Teacher of Visual Arts, Switzerland

Posted: 09 October 2019

HMC and CIS accredited international boarding school in the Alps for 375 students aged 9 to 18 representing more than 62 nations.

Aiglon College enjoys a worldwide reputation for providing a broad and challenging education within a safe, caring and supportive environment. Students are prepared for IGCSE and the IB Diploma Programme.

The College seeks to appoint a suitably qualified Teacher of Visual Arts to join the school from August 2020.

Candidates are expected to participate fully in pastoral care and the co-curricular programme of a busy boarding school.

Deadline for applications: November 1st 2019. Interviews will take place during the week of November 11th 2019. Early applications are encouraged.

Aiglon is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants will therefore need to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post.

Full details and application instructions for this post are available on our Employment Opportunities webpage found under News & Info on our website.

 

Job Description Teacher of Visual Arts (Full Time and/or Part Time)

Responsible to Head of the Arts Faculty

Aiglon College is an international boarding school based in the Swiss Alps with a worldwide reputation for providing a challenging holistic education in an inspiring setting within a safe, caring and supportive framework.  The School is CIS accredited, and caters for 375 students aged 9-18 representing 62 nations.  Students prepare for IGCSEs and the IB Diploma Programme.

Teachers are expected to make a significant contribution to the ethos of Aiglon. The expectation is that staff will be positive and contribute enthusiastically to the life and work of the school.

Teachers within the Visual Art Department will be able to specialise in either 3D or 2D Art, but have the flexibility to teach either. The ideal candidate for this position would be an experienced IB teacher with a proven track record in achieving excellent IB results.

Art is a compulsory subject until the end of Year 9. At GCSE level students follow the Edexcel syllabus and in Years 12 and 13, students follow the IB Diploma qualification, with Visual Arts being an elective in group 6. The IB Visual Arts course is stimulating and challenging and the programme allows for regular trips to galleries and museums in Switzerland and beyond.

The department enjoys purpose built studios with an open layout, with clearly defined two and three dimensional areas, a well-stocked art reference library, a networked Apple Mac computer cluster, a sculpture workshop, metal room, and ceramics facilities. The 2D and 3D areas being open-plan and next to one another allow for excellent communication and collaboration between the two disciplines.

This job description is additional to the basic duties outlined in the Aiglon College contract of employment in accordance with the school’s policies and guiding principles, and under the direction of the Head of School.  A summary of the key accountabilities is included below.

A – PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS

• Carry out teaching duties and exercise responsibilities in line with the Guiding Principles of Aiglon;
• Treat all members of the community, colleagues and students, with respect and consideration. Treat all students fairly, consistently and without prejudice;
• Set a good example to students in terms of appropriate dress, standards of punctuality and attendance;
• Read and adhere to the various policies of the school as expressed in the School Handbook and other agreed documentation, and support the ethos of the school by upholding the behaviour code, uniform regulations and other expectations;
• Be available to work on campus in good time to complete all necessary preparations and meetings before the start of term;
• Take personal responsibility for professional development (both pastoral and academic) and participate in staff training when provided, in line with the continued professional development programme of Aiglon;
• Reflect on personal and school practices in pursuit of continuous improvement. Participate in Professional Review and Development (PRD) activities;
• Undertake pastoral and other duties as prescribed within school policies;
• Ensure that all deadlines are met as published in the school calendar and as directed by the Deputy Head and Director of Learning;
• Undertake professional duties that may be reasonably assigned, including cover and exam invigilation;
• Attend Assembly/Meditation on at least two mornings a week when averaged over any term and be prepared to give a Meditation once each term;
• Be proactive and take responsibility for matters relating to health and safety;
• Support the school through regular attendance at various events in the School Diary (these may be religious, spiritual, sporting or cultural).

