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Academy Riddlesdown Collegiate, Croydon

Required September 2023

Salary TCT5 £35,886 – TCT14 £48,055 + TLR £7,363

Closing Date Tuesday 9th May 2023 (9.00am)

Interviews tbc

Welcome

Dear Applicant

Thank you for your interest in the post of Director of Geography. I hope that this information pack will help you to
learn more about our fantastic school and that you will be excited about the prospect of developing your career with
us.

Riddlesdown Collegiate is an outstanding school (OFSTED, May 2016) with a clear vision to deliver successful outcomes
and positive futures for all of our students. They are bright, well-motivated and a pleasure to work with, whilst our
staff are talented, hard-working and ambitious for themselves and others. Our superb facilities enable us to provide
the very best learning environment and learning experiences for our students and it is the combination of these factors
that leads to the high academic standards and enviable reputation that The Collegiate Trust is known for. I am very
proud of what we do and what we have achieved at the Collegiate and, as a World Class School, I hold the highest
aspirations for what we will do and achieve in the future. You might like to watch our Welcome, College VI and
Teaching at Our School videos.

As the Director of Geography, you will be responsible for the development of teaching and learning and the standards
achieved in Geography across the Collegiate. This will require effective professional leadership of a team of staff to
ensure that all students enjoy a rich learning experience and make or exceed expected progress. The person
specification identifies the experience, skills and attributes we are seeking, but in short we are looking for:

• a very strong classroom practitioner

• a confident role model with the ability to motivate and influence

• an individual with strategic and emotional intelligence

• an ambitious leader
  

This is an exciting and very fulfilling post, providing excellent preparation for further promotion and, naturally, there
will be high quality support and opportunities for further professional learning and development in the role.

In applying to Riddlesdown Collegiate, you will need to understand our “small schools” model and your potential role
within it. Our VALUES underpin the way in which we work and describe our high expectations and our emphasis on
positive relationships across the Collegiate. Our motto, “Learners of today, Leaders of tomorrow”, applies as much to
staff as it does to students and it gives an indication of the significance we place on nurturing talent and leadership. I
shall make a presentation to shortlisted candidates at the start of the interview day to illustrate our structure further
and outline our requirements for all colleagues who work with us.

I would be delighted to receive an application from you if, upon consideration, you feel that this role and the
Collegiate may be right for you. To submit an application, please complete the form on our website, attaching
where requested a statement of no more than two sides of A4, identifying clearly how you meet the person
specification. If you have any further questions about this post, I would be pleased to speak with you; please
feel free to telephone me at the Collegiate.



Yours sincerely

Mrs K Turner
Principal

Key Information

We operate a “small schools” model – one school made

up of a number of smaller learning communities, which

we call Colleges, each with their own staff and facilities.

Each College is led by its own Headteacher (who is an

Assistant Principal) and has its own team of

approximately 25 teachers and non-teachers, covering

most curriculum areas. Students join one of the Colleges

in Year 7 and remain there for five years before

transferring to College VI, our specialist post-16

provision. In addition, the Creative and Performing Arts

(CPA) College delivers specialist education to students

across the Collegiate in Art, Drama, Design Technology,

Media, Music and Physical Education whilst the MacKay

College co-ordinates inclusion services to students with

additional needs. Small teams, working with just 400

students each, allow us to provide even better pastoral care to all students, as well as engage with learners

and their families in more effective partnerships. They also provide teaching across the curriculum and

learning teams focusing on personalised approaches and best serving the needs of the individual students in

their care.

Information about The Collegiate Trust

Our Trust works in the Crawley and Croydon areas with a clear vision to deliver exceptional education for all.

Such an education achieves excellent outcomes in pupil progress and attainment, a rich creative, cultural

and physical learning experience, and great personal and social development for all pupils. We achieve this

by working with and developing strong teams of staff in each school, under the direction of the Principal of

the school and the Local Governing Body (LGB)

The Trust has grown out of Riddlesdown Collegiate, an outstanding (OFSTED, May 2016) secondary school

in Croydon with almost 2000 students and over 200 staff. Gossops Green, in Crawley, was the next school –

and the first primary – to join the Trust, followed by Waterfield Primary (also in Crawley) on 1st March 2018.

A second secondary, The Quest Academy (in Croydon), joined on 1st June 2018 and two further primaries,

Courtwood Primary and Gilbert Scott Primary (both in Croydon) joined on 1st September 2018. Most recently,

Kenley Primary joined on 1st September 2021.

