Transition Teachers - 3 Positions - Preston Lodge High School

Vacancy Information

Days of Work:
Monday - Friday
To start 12th August 2024.

For posts starting August, applications are welcome from current probationers pending attainment of full registration with the GTCS.

Preston Lodge High School is a non-denominational secondary school serving the communities of Cockenzie, Port Seton, Longniddry and Prestonpans. Our roll is currently 1060, and the school is very easily commutable from Edinburgh. The strengths of our school are:

• The high morale, sense of belonging and positive ethos of the school community
• The contributions of young people to improvements and our significantly improved attainment
• The nurturing, inclusive work of staff across the school in supporting young people’s learning and wellbeing
• The strong, positive relationships between staff and students

Our motivated staff, students, parents, carers, and community have worked hard to further improve all aspects of our school, and staff love working at Preston Lodge. We are a happy school, and new staff report very positively on our school’s culture and ethos.

Our work is focused on continuously improving our approach to classroom practice, developing student and staff learning, improving our curriculum offer and improving attainment, with a keen focus on our equity gap. The home-grown PL Learning Cycle ensures staff and students work together to develop an understanding of not just what key skills should be learned by students, but how they should be learned and why they are important.

We have unusually strong Positive Destinations data, and we are working hard to diversify our Senior Phase, to better meet the needs of all students. We are increasingly exploring alternative awards for young people. For example, we are a big user of the Open Universities Young Applicants in Scottish Schools scheme and have an increasing number of students participating in Youth Achievement Awards - all S3 students now undertake the Bronze Award of this scheme. This session we have introduced four one-year in-school Foundation Apprenticeships into our Senior Phase, and we have now determined to maintain a long-term role for Home Rooms in our S1 Curriculum.

S1 Home Rooms at Preston Lodge were the result of a very challenging session 23-24, when RAAC-related building disruption forced us to completely rethink our S1 curriculum. From August to November our S1s were accommodated in five off-site locations (our cluster primaries and the Pennypit Centre) for all learning, apart from a selection of practical subjects. Although this was logistically challenging, we learned a great deal about better approaches to S1 learning, and once our S1 students were back in our building we undertook extensive consultation with students, families, staff and wider stakeholders, considering the potential long-term benefits of S1 Home Rooms.

Our school has now emerged from a challenge period stronger than before, and we expect Home Rooms to play a key role in our development of a better S1 experience. We are now working on a finalised rationale and framework for our S1 curriculum, and as a rough guide we expect around 10 of our 32 S1 periods to be spent in Home Rooms, primarily focusing on literacy, numeracy and project-based learning.

The three Home Room teachers we appoint will work with a Principal Teacher to adjust and develop the Home Room offer put in place this session, and liaise with existing subject teams and our catchment primaries to develop a strong S1 curriculum.

This is an exciting time for Preston Lodge High School, and the community it serves. Although our new website is still in development, a lot of information can already be found at https://sites.google.com/edubuzz.org/prestonlodgenet

Job Details

To undertake class teaching duties.

Subject to the policies of the school and the education authority the duties of teachers, promoted and unpromoted, are to perform such tasks as the Head Teacher shall direct having reasonable regard to overall teacher workload related to the following categories-

a. teaching assigned classes together with associated preparation and correction.
b. developing the school curriculum.
c. assessing, recording and reporting on the work of pupils.
d. preparing pupils for examinations and assisting with their administration.
e. providing advice and guidance to pupils on issues related to their education.
f. promoting and safeguarding the health, welfare and safety of pupils.
g. working in partnership with parents, support staff and other professionals.
h. undertaking appropriate and agreed Career Long Professional Development (CLPL).
i. participating in issues related to school planning, raising achievement and individual review.
j. contributing towards good order and the wider needs of the school.

Please download the Job Outline/Person Specification (available under 'Job Attachments') for the full range of tasks and duties associated with this job. You will need to refer to these in order to complete the application form. You must ensure you meet every 'essential' criteria stated on the Person Specification to be considered for interview.

The ‘East Lothian Way’– values and behaviours we expect our employees to demonstrate in their everyday work. Should you be invited to interview, you may be asked questions based on these behaviours. Please refer to the document via the link to familiarise yourself with them.

Job Requirements

Relevant Qualifications
Registered with GTCS as a teacher of relevant subject
Permanent Posts: GTCS Full registration (General)
Temporary Posts: GTCS Full registration (General) / Provisional registration

PVG Membership
This post is considered as Regulated Work with vulnerable children and/or protected adults, as specified in the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007.

All preferred candidates for posts carrying out regulated work with these groups will be required to become a PVG Scheme member, or undergo a PVG Scheme update if they are already a member, prior to any formal offer of employment being made by East Lothian Council.

Please note: PVG member’s records are constantly updated with any new vetting information that arises. Any information that is disclosed on a PVG membership or update check, if relevant to the post being applied for, will be discussed with the applicant and investigated prior to any formal offer being made.

Please note:
If you have spent more than 3 months working or living outwith the UK in the last 5 years then you will be required to present a copy of an overseas criminal record check. Details of how to apply and contact details can be found on the GOV.UKwebsite.

Additional Information

For additional East Lothian Council employment information please click on the following link:
www.eastlothian.gov.uk/teachinginfo

Please Note - Pay arrangements for those starting after 1st day of school session
In accordance with Teachers Conditions of Service (SNCT - Appendix 2.19), Teachers who commence employment with East Lothian Council after the first day of the school session will have their salary for the remainder of the school salary year (which runs from 1 August to 31 July each year), recalculated to reflect how teachers accrue leave and pay.

In these circumstances, a calculation will be carried out upon commencement of employment and leave and pay will be adjusted. Further information will be provided to the successful candidate should this be applicable.

East Lothian Council Secondary Schools
Further details on all East Lothian Council Secondary Schools, including individual school websites can be found here: Secondary Schools

If you have any difficulties creating an account on MyJobScotland or applying for this post please contact the MyJobScotland support team via this link https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/contact-us.

If you require further information about this vacancy, please call 01620 827868, or email us on recruitment@eastlothian.gov.uk

Please note: We do not accept CV's (either electronically or by mail). All our vacancies must be applied for by fully completing the on-line application form. Although there is an ‘import data from my CV’ function on MyJobScotland, this only imports very limited data and should not be relied upon to complete the application form.