VACANCIES
FOR SUMMER 2008
Support Teacher (This post has been discontinued for 2008)
Would you like to work on one of
our Courses? You must be a NATIVE ENGLISH-SPEAKER with appropriate
TEFL qualifications and experience. Read on....
First let me tell you a little about us.
Background information
Vacational Studies Courses have run for
35 years. Most students come to us on recommendation from parents
whose children have already been with us. We are accredited
by the British Council and are members of English UK (formerly
ARELS). We have high standards of professionalism and expect
the same from staff. Our reputation is of the greatest importance
and is, I believe, second-to-none. Parents are confident that
their children will be secure. The Students
We have a full programme of teaching,
sporting and social activities. With our total staff:student
ratio of about 1:9, we can provide the pastoral care that comes
from supervision that is as complete as possible. The Courses
are international with most European countries represented.
Our students tend to be well-motivated. Many return from year
to year. As the Courses are fully residential, there are good
opportunities to get to know the children and do various kinds
of work with them. Accommodation and meals
The posts are resident. Basic accommodation
is provided at no charge, as are all meals, except meals on
excursions.The teaching
Teaching takes place on five days a week,
including Saturdays. There are four 45-minute lessons in the
mornings and one 30-minute 'homework' period after lunch. Classes
are graded according to ability with a teacher:student ratio
no greater than 1:16. We use books such as "Cutting Edge",
'Total English', ' Energy 2', ' Over to You', ' Smart Elementary’,
' Matters’, ' Vista' and ' Panorama 2' as the main textbooks.
We also have a variety of supplementary material covering the
range lower-intermediate to advanced. Some of the work is a
special Task-Based Learning' programme. We have work on audio
and video cassettes. Teachers may include their own appropriate
materials and methods. Extra-curricular activities
Staff also join in with the sports and
social programme on at least six occasions each week. In addition,
they accompany excursions and shopping trips on a rota basis
and assist with supervision on Sports Day. All staff assume
the normal pastoral responsibilities that are part of boarding
school life. Duties
All staff have 2½ duty days each
week, or the equivalent. There are also two completely free
24-hour days during the Course - a Sunday or an excursion day.
Collection and return service
Some staff meet students at Heathrow on
the first day and check them in when they return. Qualifications
expected
Applicants must be graduates and hold
qualifications such as CTEFLA/CELTA; Trinity College London
Certificate in TESOL; PGCE in English/modern languages with
TEFL subsidiary; university 'certificate in TEFL' courses. A
qualification must be externally validated by a reputable examination
body (usually a university or recognised examination board);
there must be at least six hours' supervised teaching practice
(i.e. teaching practice where a qualified assessor observes
the trainee teacher teaching real TEFL students and gives feedback
on the trainee's performance); the course must contain at least
100 hours of TEFL input. PGCE or equivalent qualifications which
lead to qualified teacher status in the UK in a subject related
to English Language teaching (i.e. modern languages or English)
and for an appropriate age group may be considered to be appropriate
qualifications for teaching EFL to juniors. Dates,
duration and pay
We offer employment for a period of
just over four weeks. The Support Teacher(s) cover classes
when, for example, the Course Tutor is observing classes or
when a teacher is ill. When not teaching, they may sit in
on classes. They do boarding duties and help with the sports/social
activities. They will be recently qualified teachers seeking
experience in this field. Accommodation will be at any of
the Schools. Payment is £1200.00 (one thousand two hundred
pounds) for the duration. As they may have to be at any of
the schools at short notice, Support Teacher(s) should be
mobile with their own transport.
The period of employment is from the
morning of the day before the first day of the Course until
mid-afternoon on the last day of the Course. Payment is by
cheque at the end of the Course. If they wish, staff can be
paid a 25% advance by cheque at the end of the first week,
to be deducted from the final balance. As employment is temporary,
we are not at present required to deduct PAYE from British
staff at source unless staff advise us that they are ordinarily
resident in the UK and, therefore, liable to PAYE. Anyone
defined as a ' student' for the tax year is not liable to
PAYE. Deductions will be on a ' Week 1/Month 1' basis. NI
is deducted at the prevailing rate.
Suitability
Ideally, applicants will have experience
with the 11-17 age-range in residential situations. An interest
in participating in the corporate life of the Course - in the
classroom, on the sportsfield and socially - is essential. If
this appeals, please complete the application form, giving your
choice of Course in order of preference. We shall then send
you our ‘Notes for Staff 2008’ which describes the
post in more detail and invite you here for interview. We pay
your rail fare. If appointed, your acceptance of the contents
of this information sheet and the ‘Notes for Staff 2008’
together with our letter offering the post and your acceptance
of it form the contract. We always contact referees. As there
is responsibility for and substantial access to children, UK-based
staff should apply for 'subject access' at their local police
station. Overseas-based staff should obtain a certificate of
good conduct from the British Embassy. A check is made against
List 99 and with CRB. If you have existing CRB clearance, so
much the better. Proof of qualifications is requested - as is
an explanation for any gaps in CVs.
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