Assistant Headteacher / Programme Director ICT
Leadership Scale L8 -12

This is a permanent position starting in January 2009.

The previous postholder left the college in July 2008 following promotion to a position in another local authority. An existing assistant headteacher with ICT experience is temporarily managing the department. However, this person has other responsibilities and will not be a candidate for the advertised post.

We have recently appointed a director of specialism to lead and manage our Business and Enterprise College. We have also appointed, until the end of December, a temporary assistant programme director of ICT to manage the ICT provision in years seven and eight. Following the appointment of the Director of ICT the structure of the ICT department will be reviewed. This review will allow the Director of ICT to appraise the situation and make recommendations on the future direction of the department. It should be noted that there is a separate programme director of business and enterprise (with this person also teaching some ICT). Clearly, with ICT, Maths and Business the basis of our specialism, and with our strong commitment to ICT across the curriculum, the Director of ICT will play a pivotal role in our future success.

In total, there are eight fully qualified teachers of ICT with teaching focussed in a suite of seven rooms all located together at the heart of our campus. There is a separate E-learning Centre which is used for ICT teaching as well as primary liaison, and other community based events linked to our Business and Enterprise specialism. The E-learning Centre is equipped with 30 computers and interactive whiteboard with a reception area and meeting section. There is also a facility for refreshments. The main ICT classrooms are generously equipped with mainly new computers and interactive whiteboards. The college has standardised on Microsoft software. The ICT suite computers have Windows 2000 and Windows XP professional operating systems and Office 2003 running under a Novell network which is very robust. Other software currently used within the ICT curriculum includes; Macromedia Dreamweaver, Flash and Fireworks, Flowol control software, Tech Soft 2D Design Tools, and Paint Shop Pro. Full Internet access is available over the network. We have additional specialist peripheral equipment which includes digital projectors and interactive whiteboards in each ICT room. There are also cameras and scanners which are shared between the staff.

All ICT classes have an average of 20 pupils. The maximum class size is 22 with many class sizes less than 20. All year seven and eight pupils are taught one discrete hour of IT each week (there is no carousel arrangement) whilst year nine pupils receive two hours each week. Classes are banded on ability with all pupils being able to work on their own individual workstation.

In KS4 all pupils again study ICT although the pupils of very limited ability study Business and Communications. Last year 69% of the year eleven cohort achieved at least one ICT GCSE A*-C.

The KS4 classes are setted with one half of the year group blocked into six ability sets. This permits the director of ICT total flexibility in the setting of pupils. It also allows discretion in the selection and proportion of pupils required to study Business and Communications. Please note that Business Studies and Business and Communications are available in the Options programme and, as such, remain separate to the core ICT programme. In the core ICT curriculum each pupil has a minimum of two timetable hours each week. It is possible for pupils to choose, through the options programme, to select additional ICT which would offer them the opportunity to attain four GCSEs.

In addition, there are gifted and talented classes in both ICT and Business Studies. All year nine pupils begin their OCR GCSE course with some pupils sitting the GCSE in year ten before moving onto take A/S level ICT (a similar arrangement exists for accelerated Business Studies).

The ICT department is an outstanding department. Exam results are amongst the best within Hollingworth and the successful candidate will have an exceptional opportunity to move standards still further forward.

This post will also carry a whole college responsibility. This responsibility will be negotiated with the successful candidate with the likelihood that this role will be linked to one of three major areas: Assessment and Curriculum; Inclusion and Support; Teaching and Learning.

Click HERE to download the application pack. (Requires 7Zip, 817kb)

Closing date for applications: 10th October 2008