Network

ARK Schools currently has a network of eight academies open or under
development:
• The first, Burlington Danes Academy in White City, opened in
September 2006. This is a six- form entry, secondary Academy.
• Walworth Academy in Southwark opened in September 2007, taking
over from the previous Walworth School. This is a six-form entry secondary
academy with a sixth form due to open in 2010.
• King Solomon Academy in Westminster, a new two-form entry reception
through to sixth form school, opened in September 2007 with its first
reception classes. The secondary school opened to its first year 7 pupils in
September 2009.
• Globe Academy in Southwark opened in September 2008. It offers
nursery through to sixth form education, combining and replacing Geoffrey
Chaucer Technology College and Joseph Lancaster Primary School near
Elephant and Castle.
• Evelyn Grace Academy, a new Academy in Brixton for 11 - 18 year olds,
opened with its first Year 7 classes in temporary space in 2008, it will move
to its permanent site in 2010.
• Ark Academy in Brent opened in September 2008 with 60 reception
students, and will eventually become an all-through Academy from primary
to sixth form. It’s secondary school will be opening in September 2010 and
we will be recruiting for this exciting new opportunity from January 2010.
• St Alban’s Academy is a 4 form entry secondary academy in
Birmingham which opened in September 2009, replacing St Alban’s CE
Specialist Engineering College.
• Charter Academy in Portsmouth opened in September 2009 replacing St
Luke’s School. The new school buildings which will include a sixth form
building, are due to open in 2014.
 • The ARK Plus Centre for Year 7 pupils who need additional help in
numeracy and literacy, is due to open in Elephant and Castle in November
2009.

ARK Schools’ ethos

Academic achievement – no excuses

ARK Schools has high expectations for its pupils. We believe that every child can
realise their potential given the right encouragement, teaching and support. We
want every pupil at our academies to leave with the academic qualifications and
skills they need to have a real choice at 18, whether that’s to continue their
education or to pursue a career. We do everything possible to ensure that every
child achieves year level expectations, every year. We won’t accept excuses and
we won’t make any either.

Culture – personal responsibility and mutual respect

Our academies aim to maintain a respectful and orderly environment so that

pupils can focus on learning and teachers on teaching. ARK academies operate
with a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach to poor behaviour and transparent and rigorous
systems of rewards and sanctions. We believe that a successful education
includes developing and nurturing the personal qualities of every pupil. ARK
academies give students the opportunity to learn and experience different extra-
curricular activities by running after school clubs. We also aim to work closely
with parents and the community to enlist their involvement and make school
facilities available to them.
Commitment

We expect all pupils, parents, teachers and support staff to sign a home-school
agreement before school starts, so that everyone is committed to putting in the
effort to ensure that each child succeeds. ARK Schools are committed to the
development of our staff and offering training opportunities and a unique range
of benefits to all staff. We support our academies’ meritocratic approach, giving
skilled and dedicated teachers early opportunities to lead schools within schools.

Small schools
Large schools can be intimidating. Several of the ARK academies are organised
into a set of ‘small schools’, so that every pupil knows and is known by every
teacher within their small school. The small school model is based on research
that demonstrates the success of smaller schools in improving behaviour,
attendance and academic achievement.

The core curriculum: depth before breadth

English and mathematics are the foundation for all other subjects and are critical
to success at school and in life. Our academies aim to develop strong readers
and communicators who love to use their skills and children who are confident
working with numbers in everyday life. Our curriculum is designed and
structured to ensure that all children master essential knowledge in these core
subjects.

Our specialisms

All of our academies have specialist school status in mathematics. We believe it

is vitally important to provide our pupils with the tools necessary to become
numerically confident adults. All ARK schools specialise in maths and ARK invests
a great deal in the resources needed to attract and train the best maths
teachers. We will ensure that all our pupils become competent mathematicians,
at ease with both its theoretical and practical uses.

Support programmes

ARK Schools also runs, develops and funds other programmes to help our schools
succeed.

• We support schools with Extended School activities and local literacy and
numeracy programmes.
• Our Future Leaders programme helps develop outstanding senior leaders
for challenging urban schools.
• The Teaching Leaders programme helps develop middle leaders in urban
secondary schools.
• We are opening a new specialist unit in November 2009. ARK Plus is a
pilot programme that will provide focused academic and behavioural
support for year seven pupils in three of our south London academies.
Benefits of the ARK Schools Network
Staff training; in addition to a commitment to comprehensive staff
training from your individual academy, you will also benefit from a
range of different training opportunities available from ARK leaders
Network lead practitioners; these outstanding teachers have a wider
capacity as part of their substantive role to support staff and school
development across the network. Interested teachers can apply for a 2
year additional responsibility with the support of their principal.

