Computing Specialist Teacher - The Guardian : Job Details

Name of Head Teacher: Raphael Moss 

Salary: Grade/scale point and MPS/ UPS (Inner London, full advisory points) £38,766 - £60,092 TLR opportunities available 

Hours: Full Time, part-time or flexible 

Flexible or part-time working options: In order to attract excellent staff, we welcome applications from staff looking for flexible or part-time arrangements, or those returning from a career break. Please include this information within your application.

At Elsley we value high-quality learning and achievement, together with an ethos of sharing and respecting 

The School: 

Elsley is a diverse and happy community with a wealth of experience and cultures. Staff are committed to sharing good practice and collaborative working, with opportunities for creativity within the curriculum encouraged. Together we are focused on making a positive impact on achievement. Our children are at the heart of everything we do. We pride ourselves on our nurturing culture for children and for staff. In June 2020 we were recognised with a Gold Award for supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of staff during the pandemic. 

In recent years Elsley Primary School doubled to 4-forms of entry. We have created a supportive and high-achieving culture, matched by modern buildings and facilities. Our school is situated in a highly urban area but the school itself is tucked away in a quiet residential setting with its own on-site farm and extensive grounds to support Outdoor Learning. We are proud of the breadth of our curriculum and holistic education which is matched by strong academic achievements with strong progress from starting points. 

Our most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2022, confirmed the school is a good provider and the report reflects the school’s many strengths. 

We have high expectations for pupil progress and outcomes, combined with creativity within our curriculum offer. Some of our more unusual initiatives include an on-site farm and a whole-school residential curriculum. This starts by giving our youngest children the experience of a night-time walk and a campfire, leading through on-site camping under canvas and culminating in longer trips away from school for the oldest children. 

Our pupils face many challenges, including high levels of deprivation and associated difficulties. Significant numbers of pupils arrive mid-year and with little or no English. Our systems and staff training reflect these additional challenges and we collectively strive to overcome these barriers. 

The Post: 

Inspire the next generation of digital innovators! Are you passionate about the power of computing to unlock creativity, problem-solving, and future opportunities for children? Do you have experience inspiring young minds - both in and beyond the classroom? 

We believe that how children engage with technology is more important than simply keeping up with the latest trends. Of course, we want our pupils to be confident and capable digital users - who wouldn’t? But we firmly believe that the way they learn and apply technology matters. This is as true for computing as it is for any other subject. We are a values-led school, and the opportunities for children to develop their character through computing - such as problem-solving, creativity, and responsible digital citizenship - are hugely important. Quick fixes and shortcuts don’t necessarily lead to long-term success - whether in mastering computing skills or in developing the adaptability and resilience needed for an ever-changing digital world. 

As a large, four-form entry primary school, our children benefit from specialist teachers in several subjects. After eight years, our computing specialist recently moved on to a different role. This has created an exciting opportunity for someone to join our Elsley team. The role involves teaching computing to all our children from Reception to Year 6, using our dedicated computing suite and a range of up-to-date resources, including green screen technology and robotics. 

Beyond the classroom, you will lead and inspire a pupil-team of Digital Leaders, empowering them to support the application of technology across the school. You will also play a key role in supporting staff - helping them use technology to enhance teaching across the curriculum, as well as providing technical expertise in areas such as assemblies, audio-visual presentations, and digital learning tools. 

An interest in visual storytelling and marketing would be an advantage. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to capture and showcase the wider impact of school life through photography, social media updates, and website contributions - or inspire other staff to do so. 

We want to hear from you if you are driven to overcome challenges on behalf of our children. You will be an excellent primary teacher with a passion for computing and a talent for developing digital literacy in all primary-age children. You’ll be a great team player, able to collaborate with colleagues, support staff development, and bring fresh ideas to our forward-thinking school. 

Beyond the role itself there are wider opportunities to collaborate and contribute to outdoor learning. Some of our more unusual initiatives include an on-site farm and a whole-school residential curriculum. This starts by giving our youngest children the experience of a night-time walk and a campfire, leading through on-site camping experiences under canvas and culminating in week-long trips away from school for the oldest children. 

Staff are empowered and improve their practice through an established coaching culture and there is no data-led performance management. 

There are extensive opportunities for professional development. Elsley works with external partners to lead on-site teacher training; we encourage collaboration and networking within Elsley and with other schools; we offer high-quality continuous professional development; as well as opportunities for middle and senior leadership. 

Elsley is a lead school for the North West London Teaching School Hub delivering one of the National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) to aspiring leaders across three London boroughs. 

There are opportunities for our staff to complete NPQs and many have successfully progressed to leadership posts within and outside of Elsley Primary School.

The Person: 

If you want to join an enthusiastic, dynamic and committed team, with modern facilities and a collaborative, supportive atmosphere, we want to hear from you! 

You will be: 

Passionate about using technology to inspire, challenge, and improve children’s liv