“X” Information Pack

“DATE”

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Angelina Street Highgate

Birmingham B12 0UU “DATE”

Dear applicant, Thank you for taking the time to find out more about St Alban’s Academy in Birmingham and the possibility of “TEACHING or WORKING” here. Included in this information pack is information about the academy, ARK Schools (who sponsor the academy) and the role of “X”. St Alban’s opened as a new academy in September 2009, replacing St Alban’s CE Specialist Engineering College. Already rated by OFSTED as a ‘good school,’ St Alban’s aims to become an ‘outstanding’ academy. Our GCSE pass rate (based on 5 A*-C including English and mathematics) has already dramatically increased to 50%, this is a 19 percentage point increase from 2009. The academy also carries on the affiliation of the previous schools as a Church of England School. St Alban’s has a mathematics and engineering specialism, holding partnerships with BMW, Cadbury, ARUP, Birmingham Metropolitan College and Aston University. The “X” will “DETAILS OF SCOPE OF ROLE” This is a unique opportunity to join a community of staff, striving to create an outstanding comprehensive school. The successful candidate will “DETAILS OF QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE ROLE” To apply, please complete the application form at _______(website) and return it via email to “CONTACTS EMAIL” by “CLOSING DATE AND TIME.” If you have any queries please contact “CONTACT NAME” on “CONTACT PHONE NUMBER.” I wish you the best with your application. Yours sincerely,

David Gould Principal

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About St Alban’s Academy

St Alban’s Academy opened in September 2009, replacing St Alban’s Church of England Specialist Engineering College. The academy is a popular, mixed, non-selective Church of England academy, offering places to 11 to 16 year olds. The academy plans to expand to admit four forms of entry (120 year 7 students each year) and to open a sixth form so that St Albans students can continue their studies to age 18.

As a specialist Engineering and Maths Academy, St Alban’s offers students a top quality education and a path to the qualifications that will enable every student to go on to university or pursue the career of their choice. The academy also has high expectations of staff. St Alban’s expects staff to communicate effectively with pupils regarding their progress so that pupils can take responsibility for their learning. St Alban’s also expects staff to guide, encourage, listen to and challenge pupils to make the best of their abilities and broaden their experiences both within the curriculum and more widely in school life. The academy expects excellent professional standards of teaching, lesson preparation and learning materials.

St Alban’s has a strong pastoral commitment and works hard to ensure that each child is known well by all their teachers. Teaching groups are small so children get more individual attention. The welcoming, caring and supportive atmosphere is one of the reasons parents choose St Alban’s. Parents also welcome the high degree of supervision and security that our small school structure promotes.

St Alban’s is proud of the academy’s inclusive Church of England ethos and its’ multi-faith intake. The academy has strong partnerships with other faith communities, especially with the Birmingham Central Mosque which is represented on our Governing Body and strongly supports the faith ethos of the academy.

St Alban’s Academy students are celebrating an impressive achievement in their GCSE performance, in the school’s first set of results since becoming an academy last September.

• 50% of students achieved at least 5A*-C grades including English and Mathematics, a rise of 19 percentage points since 2009 (2009, 31%)

• 90% achieved at least 5 A*-C grades overall (2009, 75%)

• 55% of pupils achieved grade A – C in English (2009, 37%) and 73% achieved A – C in Mathematics (2009, 53%).

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About ARK Schools ARK Schools is an education charity that runs a network of eight academies in London, Portsmouth and Birmingham. ARK Schools was created in 2004 to work with the DfE and local authorities to create new schools offering exceptional opportunities to local children in inner cities through the academies programme. ARK Schools’ aim is to help close the achievement gap between children from disadvantaged and more affluent backgrounds. Its academies focus on raising attainment so that every pupil has a real choice of going on to higher education when they complete school. Its schools are non-selective, community schools for local children. They are non-denominational other than where they replace a school that previously had a religious affiliation.

• Isaac Newton Academy, a new academy in Redbridge for 11-18 year olds, is to open in 2012.

