Primary Teacher

Job purpose:

• To carry out the role of Class Teacher
• To seek to ensure that pupils attain the highest possible standards in all aspects of school life.
• To ensure a consistent approach to planning, teaching and assessment and to ensure that there is continuity and progression in pupils’ learning.
• To demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and staff.

Professional Duties:

• In line with current Pay and Conditions Agreement and Teachers’ Standards, it is the responsibility of the post holder to carry out the following professional duties.

Duties and responsibilities:

• To work consistently to uphold the school’s mission statement.
• To follow all school policies and procedures.
• To work in a co-operative and polite manner with all stakeholders.
• To work with pupils in a courteous, positive, caring and responsible manner at all times.
• To follow the child protection procedures and ensure that pupils’ safety and wellbeing is never compromised.
• To be polite, co-operative and positive when communicating to other staff
• To take an active and positive role in the school’s commitment to the development of staff.
• To work with visitors in such a way that it enhances the reputation of the school.
• To seek to improve the quality of the school’s overall service.
• To present oneself in a professional way that is consistent with the values and high expectations of the school.

Specific responsibilities:

• Set high expectations which inspire, motivate and challenge pupils.
• Establish a safe and stimulating learning environment for pupils, rooted in mutual respect.
• Set targets that stretch and challenge pupils of all backgrounds, abilities and dispositions.
• Demonstrate consistently the positive attitudes, values and behaviour which are expected of pupils.

Pupil Progress:

• Promote good progress and outcomes by pupils.
• Ensure pupils make the expected rate of progress.
• Be accountable for pupils’ attainment, progress and outcomes.
• Plan teaching to build on pupils’ capabilities and prior knowledge.
• Guide pupils to reflect on the progress they have made and their emerging needs.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how pupils learn and how this impacts on teaching.
• Encourage pupils to take a responsible and conscientious attitude to their own work.

Subject and curriculum knowledge and pedagogy:

• Demonstrate good subject and curriculum knowledge.
• Have a secure knowledge of the relevant subjects and curriculum areas, foster and maintain pupils’ interest in the subjects and address misunderstandings.
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of and take responsibility for the promotion of high standards of literacy, articulacy and the correct use of standard English.
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of appropriate teaching strategies for mathematics.

Effective classroom practice:

• Plan and teach well structured lessons.
• Ensure all teaching is good.
• Impart knowledge and develop understanding through effective use of lesson time.
• Promote a love of learning and children’s intellectual curiosity.
• Set homework and plan other out of class activities to consolidate and extend the knowledge and understanding pupils have acquired.
• Reflect systematically on the effectiveness of lessons and approaches to teaching.
• Contribute to the design and provision of an engaging curriculum.

Diversity and special needs – meeting the needs of all pupils:

• Adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all pupils.
• Know when and how to differentiate appropriately, using approaches which enable pupils to be taught effectively.
• Have a secure understanding of how a range of factors can inhibit pupils’ ability to learn, and how to best overcome these.
• Demonstrate an awareness of the physical, social and intellectual development of the children, and know how to adapt teaching to support pupils’ education at different stages of development.
• Have a clear understanding of the needs of all pupils, including those with special education needs; those of the highest ability; those with English as an additional language; those with disabilities; and to be able to use and evaluate distinctive teaching approaches to engage and support them.

Assessment for learning:

• Make accurate and productive use of assessment.
• Know and understand how to assess the relevant subject and curriculum areas, including statutory assessment requirements.
• Make use of formative and summative assessment to secure pupils’ progress.
• Use relevant data to monitor progress, set targets, and plan subsequent lessons.
• Give pupils regular feedback, both orally and through accurate and frequent marking, and encourage pupils to respond to the feedback.

Managing behaviour:

• Manage behaviour effectively to ensure a good and safe learning environment.
• Have clear rules and routines for behaviour in the classroom and take responsibility for promoting good and courteous behavior both in the classroom and around the school, in accordance with the school’s discipline policy.
• Have high expectations of behaviour and use the school’s established framework for discipline with a range of strategies, using praise, sanctions, and rewards consistently and fairly.
• Manage the class effectively, using approaches which are appropriate to pupils’ needs in order to involve and motivate them.
• Maintain good relationships with pupils, exercise appropriate authority, and act decisively when necessary.

The wider professional role of the teacher:

• Fulfil wider professional responsibilities.
• Make a positive contribution to the wider life and ethos of the school.
• Develop effective professional relationships with colleagues, knowing how and when to draw on advice on specialist support.
• Deploy support staff effectively
• Take responsibility for improving teaching through appropriate professional development, responding to advice and feedback from colleagues.
• Communicate effectively with parents with regard to pupils’ achievements and wellbeing.