Head of French

Company Description

Hampton is one of the country's leading, most successful and best-resourced independent schools and has been helping boys to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations for over 460 years.

Established over 460 years ago, Hampton is one of the country's foremost, highest-achieving and best-resourced independent schools. Our community is vibrant, dynamic and happy, making it a wonderful place to teach and learn. Members of the Common Room are talented and hugely supportive of one another and their pupils; they share their love of learning with young people who are bright, intellectually inquisitive and aspirational. Hampton is a lively, friendly and inclusive School community where we aspire to enable our boys to not only to make sense of the world, but also to want to go out and improve it. Above all, Hamptonians are encouraged and indeed expected to aspire to personal best while supporting those around them with kindness and respect.

Situated on a green-field site in a leafy suburb of South West London, we are fortunate to have 28 acres of playing fields within our spacious grounds. Pupils and staff alike benefit from first-class facilities across all areas of School life. These include a state-of-the-art 3G sportsground, a large and well-appointed Sports Hall, and the remarkable Hammond Theatre for the Performing Arts, along with an excellent library and specialist facilities for Art, Music, Science, Technology, Computer Science and Languages (Modern and Classical). Our older pupils enjoy impressive Sixth Form private study and Careers provision in The Barry Martin Centre. The Millennium Boat House, shared with our neighbouring girls' school, Lady Eleanor Holles, has a prime location on the nearby River Thames, and provides the focal point for our popular and successful Boat Club.

Hamptonians' examination results and university entrance record consistently rank in the top echelon nationally and indeed internationally. Nearly all Hampton leavers go on to undergraduate courses at Russell Group or equivalent universities; around 25 pupils are offered places at Oxford and Cambridge annually, and a significant number move on to global top-10 universities. We also support pupils who wish to study at universities in North America, some of whom secure academic and/or sporting scholarships. Hampton's notably diverse, socially inclusive nature is an especially cherished part of our DNA and we as far from being a stereotypical public school as any setting in the independent sector. Currently, 7% of our boys (around 100 in total) attend on means-tested, free places, many of which are funded by a separate but closely linked educational charity, The Fitzwygram Foundation. 'One of the most genuinely inclusive, diverse independent schools in the London area'. Good Schools Guide

A copy of the full ISI report can found on the School website and a summary booklet of the inspection team's key findings is linked here.

Please click here to view the Job Description.

Further Information for prospective colleagues is linked here.

Position

Hampton is one of the country's foremost academically selective independent schools and this is an excellent opportunity to join a vibrant and successful department in a happy, high-achieving setting.

French is a popular subject, taught within the core curriculum and offered as an option to pupils from First Year (Y7) through to Upper Sixth (Y13). In the Fourth and Fifth Year (Y10 & Y11), pupils work towards the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) IGCSE. Sixth Form pupils progress to either the AQA A Level or the one-year DELF B1 or B2 Diploma .

The French department benefits from a wide range of high-quality published resources, including online eBooks and subscription platforms such as This Is School and Language Nut, alongside a strong suite of our own bespoke teaching materials.

Pupils' enthusiasm for French is actively encouraged through imaginative, varied and appropriately challenging courses at all stages of the School, including structured preparation for Oxbridge. The successful candidate will be expected to teach French up to and including A Level. The School has a strong record of academic success, with many pupils going on to study Modern Languages at university, frequently in combination with other academic subjects.

Hampton is an academically selective school; the requirements of the role include stretching the most able pupils up to Oxbridge level. Teaching at Hampton extends far beyond the classroom and academic success. Our exciting cocurricular programme is at the heart of School life and offers pupils countless opportunities to explore their passions, try something new and develop skills that last a lifetime.

Equity, diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our ethos and the School has a thriving partnerships programme. There is also a very strong commitment to supporting the continuing professional development of colleagues.

The School has its own salary scale and offers generous non-contractual benefits, well above the maintained sector, to attract high-calibre candidates. Accommodation may also be available for the successful applicant.

We encourage applications as soon as possible and the School reserves the right to commence or complete the interview process at any time prior to the closing date

The Department

In the First Year, boys may choose French, German or Spanish as their main language, which they study as part of their core curriculum to IGCSE level. In the Third Year, all boys opt for a second - and in some cases, third - language. French, German and Spanish are available, as well as Russian and Mandarin Chinese. All of these may be continued to IGCSE and beyond. Many boys choose to keep up their second and/or third language as an IGCSE option subject for the Fourth and Fifth Years and they achieve very good results.