B – TEACHING AND TUTORING   

• Teach a predetermined number of academic lessons per week, in accordance with Arts Faculty/Visual Arts Department schemes of work and programmes of study;
• Liaise with relevant colleagues on the planning of units of work for collaborative delivery;
• Work in collaboration with Aiglon’s programme of support for students with specific learning difficulties, as directed by the Head of Learning Support or the Director of Learning;
• Take account of students’ prior levels of attainment and baseline data and use these to set targets for future improvements;
• Set work for students absent from class for health, disciplinary or co-curricular reasons;
• Where appropriate, prepare students thoroughly for public examinations including the marking and moderation of coursework;
• Engage with and promote the use of ICT and the development of appropriate ICT skills both within the curriculum and in wider school life;
• Maintain good discipline by adherence to the advice given to colleagues in the Student Handbook and elsewhere, and by the Deputy Head and Director of Learning,
• Set high expectations for students’ behaviour by establishing a purposeful working atmosphere in lessons and in the boarding environment;
• Set appropriate and demanding expectations for students’ learning, motivation and presentation of work, in line with agreed school policies;
• If required, act as a tutor in an assigned Boarding House, exercising best practice in pastoral care and providing guidance and encouragement to students, as directed by Houseparents and the Deputy Head.  This will include the need to attend scheduled meetings at the Houseparents’ or Deputy Heads’ discretion and meet with students outside of formal meeting times;
• Assume House duties. At present, house duties usually involve the following, but these may be revised by the Head of School should circumstances so require:
  • a regular weekday lunchtime and evening duty
  • weekend duties on 1 in 3 weekends (approximately 10 or 11 per year)

C – ASSESSMENT, RECORDING AND REPORTING

• Maintain notes and plans of lessons undertaken and records of students’ work;
• Mark, monitor and return student work within a reasonable and agreed time span providing constructive oral and written feedback and clear targets for future learning as appropriate and keep records of students’ performance as required by the faculty or departmental marking policy or the Director of Learning;
• Complete student formative and summative assessments in line with policy and as specified in the published calendar, including the House feedback system;
• Be familiar with and apply procedures for identification and assessment of special educational needs, E.A.L requirements and other learning support issues;
• Provide mark reading information and write detailed reports on students at the end of each term as required;
• Attend parents’ meetings as designated in the school calendar.

D – CO-CURRICULAR DUTIES

• Contribute to the Activities and CAS programme on a weekly basis in consultation with the Activities and CAS Coordinator;
• Participate in the Expeditions programme, including the Winter and Summer Long Expeditions in consultation with the Head of Expeditions and Deputy Head. Participation in expeditions is encouraged for all staff, and appears on the weekend Duty Rota.
• Contribute to the annual Aiglon Discovery Trips (ADT) in consultation with the Deputy Head.

E – COMMUNICATION AND MEETINGS

• Attend meetings when required;
• Ensure that communication is timely, relevant, respectful and pertinent;
• Assist where necessary with the school’s promotional initiatives;
• Preserve and promote the good name of Aiglon in all dealings with the wider public.

Personal Specification

An Aiglon teacher is expected to:

1. Demonstrate responsibility, by motivating and enthusing staff and students, giving direction and showing initiative and drive while demonstrating good judgement;
2. Work effectively with other people, by treating people respectfully, empathetically and equally in order to develop good working relationships;
3. Get the job done, by delivering what is required within deadlines and to a high standard;
4. Manage resources effectively, in particular demonstrating strong time management skills, but also effective management of equipment, ICT facilities, and information;
5. Communicate clearly, by getting across the message effectively, listening carefully and responding to feedback;
6. Look the part, by maintaining a professional and business-like appearance;
7. Foster a positive professional climate through constructive, empowering behaviours;
8. Act as a role model to students, exemplifying a positive attitude in line with the school’s Guiding Principles.

Aiglon is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All shortlisted applicants will undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post.

At the Head of School’s request, an employee may agree to take on an increased commitment to House or other duties in lieu of the standard Expeditions requirements (as outlined above) or vice-versa.  Such arrangements are entirely at the Head of School’s discretion.

Job descriptions may, over time, be subject to change and amendment.

Aiglon College teacher salary range for externally appointed, full time teachers (this includes tutoring, weekend duties, and activities) is from 53,676 CHF to 96,936 CHF annually.  Additional allowances are allocated for positions of responsibility across the school.

Proposed Timeline for the appointment

1. Friday 1 November – Deadline for applications.
2. Monday 4 November to Monday 11 November – Candidates are longlisted.
3. Wednesday 13 November to Wednesday 20 November – Long list interviews.
4. Monday 25 November to Friday 29 November – Final interviews at Aiglon.