Competitive

Full Time, Fixed Term

Immediate Start until 28 March 2025

28 November 2024

We are seeking an enthusiastic, inspirational, and well qualified Design and Technology teacher to join our highly successful department. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate knowledge and passion for the subject and commitment to effective teaching and learning. It is essential that they are confident teaching Design and Technology at GCSE and A-level.
The Design and Technology department is proud of the consistently high expectations both our pupils and staff uphold in the teaching and learning of Design and Technology, pupils thrive with creative flair and learn to become autonomous problem solvers, producing high quality outcomes to real life problems.
The department comprises of four full-time members of staff and a part-time technician. It is housed in four well-equipped workshops and a multi-purpose studio. Design and Technology at Forest is generously resourced with up-to-date facilities. All workshops are extremely well equipped for work in a range of resistant materials, computer-aided design, and manufacture, including laser cutters, 3D printers and a portable CNC router.


Design and Technology is studied in the Lower School (Year 7 and Year 8) for half the year on a rotation with Food and Nutrition. Pupils can then choose it as an option to pursue in the Middle School (Year 9 and then on to GCSE). Over 100 pupils select to continue to study Design and Technology in Year 9 and the GCSE regularly attracts a cohort of over 40 pupils.


In the Middle School, the department is distinct in offering two GCSE pathways: Design Technology: Product Design (AQA) and Design Technology: Three-Dimensional Design (AQA), the latter of which is more in line with the Art specification and does not have a theory component. Our intention is to broaden the scope for more pupils to engage with the subject specialising in the field with more weight on practical application of their design knowledge.


In the Sixth Form, the department runs A-level Product Design (AQA) and usually have between 5-10 pupils in each Year 12 and Year 13 class. Pupils regularly progress to study Product Design, Architecture, Engineering, and Art Foundation at university or prestigious art/design institutions.


The Design and Technology department has a tremendous and well developed super-curricular offering which includes opportunities centred around upcycling, product design, and electronics through the School’s Activities programme. The department has organised and led international trips to New York and Florence.


Forest is a humane, open-minded school with both feet on the ground, in which the pupils’ all-round personal development is outstanding and academic attainment is high. It is, above all, a happy school which understands the rich inter-relationship between the curricular, the co-curricular and the pastoral. There is boldness in the school’s character, a readiness to be forward-thinking and adaptable, with pride in what we are and excitement for what lies ahead.


As one of the largest day schools in HMC, Forest abounds with opportunities for professional and career development. Teachers at Forest are rarely just confined to their subject area and the majority play a full and active role in Forest’s enviable super-curricular and co-curricular programme, with opportunities to lead in clubs and activities as diverse as Model United Nations, Extended Project Qualification, Jedi Warrior Lightsabre Fencing, Chapel Choir, Music Technology and Cricket, to give but a few examples. The ambition, richness, and distinct nature of the integrated curriculum at Forest offers our staff with an unparalleled experience of a modern and holistic education in our beautiful London setting. As our Good Schools Guide Review (2023) suggests Forest is a ‘flourishing, successful and well-led school in a glorious, green setting with consistently strong results that don’t require pupils to sacrifice happiness or wellbeing on the way to achieving them… an education that’s so genuinely rounded you could make hoops from it.’


Forest also invests heavily in the development of pedagogy and teaching strategy, with all teachers expected to engage in an ambitious Professional Learning Programme which includes seminars and contact with leading minds in the teaching and learning space; most recently, Forest welcomed Tom Sherrington who presented on curriculum strategy and design. In addition, we are immensely proud of our culture of formative, ongoing and developmental peer observation through our Teaching and Learning Communities. Teachers are also encouraged to liaise regularly with our team of Lead Teaching Practitioners and benefit from coaching and constructive critical feedback and reflection on their practice.


We welcome and encourage applications from teachers who are new to the profession and are currently undertaking their PGCE or are looking to progress through the ECT Framework.
About Forest
Forest is a large, vibrant school, with approximately 1500 pupils from 4 to 18. Our traditional House structure means that each pupil is treated as an individual, of whom we have the highest expectations, while our size enables us to offer breadth and depth of opportunity.
Location
Forest is a city school surrounded by Epping Forest, within easy walking distance of Snaresbrook Central line tube station and Wood Street Overground station.
Why work at Forest?
There are many benefits of working at Forest school as staff are our single most important asset. Key benefits include:

• Generous CPD budget
• Comprehensive Professional Development Review system
• Opportunities to contribute to the wider community via our extensive Outreach Programme
• Free hot lunch (takeaway sandwich lunch also available) and refreshments throughout the day
• 20% fee remission (pro-rata for part time staff) for children attending Forest which is applicable Y3-Y13
• Subsidised membership to the Sylvestrian Leisure Centre
• Membership of the School's Group Life Assurance scheme and Personal Accident Scheme
• Contribution towards private medical insurance fees
• Membership of a pension scheme

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis so early applications are encouraged. The School reserves the right to make an appointment at any stage.
Applications close on Thursday, 28 November2024 08:00AM
Interviews will be on Monday, 02 December 2024

Forest is an outstanding all-round School, well known for its friendly, welcoming ethos, and full of 1450 bright sparky pupils aged 4-18. We are lucky to be located in this part of North East London, allowing us to attract pupils from a diverse range of social and ethnic backgrounds who share in being academically ambitious, but are grounded, engaging and very loyal to the School. Described by the Good Schools Guide as a ‘powerhouse with a heart’ and enjoying a reputation for strong expert teaching and learning, Forest pupils are encouraged to find success on all fronts through the breadth of the opportunities on offer to them.
We aim to develop the whole pupil through our distinct educational provision which gives equal weight to academic, co-curricular and pastoral strands of school life. To this end, Forest promotes all-round educational excellence, recognising that advancement to higher education or the world of work requires top academic grades but keen to develop a sense of service in the pupils and an awareness of their responsibilities to other people, as well as themselves. Forest is recognised as a school that is always evolving, self-evaluating and planning strategically for its future, while valuing its heritage and its location, all of which makes our community a stimulating one to work in for our 150+ teachers and 100+ non-teaching staff.
Forest School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments require an enhanced DBS disclosure.