MA bursary; ARK Schools is offering teaching staff the opportunity to

further their knowledge and understanding of education through a
subsidised part-time MA in education at King’s College London. The MA
bursary covers the majority of the £3,600 course fee, with teachers
expected to contribute just £500.

Scholarships; For staff wishing to undertake a qualification or training in

a more
specific area we have three scholarships each year worth £1,500.

International development opportunities; This year ARK has several

spaces on the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ Teachers
International Professional Development programme. We have also
established a summer school exchange programme to China, specifically
for primary teachers and also a short secondment to New Orleans for
managerial or senior teachers.

Financial planning and assistance;

o Childcare vouchers;
o Annual season ticket loans. Monthly repayments are deducted
from the employee’s salary before tax.
o Bicycle purchase loans or opportunity to join Cyclescheme’s
discounted purchase programme as part of the ‘Cycle to
Work’ initiative . Both schemes allow ARK employees to
purchase a bicycle and cycle accessories up to the value of
£1000 to use for their commute to work. The total loan is then
split into 12 monthly instalments which are deducted from the
employee’s salary before tax.

Discounted gym membership; all Ark Schools employees receive a

minimum 20% discount at Fitness First clubs around the country.

JOB DESCRIPTION
HEAD OF MATHEMATICS

Reports to: Principal

Start date: ASAP

Salary: Highly competitive

The Role
Manage the professional community of subject teachers to ensure high
attainment of their subject across the academy.

Key responsibilities

• Subject coordination across the Academy

• Lead the professional community of subject teachers and leaders in the
Academy
• Quality teaching and learning of their subject across the academy
• Curriculum setting and assessment across the Academy as agreed with
the Principal

Outcomes and activities

Subject Coordination across the Academy

• Leadership and support of all other subject teachers within the academy.

Leadership of the Subject Community

• Assisting in the professional development of teachers including INSET as
may be appropriate.
• Supervising and supporting beginner teachers and Newly Qualified
Teachers as appropriate.
• Developing strong partnerships and ensuring regular and productive
communication with parents.

Teaching and Learning

• Establish subject development plan, target setting and review.
• Teach engaging and effective lessons that motivate, inspire and improve
pupil attainment.
• Manage departmental budget and resources effectively and efficiently.

Curriculum setting and assessment

• Develop a syllabus and schemes of work for all year groups, in line with
National Curriculum requirements, that are inspiring for learners and
teachers alike.
• Monitor and assessment of teaching and learning.
• Set regular, measurable and significant assessments for the students.
• Establish agreement for monitoring and evaluation of student progress.
• Maintain accurate pupil data that can be used to make teaching more
effective.

Academy Culture

• Help create a strong academy community, characterised by consistent,

orderly behaviour and caring, respectful relationships.
• Help develop a small school culture and ethos that is utterly committed to
achievement.
Other

• Undertake other various responsibilities as directed by the Principal.

• Undertake the other main professional duties of a teacher as set out in the
ARK Schools pay and conditions of service document.

Person Specification

Necessary Qualification Criteria

 • Qualified to degree level and above
• Qualified to teach in the UK
• Right to work in the UK

Desirable Experience

• Experience of raising attainment in a challenging classroom environment

• Experience of establishing a high achieving department within a large and
complex school environment
• Experience of leading, coaching and managing staff
• Evidence of continually improving the teaching and learning of their
subject though schemes of work and extra-curricula activities etc

Desirable Behaviours

Leadership

• Effective team worker and leader.

• Demonstrates resilience, motivation and commitment to driving up
standards of achievement.
• Acts as a role model to staff and students.
• Vision aligned with ARK’s high aspirations, high expectations of self and
others.
• Genuine passion and a belief in the potential of every student.
• Motivation to continually improve standards and achieve excellence.
• Commitment to the safeguarding and welfare of all pupils.

Leading the Curriculum

• Able to establish curriculum development, assessment, coordination and

coaching.
• Has good communication, planning and organisational skills.
• High expectations for accountability and consistency.

Leading the Learning

• Excellent classroom practitioner and coach.

• Effective and systematic behaviour management, with clear boundaries,
sanctions, rewards and praise.

Other

• This post is subject to an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosure.