Teacher of Chemistry

Brighton College is seeking to appoint a Teacher of Chemistry to start from late August 2023.

THE DEPARTMENT

Since January 2020 the department has been based in Brighton’s new £55 million School of Science and Sport. Amongst a host of other world-class facilities, the building includes six dedicated laboratory spaces for chemistry, and ample administrative and technical workspace for staff. The department has nine full-time members of teaching staff (including a Head of Department and Deputy Head of Department) and a dedicated technician. The team come from a wide variety of backgrounds, including industry and academic research (through which some hold doctorates).

THE CURRICULUM

The subject is taught throughout Years 7 to 13. GCSE cohorts average around 210 pupils, with around 80 pupils per year group selecting the subject at A-level. It has consistently been the second most popular A-level subject at the College in recent years behind maths and has a very even gender split, with girls being in a very slight majority. At present we follow the Edexcel syllabuses for both the reformed 9-1 GCSE and A-level.

Public examination results in recent years have been outstanding, achieving 92% 9-8 at GCSE, and 92% A*-A at A-level in 2022. The department also has a comprehensive Oxbridge programme, with much recent success in this area. In the last four years a total of 11 pupils have joined Oxford to read Chemistry at university, and 12 are studying Natural Sciences at Cambridge.

Extension and enrichment activities abound in the department. Each year over 50 pupils take part in the RSC Olympiad and Cambridge Chemistry Challenge; both have seen a record number of ‘gold’ and ‘roentgenium’ awards, respectively. In 2019 a team of three L6th chemists won through to the final of the RSC Schools’ Analyst competition. Our younger chemists also perform at a high level: in 2017 a team of four chemists were national runners-up in the RSC’s Top of the Bench competition, and in each of the past five years a team of pupils have made it to the regional final of the Year 10 Chemistry Challenge. Weekly extension clubs for KS3, KS4 and KS5 pupils are also extremely well attended.

Overall, Chemistry is one of the most vibrant and dynamic departments at the College.

Safeguarding responsibilities:

• This role will involve daily contact with pupils and you will be engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.
• All staff and volunteers have a responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for who you are responsible and with whom you come into contact.

For more information about the role, please see the Job Profile Document