The Representative Body for the Church in Wales: St. Padarn’s Institute

POST-GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT

OVERVIEW

The St Padarn’s Institute (SPI) was created on 1 July 2016. It is responsible for the oversight of continuing ministerial development for all licensed ministers in the Church in Wales. It shares responsibility for the delivery of such programmes with the six dioceses. It also provides theological education and resources for members of the Church to support their discipleship and equip them for ministry. One of the ways in which it delivers this is by running a BTh programme in Theology for Discipleship and Ministry as a partner organisation of Trinity St David’s University. This programme has over 250 enrolled students.St Padarn’s Institute invites applications from suitably qualified candidates, for the post of Post-Graduate Teaching Assistant (PGTA). PGTAs will undertake marking for particular assignments or modules on the Level 4, 5 and 6 BTh programme in line with Trinity St David’s University and SPI policies and procedures, providing feedback both to students and to SPI on student performance.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title : Post-Graduate Teaching Assistant – annualised hours, 7 core hours plus a specified number of hours, usually between 50 to 100 hours in blocks of 3 weeks immediately after assessment deadlines.

Grade : C15 £24,933 per annum - pro rata (£13.79/hr)

Department : St Padarn’s Institute (SPI)

Location: Home-working.

Contract: Fixed term contract for 12 months

Context: The St Padarn’s Institute is responsible for formation, training and ongoing development for discipleship, mission and ministry for the Church in Wales. Within this, SPI delivers a part-time BTh programme in Theology for Discipleship and Ministry. Students are drawn from across Wales and study within their local context in small facilitated groups and via distance learning materials. Students include candidates for Licenced Ministry and those studying for their own Discipleship.

Responsible to: BTh Programme Leader

Working with: SPI staff; Registrar, Director of Formation in Licenced Ministry, Director of Operations, Tutors.

Purpose: PGTAs will support the tutorial staff team by assisting with teaching on relevant modules, with occasional supervision, on a Saturday, at different locations around Wales, to be agreed.

PGTAs will undertake marking for a particular assignments or modules of the BTh programme in line with Trinity St David’s University and SPI policies and procedures, providing feedback both to students and to SPI on student performance.

These should be completed online, using the supplied access to Turnitin and Moodle software platforms.

It is expected that this will involve marking 100-175 assignment answers of 2000 – 3000 words in length, within 15 term-time working days of receipt.

The submission deadlines for students are below, and the work, if required, will be made available for marking shortly thereafter. April 8th July 8th

Assignments will be apportioned to markers with the relevant speciality, which may be one or two of the above submissions.

PGTAs will be provided with access to course materials and written guidance on the expected range of appropriate assignment answers and will also be able to liaise with the Module Leader as required.

Marking will be moderated by a member of SPI staff.

Following marking, the PGTA should complete a written report on student’s performance and any general trends within it that will assist in improving the delivery of the module and the setting of assignments in the future.

For the contracted period the PGTA will be a member of the tutorial staff of St Padarn’s. This will involve attendance at a tutorial staff meeting to provide feedback on student performance. These meetings are held either in the Cardiff or Shrewsbury areas. Travel expenses for this

meeting, for teaching sessions, and any others travel expenses agreed in advance with the BTh Programme Leader, will be reimbursed.

There are 4 PGTA positions available and they are open to any suitably qualified candidates.

Main Tasks & Responsibilities

1. Marking and assessment of Level 4, Level 5 and Level 6 undergraduate work according to Trinity St David’s University and St Padarn’s Institute policies.

2. Providing formative feedback and summative feedback and awarding marks across an agreed range of criteria

3. Providing written and oral feedback on student performance to SPI to assist in programme development.

4. Bringing to the attention of the Programme Leader any suspected cases of academic malpractice or failure to comply with assignment.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential1. Currently holding a Degree in Theology including study in at least

one of the following areas: Biblical Studies, Ethics, Anglicanism, Doctrine, Christian Mission.

2. Currently holding a Post-Graduate Certificate or higher qualification in a relevant field of study.

3. Available to mark assignments within 15 term-time working days of the submission dates.

Desirable

1. An ability to mark in Welsh or a willingness to learn Welsh.2. Previous marking experience marking University standard

assessments3. Experience of providing written feedback4. Understanding of the needs covered by learning support, such as

dyslexia and dyspraxia5. Experience of using Moodle and Turnitin