Our results at (I)GCSE are very good, with over 80% of candidates achieving grades 8 or 9. A Level results are also very good with over 80% A* or A. Many of our A Level pupils have gone on to study Modern Languages at university, often in combination with other academic subjects.

Our teaching philosophy centres on the development of good oral skills, and so classes are generally in the target language where appropriate, with plenty of emphasis, particularly in junior classes, on role play and debating skills. At the same time there is also a strong emphasis on grammatical accuracy from the outset.

We are extremely proud that our French debaters have won the regional debating competition three times in the last six years and have twice been national champions in recent years.

The Modern Languages department is a large and vibrant department consisting of more than twenty Teachers, Assistants and a Languages Resources Coordinator. Teachers within the department who are Form Tutors usually have their own form room which tends to be a Languages teaching room.

There are two Modern Languages offices; one for French and Spanish teachers and another where colleagues in the German, Mandarin and Russian departments are located.

The department has a large number of dedicated classrooms, all of which contain data projectors and equipment to allow audio-visual and listening materials to be played effectively from the school laptop. Some of the rooms are in the newest part of the School and feature interactive whiteboards or more recent interactive panels.

The Modern Languages Resources storerooms and staff SharePoint pages provide a wide and regularly updated range of materials to support teaching and learning. Target language magazines and newspapers are available via PressReader, alongside a collection of books and reference materials.

A large DVD collection supports aural practice, cultural study and wider enrichment, particularly for older pupils. Teachers are encouraged to make use of streaming services including Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, ITV, Channel 4 and ClickView, which all offer access to a broad range of films and documentaries across all taught languages.

All pupils have a laptop enabling them personal access to online resources at home and in the classroom.

Requirements

Main responsibilities:

Strategic Direction and Development
• To promote interest in the learning of French throughout the School
• To develop a clear vision and strategy for the French department and curriculum in conjunction with the Head of Modern Languages and Deputy Head (Academic)
• To contribute annually to the Modern Languages departmental development plan, in keeping with the whole-School development plan and Hampton's aims and ethos
• To promote the French department at Open Mornings, visitors afternoons and other School events
• To monitor and assess the progress made towards achieving the aims of the department development plan
• To collaborate with other subject departments and to share good practice
• To keep up-to-date with academic developments in the subject and changes to the National Curriculum for French
• To establish and promote departmental policies in line with whole-School policies on such areas as differentiation, independent learning, stretch and challenge, assessment, homework, EDI and AI
• To submit an annual departmental review of public examination results to the Deputy Head (Academic), with reference to baseline data and other measures of performance
• To review teaching and learning in the French department in light of public examination results
• To promote the content of the departmental handbook and to collaborate with the Head of Modern Languages and other Heads of Language to review it annually

Teaching and Learning
• To encourage innovative and imaginative curriculum work, pedagogy and the sharing of teaching resources
• To establish high standards for teaching and learning within the department and to carry out regular intra-departmental lesson observations or learning walks
• To keep schemes of work under regular review and to ensure at the start of each academic year that appropriate guidance is available for members of the department
• To coordinate the setting and marking of internal assessments
• To communicate effectively with parents of pupils studying French by email and telephone
• To identify and work with any native and semi-native French speakers amongst the student body and oversee their preparation for IGCSE and A Level examinations as appropriate.

Leading and Managing the French Department
• To undertake line management responsibility for Teachers of French and the French Language Assistant
• To assist with the evaluation of members of the department via the School's Personal Development Process
• To engender a collegial atmosphere in the department, which enables all colleagues to develop and maintain an enthusiastic and confident attitude towards the excellent teaching of French in an academically selective setting
• To support the development and induction of PGCE students, ECTs and new teachers, liaising with the Induction Coordinator
• To support departmental colleagues, wherever and however appropriate (e.g. in the development of classroom management strategies) and advise on training needs
• To maintain clear records of all pupils' progress in French, including internal assessments, examinations and external examination results
• To hold regular, departmental meetings
• To recruit the French Language Assistant as/when required and to supervise his/her work

Efficient and Effective Deployment of Resources
• To produce timetable requirements in consultation with the Head of Modern Languages and Deputy Head
• To ensure that French teaching rooms, furniture, equipment, wall displays, etc. are maintained to a high standard, in order to create an effective and stimulating learning environment
• To oversee the issue and return of books etc. to pupils, maintaining stock appropriately and to liaise with the Librarian regarding library requirements

Other
• To undertake any other reasonable tasks required by The Headmaster in association with the above role

Person Specification:

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following skills, qualifications and experience.

