Part-time Teacher of Drama

Maternity Cover Closing Date: Noon, 11th February 2021

Interview Date: 26th February 2021

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Contents

Cover Letter ....................................................................................................................................................... 3

Performing and Expressive Arts Faculty .......................................................................................................... 5

Hardenhuish Lane, Chippenham, Wilts. SN14 6HJ

Headteacher: Neil Spurdell BSc (Hons)

Tel: 01249 766020 Fax: 01249 766030

Email: admin@sheldonschool.co.uk Web: www.sheldonschool.co.uk

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Cover Letter

January 2021

Dear Colleague,

PART-TIME TEACHER OF DRAMA

(Approximately 0.4 FTE)

FIXED-TERM, MATERNITY COVER

REQUIRED FOR APRIL 2021

Thank you for your interest in this part-time, fixed-term position which arises due to the maternity leave of the current post holder until approximately April 2022. We are seeking to appoint a suitably qualified and enthusiastic teacher of Drama to join a supportive, highly motivated and professional team. The post is part-time; at present from April until August the post will be approximately 0.4 of an FTE. There may be a change to this from September but within a range of 0.3-0.5 FTE, dependent upon the uptake of Drama at

KS4/5; however, the post holder would be expected to teach across all key stages. We are committed to excellence of achievement and try to ensure that pupils reach their full potential at whatever level they are working. Sheldon’s policy, therefore, is always to appoint the most suitable person for the post and applications are welcome from both experienced and newly qualified teachers.

Sheldon is a high-achieving school with a strong record of success. You would be joining a very hardworking and supportive faculty which has a strong collegiate atmosphere. We offer a full programme of induction and support to all colleagues who join us and there is a continual focus on staff development and wellbeing, both of which rated very highly in the most recent external survey. Staff morale, in what are challenging educational times, is high, borne out of there being a real sense of community. We work hard, but the effort is worth it; the students certainly appreciate it and you will have plenty of fulfilment. I personally believe that Sheldon is a great school. I have worked in six schools in total and am continually impressed by the positivity of the staff and the atmosphere around the school that is overwhelmingly happy and shows our students to be enjoying their learning in a thriving environment. It’s simply a pleasure to come to work each day and I think you will find staff will say the same to you were you to ask them. We’re obviously working through some interesting times, but even now the camaraderie between staff is excellent and the engagement between staff and students very positive. Further details concerning the faculty and the school are enclosed from Simon White, Head of Performing and Expressive Arts Faculty, together with an application form. In addition, we have included other information to outline the all-round offer, but please also take the time to look at what happens in the school day-to-day by visiting our website. I hope that, having read the information, you will be keen to apply.

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The successful candidate will be required to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils in the school. The posts will be dependent on a successful enhanced DBS check. Please complete the application form and return it with a supporting letter, (no more than two sides of A4

please), by post or email to hr@sheldonschool.co.uk . Closing date for applications is 11th February 2021

(12 noon).

We hope to interview by 26th February 2021, so if you have heard nothing by this date, please assume you

have been unsuccessful on this occasion. If this proves to be the case, thank you for your interest in

Sheldon School and best wishes for future career.

Yours faithfully,

Neil Spurdell Headteacher

mailto:hr@sheldonschool.co.uk

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Performing and Expressive Arts Faculty

The Performing and Expressive Arts Faculty is based on a team of specialist teachers responsible for art, dance, drama and music. There are also part-time arts staff, a wide range of peripatetic music staff and an arts technician. The faculty is successful and maintains a high profile within the school. In Years 7-9 all pupils have art, dance, drama and music lessons. These lessons are 50 minutes in length. They have art and music once a week, while dance and drama are taught once a fortnight. In Year 9 pupils have a weekly lesson of art, music and drama. Pupils can also opt to study dance. Typically, in excess of 60% of pupils take either art, dance, drama or music at KS4. It is possible to study two arts subjects at GCSE. We offer A Levels in fine art, art textiles, photography, dance, drama, music and music technology. The A Level dance and music courses are taught jointly with our neighbouring school, Hardenhuish. The faculty is housed in a purpose-built block with very good facilities. A newly built dance studio was completed in February 2018. This is a state of the art building, fully equipped with mirrors, sprung floor, and huge windows, making it a very light and airy space. The building has its own office and changing rooms. We have two music rooms, two drama studios, three art rooms and a further photography suite, complete with Apple Macs, and an art textiles room which is largely used for A Level teaching. There are also a number of rehearsal rooms, used by peripatetic staff to teach a range of musical instruments. We are very fortunate in having a wealth of dance and theatre companies locally and take every opportunity to organise workshops and to make frequent visits to the theatre. The PEA Faculty places great emphasis on extra-curricular activities and curriculum enrichment. We run annual arts days for Years 8 and 9. There are thriving art, dance, drama and music clubs. Sheldon School has a rich tradition of arts work including art exhibitions, dance, drama and music evenings and an annual school production. Pupils have the opportunity to take part in a Key Stage 3 showcase of dance, drama and music, and we also produce an annual GCSE and A Level dance show. Simon White

January 2021

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