Assistant Master - London, United Kingdom - Westminster School

Westminster School

Verified Company

London, United Kingdom

1 week ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

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Description

Job Introduction

The prime responsibility of the Assistant Master (Academic) is to maintain oversight of academic affairs across the school, including organising internal and external assessments, timetabling, managing the senior schools admissions processes, tracking pupil progress and assisting with our own admissions processes.

A full job description and specification is included.

The Assistant Master (Academic) works closely with the Assistant Master (Teaching and Learning) to ensure that the highest standards of pupil progress are achieved, by carefully tracking pupil progress and using the information to foster academic growth throughout the School.

To this end, the post holder will also collaborate frequently with our Heads of Departments and a wide selection of teaching colleagues.

The Assistant Master (Academic) is a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) and is accountable to the Master for fulfilling the specific responsibilities of the role.

In common with other members of the SMT, the Assistant Master is required to take a whole-school perspective and to contribute to the strategic vision and planning of the School's development.

The Assistant Master (Academic) will undertake some teaching.

Main Responsibilities

Monitoring and Assessment

Maintain oversight of external assessments and exams throughout the school, ensuring that timings and loadings throughout the year are manageable and appropriate for both teachers and pupils.
Establish and maintain clear expectations in relation to academic standards, quality, and achievement for both pupils and teachers in the School.
Design, implement and review tracking systems, monitoring and evaluating their effectiveness and impact in raising pupil progress and attainment.
Lead teaching colleagues, including Heads of Department and Heads of Year, in the use of tracking and monitoring at departmental and whole School level, including use of baseline and valueadded data, and effective target setting.
Ensure that staff understand the data gathered and are empowered to utilise the information to enhance teaching and learning.
Monitor achievement across the School and identify barriers to learning which may affect achievement, in collaboration with the Assistant Master (Teaching and Learning) and Head of Learning Development.
Use assessment data to identify areas of strategic development at individual, group (e.g. SEND, EAL), departmental and School level.

Admissions and Transitions

Be fully conversant with the general requirements for transition to senior schools; including Pre-Tests, interviews, and Year 6 and 8 entrance examinations (including scholarships).
Coordinate arrangements for ISEB Common Pre-Tests in Year 6, including the preparation of boys and communication with parents, in liaison with the Head of Academic Transfer.
Coordinate arrangements for external exams, including Common Entrance, Challenge and King's Scholarship (and any other senior school entrance exams).
Coordinate additional lessons for Eton King's Scholarship and Winchester Entrance exams (or other senior schools if necessary).
Writing of academic references, primarily for Years 6 and 8, in liaison with the Assistant Master, Teaching and Learning, and the Head of Academic Transfer.
Organisation of Saturday lessons for 11+ entrants.
Collate all senior school information (past papers, examination feedback, etc.) and make these available to colleagues.
Communicate with boys, parents and staff regarding external examination arrangements and publish relevant information on Aptus and in the weekly newsletter.
Liaise with The Master, Registrar, and Head of Learning Development over the assessment of new children filling occasional places.
Assist the Assistant Master (Teaching and Learning), Registrar and Head of Learning Development with regard to 4+, 7+ and 8+ entrance exams.
Liaise with the Registrar and the Master regarding future schools.

Pupils and Parents

Oversee the academic reporting system within the school, reviewing effort and attainment grades and providing relevant data to staff for discussion regarding pupils' progress.
Monitor and track the progress of pupils in both formative and summative assessments.
Analyse progress data to identify and address trends, coordinating/delivering CPD and support as required, in collaboration with the Assistant Master (Teaching and Learning) and Head of Learning Development.
Develop the use of the MIS for academic purposes throughout the school, ensuring that it is being used correctly by colleagues.
Assist with arrangements for Year 8 setting and whole school form classes to ensure pastoral and academic balance.
Liaise with parents regularly over educational matters, including regarding children's suitability for future schools, suggesting the most appropriate points of departure and destinations and managing expectations for all.

SMT