Head of Mathematics

Responsible to: Head of School

Location: Dame Bradbury’s Junior School, Saffron Walden

Your Role as a Leader

We are seeking a dynamic and inspirational leader to become our next Head of Mathematics. This is a pivotal role, offering the opportunity to shape the mathematical journey of all of our students and foster a culture of enthusiasm and achievement within the department. We want someone who not only excels in the subject but also has a passion for igniting that same passion in others, inspiring our teachers to offer outstanding teaching and learning in this core curriculum subject.

Main Responsibilities in Years 1-6:

Set high expectations for yourself and your department which inspire, motivate and challenge pupils

● Promote excellence in teaching and learning to ensure all pupils at the earliest opportunity develop their potential in maths.

● Plan and teach well-structured maths lessons to meet the requirements of the timetable.

●Adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all pupils through clearly differentiated planning and lessons.

● Demonstrate a passion for, and in-depth knowledge of, the subject.

● Teach consistently high quality, well-resourced, maths lessons as a model to other staff face-to-face   and using digital platforms or resources.

● Challenge and inspire those higher attaining mathematicians by pushing them higher and further whilst ensuring opportunity and excellence for all abilities through differentiation, opportunity and experiences that engage and promote a love for the subject.

Leading and managing staff

● Work with the Assistant Heads, Inclusion and Academic to develop and improve the standard of teaching learning and achievement across all areas of maths.

●Demonstrate an enthusiasm for the subject which motivates, inspires and supports other subject staff and encourages a shared understanding of the contribution the subject can make to all aspects of pupils’ lives.

●Evaluate practice including planning to meet the needs of all individuals; and develop an acceptance of accountability across the staff body through thorough monitoring and feedback utilising information to define future CPD and training needs.

● Develop and maintain an up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the areas of teaching and pupil support for which you are responsible: and oversee the review, implementation and dissemination of best practice.

●Effectively review staff as required by the school policy, and use this process to develop the personal and professional effectiveness of the staff through recognising success and empowering others in the team to contribute to pupils' success.

● Manage and review overviews of the maths curriculum, planning, teaching and learning that meet the requirements of the year group and ability of the pupils through work scrutiny (including moderation), planning scrutiny, peer modelling, individual support, observations, learning walks and the leadership of CPD.

● Ensure that the development of maths skills are supported effectively by teaching and learning assistants (TLAs) liaising with the Deputy Head to ensure they are effectively deployed to impact on developing skills within lessons and at other appropriate times.

●Develop a bespoke maths curriculum to engage, include and inspire the children utilising the best teaching methods, resources and tailoring these to the needs of the children to ensure there is a high ceiling to their achievements.

Development of a curriculum that is relevant to all pupils, inspiring and aspirational

● Develop and maintain an up-to-date, dynamic and relevant progression of skills for maths and ensure planning and delivery reflect this for the breadth of the maths curriculum.

● Develop and maintain an up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the areas of teaching and pupil support for which the post-holder is responsible: and oversee the review, implementation and dissemination of best practice.

● Take responsibility for the development and ongoing review of mental maths and reasoning.

● Lead and develop the teaching of maths in liaison with staff who teach maths.

●Develop maths teaching and learning with regard to the Stephen Perse curriculum wheel and learning styles including the Thinking Toolkit.

● Additionally promote a love for all aspects of maths through inspirational speakers and visitors.

● Utilise technology within lessons and be pragmatic in utilising facilities, resources and opportunities to take maths outside of the classroom through events, opportunities and trips to link with learning where possible.

Responsibility for pupil achievement and progress including assessment and reporting

● Make accurate and productive use of assessment including the analysis and feedback of maths standardised data with a focus on pupil progress and areas for individual, class and curriculum development.

● Use data effectively to identify pupils who are underachieving in the subject and, where necessary, oversee the creation and implementation of effective plans of action to support those pupils; analyse and interpret relevant national, local and school data, plus research and inspection evidence, to inform policies, practises, expectations, targets and teaching methods.

● Working with the Assistant Head Inclusion, staff and inclusion TLAs, support the ways in which staff can address individual pupil needs as part of inclusion, diversity and equality.

● Support the Assistant Head Inclusion to develop, improve and inspire teaching staff and TLAs to support children of all needs and abilities.

● Plan, lead, manage and review the process of informal assessments of maths, ensuring that it is rigorous and consistent across and within year groups.

● Review data and comments within iSams and for reporting to parents to ensure high quality and consistency in accordance with the wider expectations of the School.

Working as part of a wider team including supporting transition

● Communicate and engage effectively with pupils, staff, senior leaders, and the Head of Maths at the parallel Junior School, and with the Senior School Head of Maths.

●Liaise with Senior School maths and EYFS curriculum leaders to support and promote effective transition and progression.

● Work alongside the Assistant Head Academic to report and share data with wider stakeholders like Governors, Senior Leaders as part of the wider links within the Stephen Perse Community.

Parental engagement

● Provide advice and guidance to parents as required and appropriate through curriculum events.

● Offer parent workshops for key areas like calculation, reasoning and home support as required.

● Communicate with parents about the maths curriculum via our social media feeds, news pages: and via the website through curriculum maps.

Effective planning and maintenance of department budgets and resourcing to support teaching and learning

● Manage a budget for maths on site which ensures that it meets the needs of the department priorities.

●  With the accounts/IT department, ensure that budget expenditure is accurately tracked and recorded.

● Oversee, and evaluate the effectiveness of, subject-specific resources and online subscriptions.

●Ensure that appropriate subject-specific resources are available, and help to upskill staff to develop their own resources and to disseminate them as appropriate.

Wider responsibilities

● Be an active and supportive member of the school and wider middle leadership team.

● Support open days and admissions days when required.

● Play an active role in our co-curricular and enrichment programmes.

● Support our Events, trips and visits across the age groups.

● Support a form or class role as needed as part of the Dame Bradbury’s Teaching team.

● Display passion and drive for the teaching and subject of maths; for example through clubs, assemblies and whole school events.

●  Fulfil all of the responsibilities and duties required by the Stephen Perse policies on teaching and learning.

● Meet all the standards set out in the DfE Teachers' Standards.

Terms and conditions

All appointments for Stephen Perse are subject to satisfactory reference and disclosure and barring service (DBS) checks, suitability to work with children checks, online checks, proof of identity and eligibility to work in the UK, completion of a medical questionnaire and proof of qualifications.

Hours of work

Full-time.

Salary

The successful candidate will be remunerated at the appropriate point on the Stephen Perse teaching scale, which is in excess of the state sector teaching scale.

Benefits

● Contributory pension scheme - Aviva Pensions Trust for Independent Schools (APTIS)

●  Salary sacrifice tech and cycle to work schemes

● Life assurance scheme

●  Rail season ticket loan/discount on train travel on Greater Anglia rail services

● Free lunch and refreshments provided

● A loan of an iPad, for use whilst employed at the school

●  Parking available at Dame Bradbury’s school

● Annual flu immunisation

● Many of the sites offer covered bike parking

● Free access to the Cambridge University Botanic Garden

●  Access to private health and dental plan subscriptions

● A staff discount on School Fees of 50% (pro rata for part time and term time) should staff have a child at any school (from Reception to Year 13) within Stephen Perse (from September 2025)

Please note, all benefits are under periodic review and subject to change.