Application Pack for the post of Head of EAL

100 rising to 600 students | Coeducational | 11 – 18 years
Appointment for August 2017

Dear Applicant

MALVERN COLLEGE CHENGDU

Thank you for your interest in the post of Head of EAL at Malvern College Chengdu. The Board of Malvern College Chengdu, together with our partner Malvern College UK, are seeking to appoint an outstanding educationalist to this post for August 2017. With student numbers rising following our excellent iGCSE results we invite candidates to join our experienced academic team.

Malvern College Chengdu opened in September 2015 with the aim to be a leading centre for the education of the brightest young people of China and of the wider region, preparing them to move on to the foremost universities of the world. It occupies a very attractive green site in the North of Chengdu adjacent to the Botanical Garden.

To the right candidate, this post offers an extremely rewarding experience, an opportunity to make a real contribution to international education through helping a new school bring the best of British education to China in partnership with one of the UK’s leading independent schools. This role will be an ideal stepping stone for those with ambitions to play a leading role in international education, whilst at the same time furthering their own careers.

The ability to offer a second science subject would be a distinct advantage.

I hope you find the information provided helpful. If you would like to know more about this post, or to have an informal discussion about your application, please telephone me on +86 158 0286 1537.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Malcolm Phillips
Headmaster
Malvern College Chengdu

Malvern College Chengdu, seeks to appoint an English/EAL Teacher for Malvern College Chengdu, China, to join our experienced academic team.

For 2017 there is a requirement to recruit further academic teachers to join MCC due to the rise in student applications to the school. We invite you to join us in this exciting journey, bringing top-class international education to China. Our staff are a team of highly motivated teaching professionals hired from all around the world, and MCC offers a truly dynamic and energetic working atmosphere and cultural experience.

Chengdu is located in Sichuan province and has a rich heritage and a moderate continental climate. It is a rapidly growing city with an affluent population and, as the business hub of Sichuan province, is home to many multinational companies and a large tourist industry. Chengdu is a lively city with a friendly and vibrant local and expat community. The city is a fantastic location for domestic and international travel, with many great destinations right here in Sichuan. There is a fast and clean metro train system running across the city. Sichuan is well known for its cuisine and Chengdu offers local and international restaurants, tea houses and the famous hotpot. Sichuan is home of the panda and the nearest visitors centre is only 10 minutes from the school campus.

On top of a highly competitive remuneration package, we offer professional development opportunities. Teachers arriving from overseas will be provided with furnished accommodation or accommodation allowance, an annual flight allowance, as well as a gratuity at the end of your two-year contract and each time you renew your contract. Medical insurance is also provided.

Core Purpose

To lead the English as an Additional Department providing pupils with high quality teaching, raising the profile of English as an Additional Language and driving the development of English usage throughout the school.

Job Description

Strategic LeadershipThe successful candidate will be able:

• Advise the Headmaster on staffing and organisation structures
• Lead the recruitment, retention and performance management of the EAL Department to ensure consistently high standards of teaching
• Maintain a departmental development plan with milestones for progressing towards the school’s vision
• Plan and manage resources of the EAL Department, e.g. co-ordinate the administrative support for the Department, develop the backup plan for absent colleagues, allocate teachers to sets consistent with their strengths and needs of the school
• Lead and manage a professional community of subject teachers to ensure the highest student attainment and progress

Curriculum Development and Assessment

• Develop, set up, manage and review the activities relating to the EAL curriculum for the whole school and for each academic level respectively
• Support other departments by developing an EAL dimension to their scheme of work
• Support the Headmaster to develop the students’ academic timetable and specifically to organise the English EAL classes
• Be aware of academic and curricular changes affecting the subject and ensure that everyone in the Department is thoroughly administratively and academically up-to-date
• Contribute to the overall curriculum planning of the school including attending Heads of Department meetings, and Academic Committee meetings, etc.
• Review exam entry policies and choose Exam Boards in consultation with the Headmaster
• Create links with universities, Exam Boards and professional bodies
• Develop English EAL standard assessment tests for current and prospective students
• Support the development of school assessment mechanism to improve the quality of both teaching and learning
• Encourage and support the full integration of use of ICT within the EAL Department
• Organise additional classes and support for students with the additional or specific needs