Each school within the Trust is supported centrally by a designated Director of School Improvement on

teaching and learning issues, the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Finance Officer & HR Manager on business

management and HR issues, and the CEO on wider leadership issues. This complements rather than replaces

in-school functions and allows the Principal and LGB to operate with a high level of autonomy in delivering

the highest standards in their school. The LGB works to a Scheme of Delegation approved by the Trust’s

Board of Directors.

Our Values

Our ethos is to be a community in which all members are valued and value each other. We are the leaders

of the Riddlesdown community, responsible for our learning and the Collegiate. We work together to

maximise our own achievement and those of others. In applying for a post at Riddlesdown Collegiate,

applicants should consider how they would promote our values in their day-to-day work with students,

colleagues and other stakeholders.

Value each other

Aim high

Lead by example

Use and develop our talents

Excel in our efforts

Stick at it

Our Students

The vast majority of our students join the Collegiate in Year 7 with above average attainment. Behaviour is

outstanding and our students consistently demonstrate their desire to learn and to achieve. They enjoy

coming to school (attendance is over 95%)

and enjoy lessons where they can explore,

investigate and feel challenged by their

learning. They equally value the

opportunities they have to learn outside of

the classroom and we are proud of the

extensive and varied extra-curricular

programme that our students enjoy and

benefit from. It is these additional, high

quality learning experiences, together with

a strong set of academic qualifications that

we believe provides our students with the

very best chances of success in their future

lives.

Geography at Riddlesdown Collegiate

The key aim for the Geography team is that all students acquire the geographical knowledge, understanding

and skills to help them make sense of the changing world around them.

All students are taught for five periods across two weeks in Years 8 to 9 where the National Curriculum is

followed. Students study a wide variety of courses at Key Stage 3 covering aspects of human, physical and

environmental themes. In Years 10 students who opted for Geography have begun to follow the Edexcel A

course whilst Year 11 students will continue to follow the OCR B GCSE for the final time. Both specifications

allow students to study a range of topics from both the natural and human world and allow them to consider

the interactions between the 2. Assessment is through three exams: one physical, one human and one

Geographical Exploration/skills paper.

At A-level, the Edexcel specification is followed and content includes: Tectonic Hazards, Coastal Landscapes

and Change, Globalisation, Regenerating Places, The Water Cycle and Water insecurity, The Carbon cycle

and Energy security, Superpowers and finally Health, Human Rights and Intervention. Students will sit 3

exams: one physical, one human and one synoptic paper. Students also complete a n NEA on a title of their

choice.

Each member of the team works under the supervision of the Director of Geography. Schemes of Work,

Teaching Notes and Assessments have been updated in line with the latest developments in Geography

teaching, research into pedagogical approaches and the National Curriculum. There is a strong team ethos

within the group and team members have the benefit of a vast range of resources. Many different textbooks

are available, in addition to other resources such as fieldwork equipment and we use a wide range of

websites, such as Seneca, to support both teaching and learning and student progress. Teachers also have

the opportunity to use computer equipment in the classroom and a weather station to carry out Micro

climate investigations across the key stages.

Students are actively encouraged to engage with the world around them. Fieldwork is actively encouraged

as an integral part of the subject and visits take place within the locality and further afield. We look forward

to being able to visit places this year such as Hove with Year 11 to study coastal management and the London

Docklands to consider urban sustainability. We are also hopeful to carry out a trip to the New Forest, to

complete the A Level NEA and an extra-curricular trip to Iceland. The department is a member of both the

GA and the RGS and we attend regular events run by both of these organisations. As a department we are

always looking for ways to develop and bring Geography to ‘life’ for our students.

Job Description

Purpose of the Post:

• To provide professional leadership and management of learning in Geography across the Collegiate.

• To secure high quality teaching and learning in Geography, resulting in improved standards of

Accountable to: Assistant Principal

Curricular Leadership

i. Develop, implement, monitor and evaluate a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) which delivers
Geography priorities and raises standards across the Collegiate.

ii. To agree and use Collegiate targets for attainment, which make a substantial contribution to the
Collegiate’s ambitions to be an outstanding organisation.

iii. To develop, implement, monitor and evaluate programmes in Geography which improve teaching and
learning and raise standards of achievement.

Pastoral Leadership

i. To be a form tutor within the College, monitoring and supporting the academic and social
development of members of a Tutor Group.

ii. To undertake duties at the direction of the College Head.
iii. To promote and safeguard the welfare of all children and/or young people for whom you are

responsible or with whom you come into contact with.

Dimensions of the Post

i. Staff

• To provide professional leadership to the Geography team.

