Lecturer (Teaching)

Job description

The University

At Durham University we are proud of our people. A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting - Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally.
Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally. We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here

The Role and Department
As one of the leading Schools of Education in the UK, our aim is to expand the frontiers of educational knowledge and to inspire our students to become the future architects of an equitable and sustainable world. Our students go on to successful careers in a wide range of different sectors.

Our research and scholarship impacts regionally, nationally and internationally; from shaping education policy and practice, to developing educational research, research methodology and research capacity, to informing school improvements and contributing to the professional development of teachers around the world.

In the REF [Research Excellence Framework] 2021 cycle, Durham University's School of Education was ranked 1st in the country for outputs, =1st for Impact case studies and 7th for research environment, with an overall grade point average ranking of 2nd. We are also a top 100 THE World Ranked School of Education, ranked 77th in 2023 and were rated as Outstanding by OFSTED in its last two inspections.

To find out more please visit: School of Education - Durham University

The Role

To enhance our high-quality provision in the School of Education, we are looking to appoint an experienced secondary school teacher with expertise in the teaching of Humanities. The person appointed must have a specialism in either History or Geography as a subject of the National Curriculum (Key Stages 3 and 4 with some 6th form expertise) and sufficient knowledge and experience to deliver the complementary subject. The key focus of the role is leading the PGCE (Secondary) Humanities pathway (the curriculum subjects of History and Geography and the associate pedagogy and support for practice) within Initial Teacher Training, in a range of settings across the partnership. Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and substantial school teaching experience in Key Stages 3 and 4, following the National Curriculum, is essential, preferably with some experience of teaching Post-16 education.

You will be supporting Early Career Teachers as they embark on their careers in teaching. The role will involve delivering a curriculum that is both University-based and school-based, working alongside school experts.

You will plan, deliver and evaluate a curriculum with both subject knowledge and professional elements. You will be skilled at employing innovative teaching approaches in a variety of formats whilst drawing upon excellent interpersonal, organisational and facilitation skills. The role will involve a significant teaching and supervision workload, which may extend into the summer vacation period.

The role encompasses an element of leadership, responsibility and administrative duties which relate to education, partnership and pedagogy.

Key responsibilities:

• To fully engage in and enhance the values of the School with regard to its commitment to high-quality teacher education.
• Manage the day-to-day organisation for the programme(s), modules, subjects and strands under your remit.
• Act as module convener/subject lead for one or more modules or subjects, delivering the module/subject and/or overseeing others in their delivery of the module/subject according to the published format.
• Teach existing modules/courses as required, demonstrating a deep understanding of different approaches to, and methods of, teaching, learning and assessment.
• Develop and design new courses as required, including a variety of teaching formats.
• Plan, organise and/or oversee the production of all course/programme materials, with fidelity to the ITT Curriculum, including lecture presentations and supporting resources, handbooks and guidance documents and communications with trainees.
• Work with school-based experts and mentors to provide high-quality school practice for trainees.
• Promote and monitor successful trainee outcomes.
• Demonstrate the ability to manage own teaching and responsibilities and prioritise own workload in order to meet deadlines.
• Deal with students' queries, in a timely manner, about all aspects of a module/course including advising prospective students about the content, delivery and assessment requirements of the module/course and responding to student feedback, ensuring that any action points are implemented.
• Build internal and external contacts and participate in networks to exchange information.
• Make an active contribution to an inclusive community in which diversity is embraced and celebrated and contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• Engage in scholarship to support your teaching and roles.
• To undertake duties relating to teaching, administration and citizenship as required by your Head of Department and appropriate to your grade of employment.
• To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.
• To engage in continuing professional development by attending relevant training and development courses.

Working at Durham

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits:

• 30 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year - a total of 42 days per year (pro rata for part time colleagues)
• The University closes between Christmas and New Year - please include or delete if not applicable.
• We offer a generous pension scheme, As a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.
• There is a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally. There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University. All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.
• Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• On site nursery is available and children's clubs in the summer holidays.
• Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
• The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community
• Discounts are available via our benefits portal including; money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions.
• A salary sacrifice scheme is also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.
• If you are moving to Durham, we can help with removal costs and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools. If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.

Durham University is committed to equality diversity, inclusion and values

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work. As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University's Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It's important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

Contact Information

Department contact for academic-related enquiries

Professor Lynn Newton at [email protected].

Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application

If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email. Please send your name along with abrief description of the problem you're experiencing [email protected]

Alternatively, you may call 0191 334 6801 from the UK, or +44 191 334 6801 from outside the UK. This number operates during the hours of 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, UK time. We will normally respond within one working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays).

University contact for general queries about the recruitment process

[email protected]

How to Apply

To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification below. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria.

While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.

Submitting your application

We prefer to receive applications online. We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.

What to Submit

All applicants are asked to submit:

• a CV and covering letter which details your experience, skills and achievements in meeting (or the potential to meet) the criteria set out below.
• Any further documents as required by the department.

We will notify you on the status of your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails.

Referees

You should provide 3 academic referees (or equivalent) they should not (if possible) include your PhD supervisor(s).

The majority should be from a University other than your own (save for early career applicants applying for their first post).

References will be requested for candidates who have been shortlisted and will be made available to the panel during the interview process.

As part of your application, you will be asked whether you give your consent to your academic references being sought should you be invited to attend an interview. We will only request references where permission has been granted.

Next Steps

Short-listed candidates will be invited to the University, either virtually or in-person and will have the opportunity to meet key members of the Department. The assessment for the post will normally include a presentation to staff and students in the Department followed by an interview and we anticipate that the assessments and interviews will take place over two days in or around May.

In the event that you are unable to attend in person on the date offered, it may not be possible to offer you an interview on an alternative date.

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.durham.ac.uk/about-us/governance/information-governance/privacy-notices/privacy-notices/job-applicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.

This role is part-time (0.5 FTE) and initially fixed term for 3 years. Successful candidates will ideally be in post for 1st September 2024.
Person Specification - What you need to demonstrate when you apply

Candidates applying for a grade 7 post must outline their experience, skills and achievements to date which demonstrate that they meet or that they have the potential to achieve the essential criteria.

Essential Criteria

Qualifications:

A good first degree in History or a related subject.

A Masters' degree in a relevant subject or substantial professional experience within school setting.

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

Teaching Quality:

Experience of successfully developing innovative and high-quality teaching methods for the design/delivery of teaching and assessment in successful learning environments.

Recent experience of working with Early Career Teachers.

Skills:

Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to engage with a range of students and colleagues across a variety of forums.

Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise.

Desirable Criteria

Teaching Quality:

Experience of teaching and examining at Post-16 level with positive student feedback gained.

Recent experience of mentoring and target setting.

Administration:

Demonstrate the ability, with school-based experts and mentors, to organise high-quality school practice for trainees and monitor successful trainee outcomes.

Demonstrable ability to participate in the collegial/administrative activities of an academic department and/or discipline.