Teachers Assessment and Professional Development

• Oversee INSET and professional development within the EAL Department
• Contribute to the selection and professional development of teachers and support staff in the EAL Department including the induction and on-going assessment of teachers
• Play a leading role in teachers training, including delivering on-the-job training, teacher development seminars, training of specific programmes, department support and 1:1 support for teachers
• Advise on the school provision of EAL continuous professional development

Collaboration and Teamwork

• Foster good relations with other departments and feeder schools
• Work with the other subject teachers of the school to raise students’ standards of English usage through teaching of other subjects
• Work as a team member and identify opportunities for working with colleagues and sharing the development of effective practice with them

Mainstream Teaching

• Provide students with high quality teaching of EAL throughout the school (Years 7 – 13)
• Manage classes effectively, using approaches which are appropriate to students’ needs in order to inspire, motivate and challenge students
• Use an appropriate range of observation, assessment, monitoring and recording strategies as a basis for setting challenging learning objectives for students of all backgrounds, abilities and dispositions, monitoring learners’ progress and levels of attainment

Pastoral Support

• Support the pastoral work of the school in taking on the role of a Tutor
• Liaise with the Headmaster and Health and Safety Committee over safety issues
• Play a part in the broader life and running of a successful international boarding school

Person Specification

To carry out the above duties, the Headmaster and Board, with support from Malvern College UK, are seeking to appoint an experienced and committed professional.

Essential requirements:

• Organised and committed to the job role
• Minimum 5 years of successful teaching, school management, team leadership in a comprehensive
• Recent experience of the day-to-day management of students
• Experience of teaching EAL students, especially Asian students
• Experience of teaching TOEFL and/or IELTS school at a middle/senior level
• Educated to degree level and hold qualified teacher status
• Excellent writing skills
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office products
• Operate as an effective team member
• Clear and confident communication skills, able to liaise at all levels and with all members of the school community
• Evidence of continuing professional development related to the existing post

Desirable requirements:

• Relevant experience of recruiting, forming and managing a new EAL department
• Recent experience of curricular innovation and development
• Recent experience of using ICT to enhance and support teaching and learning
• Knowledge of preparing students for SAT I verbal tests for US college application

Job Related Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• The ability to take a whole department view of developments, to assess priorities, plan strategically, monitor and evaluate progress
• The ability of adapting management and teaching styles according to cultural needs and situations
• The ability to relish the challenge of starting up a new department in a new school and be passionate and ambitious about the success of Malvern College Chengdu
• The ability to speak clearly and coherently to large groups of people
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office products

Desirable

• Knowledge of the particular difficulties faced by EAL students
• Proficiency of Chinese language
• Fluency in other foreign languages
• Competency in the use of IT as a teaching tool

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Confidence, drive and creativity
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Be resilient and able to work well under pressure and manage your time effectively
• Effective and influential communication skills, especially with those from other cultural and linguistic backgrounds
• High cultural intellect: sensitivity to cultural differences
• The ability to establish good working relationships with a wide range of people including students, parents, governors and colleagues

Desirable

• Willingness to contribute to other areas of school life
• A sense of humour

Criteria for Success
Over time you must be able to show evidence of:

• Maintaining high standards of teaching and learning in the EAL Department;
• Enabling students to deliver strong academic results in English (e.g. external examination results including IELTS, TOEFL, SAT and IGCSE, external recognitions/ awards);
• Maintaining, or improving, where necessary, positive departmental “value added” results, year on year;
• Maintaining positive relationships with staff, students and parents;
• Actively supporting the ethos of Malvern College Chengdu.

Remuneration

A highly attractive package will be offered to the successful candidates, including: competitive salary; furnished accommodation; annual leave; flight; medical insurance

How to Apply

Please complete the Application Form found on the careers page of the Malvern College Chengdu website (www.malvernchengdu.cn) and send together with a letter of application addressed to the Headmaster. Please email all documents to the Human Resources Department:hr@malverncollege.org.hk

Your letter of application should contain the contact details of three referees, one of whom should be your current or most recent employer. All references will be required prior to interview, but will only be requested once we have obtained your permission to contact your referees. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for a SKYPE interview, however MCC reserve the right to contact applicants before the closing date. Malvern College Chengdu is committed to providing a quality all-round education for their students and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Candidates must be prepared to undergo appropriate pre-appointment child protection screening.