King Henry VIII School, Abergavenny
Ysgol Brenin Harri’r VIII
Teacher of Mathematics
Information Pack
“Respecting tradition, embracing the future”
Introduction
Dear Candidate
Welcome to King Henry VIII School and thank you for considering applying for the position of Teacher of
Mathematics. To assist you with your application I thought it would be useful if I gave you a brief
introduction to our school.
The school is currently going through an exciting school improvement journey and we are seeking a
dynamic and inspirational teacher to join our school. I have been Headteacher here since September 2014
and was delighted in the positive pupil outcomes last summer. In 2016 our A2 results were our best ever
with 60.1% of grades A*-B. At KS4 we also achieved our best ever results, the number of pupils gaining 5 or
more GCSE A*-C including English and maths was 71.2%, placing the school in the top 25% when compared
to similar schools. These outcomes demonstrate the excellent relationships that exist between our
dedicated staff and hardworking pupils. We have laid solid foundations for what will be sustained progress
with the aim KHS becomes an outstanding school.
In January 2017 the Welsh Government School Categorisation was published with KHS being graded 1 B
Yellow. Most recently we have secured Pioneer School status for ‘Professional Learning’. This aligns to
our ongoing focus on further improving the quality of teaching and learning through our Peer Review
programme and vibrant in house Professional Learning Communities.
Staff here are extremely friendly and welcoming. They are passionate about our pupils, the school and
want to be successful. They have embraced a number of significant changes implemented since my arrival
and the level of care they show to pupils is exemplary. The Governors are supportive of the school and
contribute greatly to our self-evaluation and improvement processes.
Our pupils have positive attitudes to learning and behave very well around the school and in lessons. We
are an inclusive community with a caring ethos that celebrates and rewards success and achievement of
every individual pupil. The school is set in well-maintained grounds and our buildings provide a stimulating
environment that enhances pupils’ learning.
Although we are pleased with the improvements we recognise there is still work to do to ensure that every
pupil attending our school gets the best possible opportunities and education regardless of their ability or
background. Our School Development Plan has focussed on key priorities including delivering high quality
teaching, learning and assessment leading to outstanding outcomes.
I truly believe that King Henry VIII School has the potential to be excellent in the next few years. If you are
ready for the challenge of playing a lead role in helping us achieve this, have a core belief that all pupils no
matter their background or ability can achieve, have a passion for and a clear understanding of excellent
learning, you are definitely the right person for us.
Please feel free to telephone my PA, Teresa Worthing on 01873 735300 if you would like any more
information. I hope you will apply because this is an excellent opportunity and a great place to work. I look
forward to hearing from you.
Elspeth Lewis
Headteacher
Maths Faculty
Staffing
The Mathematics department is an enthusiastic, hard-working team committed to raising standards across
all key stages and across the full ability range. The department is forward thinking and believes strongly
that an effective team is crucial to success. There are currently eight other experienced, full time members
of the department. The department usually benefits from hosting two student teachers each year and
strongly believes in supporting their development.
Resources
Each teacher is allocated their own room which is located in the same area. Each classroom has an
Interactive Whiteboard or projector. There is a dedicated intervention room in the Maths suite with a
wealth of concrete resources and manipulatives. The department has an office where records and
resources are stored and where maths staff can meet and work. The Department uses a wide range of
teaching resources. All are designed to fully engage students in their process of learning. There is a very
healthy atmosphere around sharing and evaluating effective material.
Results within the faculty have improved significantly at all key stages over the last three years. This has
been the product of the coordinated hard work of an effective team contributing to strategic planning and
curriculum development. The mathematics faculty outcomes place the school at least above the median in
nearly all measures and contributed to the school being placed in BMQ1 for the L2+ key performance
indicator.
KS2
The department is currently involved in an exciting transition program whereby 6 of the department teach
for 2 hours per week in one of the cluster primary schools. This has proved to be an overwhelming success
and the parties involved are looking to extend and deepen the project.
KS3
In KS3 the department is keen to develop positive traits and attitudes as well as mathematical ability. We
point out that this requires the development of skills such as resilience, self-reliance and self-assessment
amongst many others. In Year 7, 8 and 9 there is great emphasis on the development of Numeracy, and
Problem Solving both within Mathematics and across the curriculum. We are already seeing the benefits of
this. In the last three years the Modal benchmark for the NNT has been Quartile 1.
Students have access to PiXL MathsApp, Diagnostic Questions and Mathswatch VLE’s in school, and from
home via a web browser. Homework is often set using MyMaths as well as more traditional written work
in exercise books and challenging functional and problem solving tasks. Students are set in Maths from
Year 7. In Year 7 and 8 they are set across two blocks and in Year 9 they are set as one block. Many of the
more able students sit the Junior Maths Challenge in Years 7 and 8 and the Intermediate Challenge in Year
9. ALN students follow the same programme of study as mainstream students where appropriate.
Key Stage 3 results and trends
Mathematics
2013/14
2014/15
2015/16
L5+
83.1%
91.8%
94.4%
L6+
63.3%
71.4%
73.3%
L7+
29.4%
36.1%
42.9%
KS4
Students are set according to ability at KS4. All students are tracked and supported in order to maximise
their potential. All students are given the opportunity to take two Maths GCSEs. Those pupils that achieve
an A* or A grade early move onto the GCSE additional mathematics course. Many of the more able
students also sit the Intermediate Maths Challenge in Year 10 and 11.
Key Stage 4 results and trends
Mathematics
2012/13
2013/14
2014/15
2015/16
Level 2 %pass
59%
62%
69%
77%
Key Stage 5
The Department has a proud history of producing excellent A level results in Mathematics and Further
Mathematics. Last year 54% of students achieved A*-A and 90% of students achieved A*-C.
The current year 12 is has 20 students sitting A level Mathematics and 6 studying Further Mathematics.
Vision
The vision of this faculty to continue to improve and become a beacon for outstanding practice and
provision is beginning to be realised. In the last 18 months the department was twice asked to host an
Excellence in Mathematics Day in recognition of the work done in Numeracy, Problem Solving and Bar
Modelling. Our current Numeracy Champion is seen as an outstanding practitioner in leading Numeracy
across the Curriculum. We are routinely praised for our commitment to ITET. The successful candidate will
be welcomed into a thriving forward looking department.
LOCATION
King Henry VIII School is an 11-18 comprehensive school with 1000 students serving the town of
Abergavenny and the wider rural community.
The School is located on the main Manchester-Cardiff railway link and has convenient links to the Midlands
via the M50/M5 and via the M4 to the Severn Bridge and the rest of South Wales.
20 miles – Newport
30 miles – Cardiff
45 miles – Bristol