• To participate in all appraisal processes and carry out appraisal functions as required.

• Through line management arrangements, to ensure professional developments needs are identified

ii. Students

• To teach an agreed timetable across all Key Stages, ensuring the highest quality provision for

• To use data effectively to track and support achievement of all students, looking carefully at groups

• To promote and safeguard the welfare of all children and/or young people for whom you are

• To support the day-to-day smooth running of the Collegiate by providing the highest levels of care

iii. Resources

• Deploy capitation to deliver the highest quality teaching and learning and achieve value for money

• Maintain the Collegiate’s facilities to the highest standards to promote outstanding learning.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Good honours degree

2:1 or better

Qualified Teacher Status

Further professional learning & development

Experience

Leading students of all abilities and ages, including experience with post-16 provision

Leading a significant team in developing and delivering strategic aims

Working with and presenting to parents

Working with and presenting to staff

Undertaking action research

Skills and Attributes

Ability to teach outstanding lessons

Ability to coach teachers and leaders to deliver consistently outstanding lessons

Ability to lead, motivate and inspire teams

Capacity to challenge teams and individuals to improve performance

Capacity to work alongside colleagues, coaching and advising in order to improve performance

Proven track record of leading improvement across a team, resulting in significantly increased
attainment

Ability to synthesise and analyse data, and draw up detailed action plans

Ability to demonstrate and promote good practice in line with the ethos of the Collegiate

Ability to quickly establish and maintain positive relationships with students, staff and families

Ability to communicate effectively in written and oral form, including excellent level of literacy

Understanding of safeguarding issues and promoting the welfare of children and young people

Suitability to work with children

Emotional intelligence

A completer/finisher

Resilience, tenacity and aspiration

Staff Benefits

The Collegiate Trust is an exciting, fast-paced group of schools committed to progress, collaboration and
excellence for all staff and students alike. We are a dynamic and expanding trust of seven schools (two
secondaries with Sixth Form provision, and five primaries) with numerous and diverse career opportunities
for both new and existing staff.

All staff and governors, at every level of their career, in both teaching and business support functions, have
an equal entitlement to Continuous Professional Development (CPD). This promotes, develops and supports
staff in their shared commitment to lifelong learning. Results are reviewed and evaluated regularly in order
to support further development of our CPD programme and drive constant improvement.

Through expert facilitation, Trust-wide collaboration, inter-school networking, and our extensive CPD
programme, every member of staff has the opportunity to make substantial contributions to the
development of the curriculum, pedagogy and delivery of business services, whilst improving their own
prospects of career progression. We are committed to:-

• facilitating career progression

• offering excellent professional development

• providing opportunities to lead

• extending support from Trust experts

• developing collaborative opportunities to generate new and next practice
  

Other tangible benefits of working within a TCT school include1:-

Exceptional performance rewards Two-Week October Half Term (instead of 5 INSET days) Well-equipped Staff Rooms and Work Rooms in each College Excellent learning resources in classrooms Cutting-edge technology provision Staff Diner (delicious hot and cold meals every day) Free use of Fitness Suite Other fitness and wellbeing activities, e.g. Staff Football, Yoga, Spin, Staff Choir Free Flu Vaccination available Free Microsoft Office apps Potential for rapid pay progression on The Collegiate Trust scale Contribution to cost of Masters in Education Superb ECT Induction Programme including two-week paid training in June/July A designated delivery partner for the National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) In partnership with St Mary’s University, facilitating the delivery of the MA Education, Leading

Innovation and Change

Individuals who are successful in their application to The Collegiate Trust join us at an exciting time. In return
for the opportunity to be part of our Trust, we ask that all joining members of staff share in our vision of
“Exceptional Education For All” and are motivated to work continuously towards developing their own
professional excellence.

1 At the time of publication, not all benefits available at every TCT school.

How to find us

By Car
Please see the map.
M25 J6 or J7 are 10-15 minutes drive.
Parking is available on and off site.

By Train
A direct train from Victoria to Riddlesdown
station takes 24 minutes. Riddlesdown
station is a short walk from the school.
Kenley station is also a short walk from the
school, over the common. Kenley has direct
trains from Victoria and London Bridge.
More frequent trains run from Purley
Station, where a 412 bus can be taken to
Lower Barn Road, leaving a 10 minute walk.

By Bus
On routes 407, 412, 612.

A Riddlesdown Collegiate
Honister Heights, Purley, CR8 1EX
T 020 8668 5136
E [email protected]
W www.riddlesdown.org