Head of Computer Science

**Responsible to**:Head of Maths and Computing Faculty, Deputy Head Academic

**Location**:Senior School and Sixth Form

**Role Description**:
To take responsibility for the leadership and management of the Computer Science Department on a fixed term basis, and support the Head and the 11-18 Senior Leadership Team in the strategic development, leadership and management of the academic life of the Senior School and Sixth Form as an active member of middle leadership.

**Background**

Digital learning is at the heart of students’ experience throughout the curriculum at Stephen Perse, but as a member of the Computer Science department you would be at the forefront of promoting and embedding creativity and computational thinking. Computer Science GCSE is a very popular choice for our students, as is the A Level with numbers continuing to grow over recent years.

Students are involved in a wide variety of coding related activities, ranging from a variety of visual coding activities and unplugged activities to the opportunity to create a variety of programs in Python and Swift. They have also designed various games in Scratch and using the Raspberry Pi both within curriculum time and also as part of initiatives such as Astro-Pi. We enter our students into the annual Bebras Computational Thinking Competition with a large proportion of students making it into the top 10% bracket of the country and taking part in the Oxford Computing Challenge in March.

The extra-curricular provision of Computer Science is as vibrant as the lessons, with trips to Google, Amazon, Arm and other industry leaders as well as to such local events as the FXP festival, talks and sessions at the Computing Museum. Our students compete in the areas of cryptography, cyber security, robotics, game design and more to extend and enthuse about the opportunities in Computer Science, and the club and enrichment provision continues to grow as demand increases.

**Specific Responsibilities**:
**_Teaching and Learning_**
- Lead the development of teaching and learning in the department.
- Coordinate lesson observations/work scrutiny within the department.
- Identify students in need of support and organise support sessions as needed.
- Ensure that assessment of students is regular, appropriate and thorough and that departmental and whole school policies are followed for reporting and recording the progress and attainment of students.
- Liaise with the Deputy Head Exams, Assessment and Data to ensure the process for data collection is reliable, valid and appropriate for effective student tracking.
- Review internal and external examination results.
- Analyse benchmark test results and the use of tracking data to inform teaching and learning.
- Deal with disciplinary problems that may arise and liaise with Heads of Year and parents as appropriate in relation to any classroom management concerns within the department.
- Oversee the development and implementation of policy and practice in ensuring effective learning environments, including the presentation and management of classroom and other teaching spaces, displays.
- Support the Deputy Head Academic (DHA), as required, on whole-school teaching and learning initiatives, including initiatives to ensure effective differentiation, support, enrichment and stretch.

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Curriculum design and delivery_**
- Support the DHA with the ongoing monitoring and review of the curriculum.
- Contribute to the wider management of the school, including by taking responsibility for relevant components of the 11-18 academic development plan, as required.
- Plan, implement and review the curriculum from Year 7 to Sixth Form within the school policy framework.
- Coordinate with the Junior Schools to ensure a suitable transition between the two parts of the Foundation around the Y6-7 transition point.
- Support the Deputy Head Co-Curricular and DHA with developing and implementing an outstanding programme of academic co-curricular activities across the department.

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**_Staff training and development _**
- Support the DHA to review, devise and implement, as required, academic and pedagogical induction and support for new staff, and INSET and CPD for all 11-18 teaching staff.
- Make sure that departmental INSET / CPD is appropriately planned and delivered.
- Develop approaches to teaching and learning within the department to ensure that suitable differentiation across the ability range is embedded within classroom practice.
- Undertake lesson observations, appraisals, and performance management processes, as appropriate, to support the professional development of members of the department.

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General administration_**
- Produce and update annually a department handbook including departmental policies and schemes of work.
- Prepare an annual budget for resources, equipment and other teaching materials.
- Organise and check public examination entries with the Examinations Officer.
- Ensure that stock and equipment a