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SHREWSBURY SCHOOL
Shrewsbury
Full-time
JOB DESCRIPTION and PERSON SPECIFICATION

Head of Economics

Section:

Academic Staff

Responsible
to:

Deputy Head (Academic)  Status of
position:

Full time,
permanent

Main purpose of the role

Heads of Faculty report to the Deputy Head (Academic) and are expected to lead their
team  of  teachers,  to  oversee  Faculty  administration,  and  to  deliver  the  subject  to  an
exceptional level across all relevant year-groups, helping pupils to cultivate confidence,
knowledge and understanding in all areas of the subject. Heads of Faculty also contribute
to the wider academic leadership of the school as a collective body.

Management

•  Line-managing all staff within the Faculty, including supporting colleagues
with their Individual Development Plans and ensuring the sharing of good

practice.

•  Promoting  and  monitoring  the  quality  of  evidence-based  pedagogical

practice throughout the Faculty.

•  Ensuring  equitable  and  effective  delegation  of  responsibilities  within  the

Faculty, including teaching load and super-curricular activities.

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•  Ensuring that appropriate provision in made, on a faculty level, for pupils

for whom adjustments must be made (SpLD, EAL, more able).

•  Oversee  super-curricular  Faculty  activities  (e.g.  trips,  societies,

clinics).

•  Assisting in the appointment of new members of staff to the Faculty.

Curriculum

•  Developing  an  appropriately  ambitious  Economics  curriculum  that
incorporates the Public Examination specifications that best suit our pupils.

•  Constructing and developing schemes of work for all year groups.

•  Giving advice about subject choices, exam results and higher education to

pupils, parents and guardians as appropriate.

•  Liaising with the School’s Examination Officer and examination boards on

matters related to Public Examinations in Economics.

•  Ensuring that the super-curricular opportunities (e.g. competitions, trips &

lectures) are available and inspire our pupils to participate.

Classroom  Teaching

•  Teaching  an  allocation  of  lessons  that  reflects  the  additional
responsibilities of the Head of Faculty, as directed by the Deputy Head
(Academic).

•  Undertake occasional additional teaching duties (e.g. the delivery of the
Extended Project Qualification, or Supervised Study) as directed by the

Deputy Head (Academic).

•  Plan  and  deliver  excellent  lessons,  consistent  with  the  published
schemes  of  work,  and  faculty  and  school  policies  which  engage  and
inspire pupils of all levels to make outstanding academic progress.

•  Adapt the planning and delivery of lessons to ensure that all pupils are

able make good progress.

•  Set  high  expectations  of  classroom  behaviour  and  maintain  a  classroom
environment  which  is  safe,  stimulating  and  within  which  the  positive
attitudes,  values  and  behaviour  expected  of  pupils  are  consistently

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modelled.

•  Continuously  evaluate  and  refine  teaching  to  improve  the  pupil  learning

experience.

•  Model  the  highest  standards  of  literacy  in  spoken  and  written

communications.

•  Liaise  effectively  with  the  pastoral  teams  to  ensure  that  any  pupil’s

progress can be seen in full context of their wider school life.

•  Use school ICT equipment and systems confidently to support learning.

Assessment & Reporting

•  Take  responsibility  for  pupils’  ongoing  attainment,  progress  and  final

outcomes.

•  Mark  work  regularly  (in  accordance  with  the  Faculty  and  School  marking
policy) and use assessment and feedback as a means of giving pupils an

opportunity  for  reflection  as  well  as  to  inform  the  planning  of  future
sessions.

•  Write  academic  reports  according  to  the  published  schedule  and

guidance.

•  Attend Parent Consultation meetings for all pupils taught each year.

Administration

•  Taking overall responsibility for Health and Safety for all Faculty work.

•  Organising and chairing regular Faculty meetings that enable all staff to

contribute to planning and policy making.

•  Playing an active role in Heads of Faculties’ meetings and attending any

other meetings as directed by the Deputy Head (Academic).

•  Taking responsibility for setting internal examinations.

•  Preparing the faculty timetable, including the class set lists.

•  Publishing  an  annual  Faculty  Report,  Faculty  Handbook  and  Faculty

Development Plan.

•  Ensuring the Faculty is well-resourced and that Economics classrooms

are inspiring learning spaces.

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•  Taking overall responsibility for the Faculty budget.

Wider  Professional  Responsibilities

•  Supply cover teaching for colleagues within the Faculty and  the whole

school as required.

•  Engage thoroughly with all processes of induction and the Individual

Development Plan process.

•  Assist with School Partnership and Community Engagement projects and
Admissions events as required, leading on Faculty-specific elements of
these.

•  Ensuring that the Economics content of the website and intranet is

accurate and up to date.

•  Representing the Faculty at internal and external events such as Open
Days, Prep School events, the A Level Options Fair and Rugby Group
meetings.

•  Play a significant role in both the pastoral and co-curricular life of the

school.

Safeguarding

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

•  The  postholder  must  comply  with  the  School’s  Safeguarding  &  Child

Protection policy at all times.

•  The postholder must undergo Safeguarding & Child Protection training as

directed by their Line Manager.

These duties are illustrative. Shrewsbury School reserves the right to alter the content of
this job description, after consultation and consistent with the level of responsibility of this
role, to reflect the school’s changing demands.

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Person Specification

Head of Faculty

A = Application form   D = Documents   I = Interview   P = Presentation

Description

Subject knowledge

Good undergraduate degree in Economics or a closely
related subject.

The ability to provide stimulating, well-planned lessons.

Subject knowledge in Economics to challenge pupils.

Experience of working with young people in an
educational context.

Teaching Qualification or Postgraduate qualification in
Economics or a closely related subject, or in a relevant
Education field.

Management and Administration

The ability to lead a team of teachers and administrative
practices of a busy Faculty.

Previous leadership experience within an academic
setting

The ability to support teachers in their professional
development, including observing and providing
feedback to teachers.

The ability to manage Faculty data and documentation,
utilising these resources to inform decision making.

Pastoral and co-curricular duties

Commitment to boarding school life and the ability to
carry out the role of tutor effectively.

Professional, yet caring and compassionate approach to
working with pupils.

Essential  Desirable  Method

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used

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Willingness to be involved in a range of co-curricular
activities.

✓

Experience of working with young people in a residential
context.

Qualifications and/or experience of leading/coaching
and/or performing in a competitive environment in
Sport, Music, Drama or Adventurous Activities.

Personal qualities

Excellent communication skills (oral and written) for
dealing with pupils, parents and colleagues.

Conscientiousness, enthusiasm, and the ability to sustain
term time hours, including some evenings and
weekends.

Ability to work independently and in a team.

Ability to develop a rapport with pupils and teachers
throughout the school.

Strong organisational skills, and the ability to meet
deadlines.

A positive attitude towards professional development
and their own learning.

Suitability to work with children

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

The postholder must comply with the School’s
Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy at all times.

The postholder must undergo Safeguarding & Child
Protection training as directed by their Line Manager and
the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

An enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check will be
completed on the successful applicant.

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