Senior School Geography Teacher

Basic Information

• Department: Academic
• Responsible to: Head of Department, Head of the Senior School, Master
• Main purpose: To assume responsibility for teaching geography in the Senior School, under the direction of the Head of Department and by following the Wellington College curriculum.

Main Task

The successful candidate will play a key role in the continued success of geography at Wellington College in Shanghai. The College is looking for a candidate who would relish the challenge of continuing to grow the importance of the subject in a successful and still growing school.

The geography teacher will have the responsibility for the planning and teaching of the subject to the designated class, the content of each lesson being determined by the Senior School curriculum and by the Head of Department. The teacher will ensure that the subject is delivered in a way that provides coverage, progression and continuity. The teacher will also be required to carry out other such duties as the Head of the Senior School or the Master may reasonably direct from time to time. He/she is expected to display the highest standards of professionalism in his/her teaching and in his/her relationships with colleagues and parents.

The teacher must ensure that a good learning environment is provided for the teaching of geography, and that the students develop a positive attitude to the subject within the College. The teacher must present lessons in a structured and co-ordinated manner with due regard to the ability of the students and the curriculum targets of the particular year group.

Responsibilities

• DIRECTED TIME: To ensure attendance in College between stipulated hours and to attend all meetings/functions deemed to be directed time.
• PUNCTUALITY: To set high standards with regard to punctuality and to insist on the same from the students. To encourage good time-keeping amongst the students, monitor lateness within the class and provide remedies, both individual and general, to rectify its occurrence.
• COLLEGE RULES: To apply consistently and diligently the rules of the College in order to maintain discipline, standards of dress and to safeguard the happiness, safety and well-being of all students. To ensure that students know, understand and follow the College rules.
• ABSENCE: To request approval from the Master, via the Head of the Senior School, for any absence from the College and to give notice to appropriate people, especially the Head of Department, in good time. Wherever possible, to make medical appointments outside normal directed working time.
• STANDARDS: To maintain, with the rest of the teaching staff, high standards of conduct both in and out of the classroom. To act always in a way that conforms to the College ethos and values, and is in the best interests of the students.
• SAFETY: To emphasise the importance of safety and of safe methods of working in the classroom, and indeed in all areas of the College and the curriculum. To communicate to the students that they must take a responsible attitude to equipment and materials, with which they have been provided, and that they will be punished and possibly charged for damage inflicted upon College property.
• DRESS: To maintain smart and professional standards of appearance.
• MONITORING: To monitor and evaluate constantly the effectiveness of your own teaching, maintaining good standards of practice and ensuring progression. To participate fully in the Staff Appraisal system, with classroom observation of colleagues and a willingness to be personally observed within the classroom. To submit books, records or planning as required for monitoring by colleagues or the Head of Department.
• ASSESSMENT: To assess regularly the students’ work by means of formal and informal termly/half-termly assessment, as directed by the Head of Department, the Head of the Senior School the Master. To communicate with the Head of Department regarding any student whose progress or behaviour gives cause for concern.
• COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS: To communicate with parents on a regular basis, as directed by the Head of Department, the Head of the Senior School and the Master. To attend Parents’ Meetings as required and to provide accurate, honest information regarding the progress of individuals in geography at these meetings. To report to the parents in the form of regular written reports, and when may be additionally required by the Master and the Head of the Senior School.
• RECORD KEEPING: To maintain all the relevant College records, and ensure they are provided/delivered at the stipulated time. To keep all records relating to the students’ academic progress, and to ensure that these records are shared with colleagues and are
• available for inspection by the Head of Department, the Head of the Senior School and the Master.
• CURRICULUM POLICY: To be involved in developing, implementing and monitoring all College policies regarding geography, and to assist in the necessary documentation pertaining to the subject, where required by the Head of Department.
• DISPLAY: To ensure that the examples of the students’ work are displayed and presented to a high standard in the classroom, and, where appropriate, throughout the Senior School. To ensure that these displays are changed regularly.
• CLASSROOM APPEARANCE: To ensure that the classroom and adjacent corridors etc are kept suitably tidy for prospective parents, to welcome the latter into the classroom and be prepared to give a short explanation of lesson content and displays etc.
• HOMEWORK: To oversee and implement the Senior School Homework policy for all geography classes.
• DUTIES: To carry out duties in the Senior School as required and timetabled by the Head of the Senior School and the Master. This will include playtime supervision, lunchtime supervision and after-school supervision.
• COVER: To provide cover for absent colleagues as and when deemed necessary by the Master and the Head of the Senior School.
• STAFF DEVELOPMENT: To attend and participate fully in Wellington College Staff Development and INSET programmes. To attend staff meetings and briefings as and when required by the Master and the Head of the Senior School.
• MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES: To assist with the resourcing of geography for the Senior School, and to work with the Head of Department in drawing up the annual order.
• COLLEGE DEVELOPMENT: To support the College Development Plan generally and in so far as it relates to geography.
• EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: To play a full role in the weekly extracurricular activities programme. The programme will take place outside of the prescribed teaching hours, as directed by the Master and the Head of the Senior School.
• ASSEMBLIES: To make a significant contribution to College assemblies, and newsletters, and by so doing highlight the work carried out by students in the subject.
• COLLEGE EVENTS: To contribute as fully as possible to the annual calendar of College events, in whatever way possible.
• MISSION STATEMENT: To make all students aware of the Wellington College Mission Statement, including the Eight Aptitudes model of education, their values, aims etc, and to display them in an innovative and informative fashion in the classroom and adjacent corridors.