BOROUGH OPENED AGE OFSTED

Predecessor Sec. 8 progress Sec. 5 inspection visit inspection

Burlington Danes

Hammersmith 2006 11-18 Special measures

Satisfactory Good

King Solomon

Westminster 2007 3-18 N/A Outstanding Outstanding

Walworth Southwark 2007 11-18 Satisfactory Good Good (with outstanding capacity to improve)

Globe Southwark 2008 3-18 Special measures

Good N/A

Evelyn Grace

Lambeth 2008 11-18 N/A Good N/A

Ark Brent 2008 3-18 N/A Good N/A

Charter Portsmouth 2009 11-16 (due to18)

Notice to improve

N/A N/A

St Alban’s Birmingham 2009 11-16 (due to 18)

Good N/A N/A

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ARK academies’ achievement to date

The latest complete set of data (2010) demonstrates that ARK Schools is the top

performing multiple academy sponsor on the basis of average annual increase in GCSE

attainment since opening (including English and maths). In 2010 the five ARK

academies with GCSE results achieved an average improvement rate of 12.6 percentage

points on last year’s results.

GCSE performance (% achieving 5 GCSEs A* - C including English and Maths)

The ARK Schools ethos Academic achievement – no excuses

• ARK Schools has high expectations for its pupils. We believe every child can realise their potential given the right encouragement, teaching and support. We want every pupil at our academies to leave with the qualifications and skills they need to have real choice at 18, whether that is to continue their education or to pursue a career.

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. The core curriculum: depth before breadth

• Our curriculum is designed and structured to ensure that all children master essential knowledge in English and Mathematics, with all schools having a specialist status in mathematics. In our infant schools, pupils have four literacy classes and three numeracy classes each day.

School Structure • 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. • Where the local structure allows we aim to establish “all through” schools.

Primary school children have access to specialist facilities normally exclusive to secondary schools.

Commitment • All pupils, parents, teachers and support staff sign a home-school agreement

before school starts, so that everyone is committed to putting in the effort to ensure that each child succeeds.

Predecessor school 2009 2010

Burlington Danes 31% (2006) 50% 70%

Walworth 26% (2007) 45% 60%

Globe 26% (2008) 34% 40%

St Alban’s 23% (2008) 30% (predecessor) 50%

Charter 8% (2008) 21% (predecessor) 25%

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ARK Schools staff benefits

ARK Schools and the Principals of the academies are committed to finding and supporting talented leaders and teachers to make a real difference to our pupils’ lives. In joining an ARK academy you will have the opportunity to work with other outstanding educators who share your aspirations and commitment to high achievement for all young people.

There are also other tangible rewards you would benefit from in working for an ARK academy. Staff training - In addition to staff training within each academy, staff also benefit from a range of training opportunities available from ARK leaders. MA bursary - ARK offers 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. International development opportunities - In spring 2010, 13 members of staff from ARK academies will visit Jamaica with the Department for Children, Schools and Families/British Council’s Teachers’ International Professional Development programme. ARK has also established a summer school exchange programme to China, specifically for primary teachers and is developing partnerships with two charter schools in New Orleans for teacher secondments. Financial planning and assistance - There are also several benefits to help staff plan their finances. All ARK academies provide childcare vouchers, interest free annual season ticket or bicycle purchase loans (for which monthly repayments are deducted from the employee’s salary before tax) through the ‘Cycle to Work’ scheme. Discounted gym membership - All ARK Schools employees receive a minimum 20% discount at Fitness First clubs around the country.

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“X” JOB DESCRIPTION

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“X” PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

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ARK Schools, Safe Recruitment Procedure 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. This process is outlined below, but can be provided in more detail if requested. Disclosure This post is classified as having substantial access to children, and appointment is subject to an enhanced police check of previous criminal convictions (CRB). Applicants are required, before appointment, to disclose any conviction, caution or binding over including ‘spent convictions’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exemptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar individuals from employment – this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. Shortlisting Only those candidates meeting the right criteria will be taken forward from application. Interview

1. Candidates will be subject to an in-depth interview (of which there may be two

such sessions; a screening at ARK followed by academy specific interview and,

where appropriate, lesson observation)

2. Candidates will be asked to address any discrepancies, anomalies or gaps in their

application form.

Reference checking References from the previous and current employer will be taken up for shortlisted candidates, and where necessary employers may be contacted to gather further information. Probation All new staff will be subject to a probation period of six months (which may, in certain circumstances, be extended by up to 10 weeks). The probation period is a trial period, to enable the assessment of an employee’s suitability for the job for which they have been employed. It provides the academies with the opportunity to monitor and review the performance of new staff in relation to various areas, but also in terms of their commitment to safe guarding and relationships with pupils.