Essential Criteria
• Commitment to the paramount importance of the safeguarding and wellbeing of pupils
• A good honours degree in French from a leading university
• An enthusiastic commitment to all aspects of the French department's programmes of academic and co-curricular activities across the age range
• The ability to manage and effectively lead the department as well as working as part of the team
• A professional, collaborative approach that inspires confidence in pupils, parents and colleagues
• Calmness and efficiency, with the ability to work under pressure when required to do so
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent IT skills - all teaching staff are supplied with a laptop computer
• The ability to demonstrate characteristics of outstanding teaching practice
• An awareness of the demands of teaching bright pupils and a commitment to fostering high academic achievement in an academically selective school setting
• Commitment to continuing professional development through attendance at INSET courses
• A keen eye for detail and a high level of administrative ability
• Willingness to contribute to the rich programme of co-curricular departmental activities, visits and trips
• Assiduous and willing to avoid the '9 to 5 approach'
• Commitment to the all-round ethos of the School, including its co-curricular activities and pastoral approach
• A willingness to organise and lead French day visits and residential trips
• An understanding of appropriate Health and Safety requirements.

Desirable Criteria
• A higher degree or experience of educational/subject-specific research
• The ability to teach German and/or Spanish
• Experience of leadership and management of people and resources
• Experience of external examining
• Experience of preparing pupils for Oxbridge entrance and/or DELF B1 and B2 exams
• Knowledge of the requirements and operation of the Independent School Inspectorate in terms of teaching, learning and assessment

Other information

Other:

• To act as Fire Marshal and First Aider as required. Training will be provided
• Any other reasonable tasks required by the Headmaster and/or Bursar in association with the above role.

Please note that there may be some changes and additions to the above, which will be discussed before implementation and changes may occur as the post develops. This document is designed to provide applicants with a "flavour" of the position and responsibilities.

Training

Where necessary, to attend INSET training or undergo other on the job training under the general direction of the Head of Department or training outside the school to increase competence, proficiency and safety awareness

Salary and Benefits

Hampton has its own generous salary scale and benefits package. Accommodation may also be available.

NQTs/ECT's are provided with an appropriate programme of induction leading to QTS, valid across both sectors.

The Hampton School Trust Governors currently offer the following non-contractual benefits to staff, subject to any terms and conditions and the School's eligibility requirements: death-in-service benefit insurance policy; private health care scheme (BUPA), a healthcare cash plan; enrolment in appropriate Pension Scheme, personal accident insurance, School fee remission, cycle to work scheme, lunch, sports facilities and counselling.

Hampton School is pleased to be a London Living Wage employer.

Please note that the above list is not exhaustive and non-contractual benefits are provided at the discretion of the Governors.

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK as Sponsorship is not available.

Equal Opportunities

It is the policy of Hampton School to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified individuals and to prohibit discrimination in employment on any basis protected by applicable law, including but not limited to race, colour, religious creed, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, age, medical condition or disability. Hampton School promotes equal employment opportunities in all aspects of employment through positive employment policies and practices.

If any special requirements are required to attend an interview, please inform the School.

Offers of employment will be made on merit and suitability of qualifications and experience, in pursuit of our policy of equal opportunities.

Safeguarding

The post holder's responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom s/he is responsible, or with whom s/he comes into contact will be to adhere to and ensure compliance with the School's Safeguarding Policy and Procedures at all times. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the School s/he must report any concerns to the School's Safeguarding Designated Persons or to The Headmaster.

The School reserves the right to offer the post at any stage in the appointment process. Further details of the School are available on the website.

Please note all appointments are subject to the Hampton School Trust Recruitment, Selection and Disclosure Policy and Procedure.

The School is legally required to carry out a number of pre-appointment checks which are detailed in the School's Recruitment, Selection and Disclosure Policy and Procedure. The information you are being asked to provide in this form is required so that the School can comply with those legal obligations should your application be successful. Please note that in order to be considered for a position at the School, you must complete this application form. A curriculum vitae will not be accepted in place of a completed application form.

Hampton School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, contractors and volunteers to share this commitment.