Overview
Head of Maths
January 2022 start (or sooner for a suitable candidate)
The Role
St Anthony’s School for Boys is looking to appoint a well-qualified, engaging and inspirational teacher who will also lead this important Faculty. The person appointed will oversee teaching and learning in Maths from Reception up to and including Year 8. They will inherit a Faculty that is in excellent shape evidenced by success in Common Entrance and senior school examinations as well as external competitions. From September 2021, St Anthony’s moves from a departmental to a Faculty structure consisting of Heads of Maths, English, Science, Humanities, Languages and the Creative Arts. Heads of Faculty, as senior middle leaders, will meet regularly to share good practice and contribute to academic policy-making throughout the school. The post will be attractive to someone seeking relevant whole school experience before moving on to an Assistant Headship or Deputy Head position.
The Head of Maths should be prepared to teach all year groups although in practice most of the maths teaching from Reception to Year 3 is undertaken by class teachers. The focus from Year 5 turns to senior school applications with the vast majority of boys applying for places at leading and competitive London day and boarding schools. A number of pupils are prepared each year to sit for scholarship papers at schools such as Eton, Westminster and St Paul’s. The Head of Maths role is crucial in ensuring all boys are equipped with the knowledge and skills required for success in entrance papers. In addition to line managing a full-time Maths teacher, the Head of Maths will liaise closely with class teachers in the lower school (Junior House) ensuring the curriculum is fit for purpose.
We welcome applications from colleagues currently serving in maintained or independent schools. The overriding priority is to appoint someone with a track record of outstanding learning outcomes and an educational vision that always puts pupils first.
About St Anthony's School
St. Anthony's is an academic IAPS preparatory school for boys between the ages of 4 and 13. It is Roman Catholic but welcomes boys of other faiths. The majority of boys transfer to leading Independent schools including: Ampleforth, City of London, Eton, Harrow, Highgate, Mill Hill, St. Paul's, Sevenoaks, University College, Westminster.
The school has a family atmosphere, relaxed and fairly informal, but with a rigorous approach to learning. However, it is not a ‘hot house’ and great care is taken to ensure that pupils feel happy and at ease in the school environment. St. Anthony’s retains a slightly ‘bohemian’ ambience. Pupils may be performing Shakespeare one day and making their own avant garde films the next. Academic success is achieved within an educational framework that places a strong emphasis on enjoyment of learning and on personal development.
London’s original St. Anthony’s School, attended by St. Thomas More, was situated on Threadneedle Street in the City of London. Founded in 1440, it was destroyed in the Great Fire in 1666. Today’s school was founded by Richard Patton during the Victorian period and is now managed by the Alpha Plus Group. It moved to its Hampstead location after World War Two.
St. Anthony's is an academic school but it seeks to achieve considerably more than academic success. It aims to support the development of the whole person. School in general, and learning in particular, should be an enjoyable experience. An enthusiastic staff and a broad curriculum contribute towards the achievement of this goal.
The school readily supports applications to boarding schools, but the majority of boys transfer to independent London day schools via entrance exams set by the schools themselves, or via the Common Entrance examination which is sat at thirteen years of age. Over the years the school has achieved an impressive record of success, including scholarships, at a wide range of public schools including Ampleforth, City of London, Downside, Eton, Harrow, Highgate, Mill Hill, Oundle, St. Paul's, University College, Westminster. After-school extension classes are offered for both scholarship candidates and for those interested in adding greater depth to their studies.
