Hampton is one of the country’s leading, most successful and best-resourced independent schools and has been helping boys to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations for over 460 years.
Established over 460 years ago, Hampton is one of the country’s foremost, highest-achieving and best-resourced independent schools. Our community is vibrant, dynamic and happy, making it a wonderful place to teach and learn. Members of the Common Room are talented and hugely supportive of one another and their pupils; they share their love of learning with young people who are bright, intellectually inquisitive and aspirational. Hampton is a lively, friendly and inclusive School community where we aspire to enable our boys to not only to make sense of the world, but also to want to go out and improve it. Above all, Hamptonians are encouraged and indeed expected to aspire to personal best while supporting those around them with kindness and respect.
Situated on a green-field site in a leafy suburb of South West London, we are fortunate to have 28 acres of playing fields within our spacious grounds. Pupils and staff alike benefit from first-class facilities across all areas of School life. These include a state-of-the-art 3G sportsground, a large and well-appointed Sports Hall, and the remarkable Hammond Theatre for the Performing Arts, along with an excellent library and specialist facilities for Art, Music, Science, Technology, Computer Science and Languages (Modern and Classical). Our older pupils enjoy impressive Sixth Form private study and Careers provision in The Barry Martin Centre. The Millennium Boat House, shared with our neighbouring girls’ school, Lady Eleanor Holles, has a prime location on the nearby River Thames, and provides the focal point for our popular and successful Boat Club.
Hamptonians’ examination results and university entrance record consistently rank in the top echelon nationally and indeed internationally. Nearly all Hampton leavers go on to undergraduate courses at Russell Group or equivalent universities; around 25 pupils are offered places at Oxford and Cambridge annually, and a significant number move on to global top-10 universities. We also support pupils who wish to study at universities in North America, some of whom secure academic and/or sporting scholarships. Hampton’s notably diverse, socially inclusive nature is an especially cherished part of our DNA and we as far from being a stereotypical public school as any setting in the independent sector. Currently, 7% of our boys (around 100 in total) attend on means-tested, free places, many of which are funded by a separate but closely linked educational charity, The Fitzwygram Foundation. ‘One of the most genuinely inclusive, diverse independent schools in the London area’. Good Schools Guide
A copy of the full ISI report can found on the School website and a summary booklet of the inspection team’s key findings is linked here .
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Hampton is one of the country’s foremost academically selective independent schools and this is an excellent opportunity to join a vibrant and successful department in a happy, high-achieving setting.
We are seeking to appoint a well-qualified, enthusiastic and ambitious Teacher of Biology who will share our vision for the Biology department and curriculum, to promote outstanding learning and teaching.
All staff in the Department are subject specialists and want convey their passion for this wonderful subject through intellectually stimulating and engaging courses. There is also great scope to make your mark on the development of the department. The successful applicant will be committed to planning and delivering genuinely imaginative, varied and challenging courses at all levels in the school including stretching the most able up to Oxbridge level.
The successful candidate will be expected to teach up to 30 (40 minute) lessons per week, which would usually include a games afternoon and a form tutor period. You would also be expected to deal with marking and reporting. Hampton is one of the country’s foremost independent schools where equity, diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our ethos and the School has a thriving partnerships programme.
A contribution to the wider life of the School is also expected from staff at Hampton and the successful candidate will be welcome to take part in the wide range of co-curricular School activities - Sport, Music, Drama, the Adventure Society and many more.
Hampton is rated 'exceptional' by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) for pupils’ achievements and learning. Inspectors also praised the School for fostering a culture “in which the individual matters and everyone’s contribution is valued.” Equality, diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our ethos and the School has a thriving partnerships programme.
The School has its own salary scale and offers generous non-contractual benefits, well above the maintained sector, to attract high-calibre candidates. There is a very strong commitment at Hampton to supporting the continuing professional development of colleagues.
We encourage applications as soon as possible as the School reserves the right to commence or complete the interview process at any time prior to the closing date.
THE DEPARTMENT
The post would suit a highly competent and experienced Teacher seeking a new opportunity within an outstanding and highly academic School. We would also welcome applications from newly qualified PGCE applicants.
The subject is taught in seven well equipped laboratories situated together along a top floor corridor, with Greenhouse, in the main school building. All laboratories are equipped with a data projector which links to a laptop. The Biology Staff Room and lobby area for book collections are situated centrally within the Department.
Biology at Hampton is taught by subject specialists as a separate and distinct science from the start. In the First and Second Year Biology is taught in Form groups of one double period per week to which is added a single period in the Third Year. All pupils are entered for Edexcel IGCSE Biology and there is no Double Award. 24% of timetable time is given to Science (Biology, Chemistry and Biology). Results have been outstanding with over 84% achieving 9 or 8 grades in Biology IGCSE in 2024.
On average, 30 pupils in each of the Lower and Upper Sixth years study Biology in the Sixth Form. The subject attracts a generous share of the stronger candidates in the School and in 2024 55% of the THE DEPARTMENT candidates achieved a A* or A grade. Sets average about 10 in size and do not usually exceed 12. These sets are taught by two teachers who work in parallel.
We also offer a one-year unexamined course in Further Chemistry and Biology (taught jointly with the Chemistry department) for those pupils in the Lower Sixth looking to extend their knowledge well beyond A Level. On top of this, extra classes are timetabled for Oxbridge and Medicine/Dentistry/Vet preparation. We have an excellent record of success with at least half a dozen pupils gaining places for Biology, Natural Sciences, Medicine or Dentistry at university each year.
Outside the classroom there are a range of Biology related co-curricular activities which allow pupils to take their interests further and in their own time. Large numbers of pupils are entered each year for the Institute of Biology Challenges and Olympiad.
Syllabuses GCSE: Edexcel International IGCSE: Biology taken by all pupils Sixth Form: AQA Biology
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• To teach the Biology curriculum to an excellent standard and to promote and contribute to the overall provision within the Biology Department e.g. Trips, Clubs and competitions, as well as to the School’s extra-curricular programmes
• To continually update knowledge regarding ‘best practice’ in the teaching of Biology through personal reading, research, and training
• To promote and maintain the high standards of pupil achievement and contribute to the development of outstanding teaching practice across the department
• To complete all student assessment requirements, including the regular marking of homework and coursework, as required
• To assess, record and track the progress of the students according to the expectations of the Deputy Head (Academic) and the School’s policies
• To use performance data for pupil target setting and progress monitoring
• To deliver teaching of a high standard and to work to promote and maintain standards of achievement across the Department
• To contribute to the pastoral care of pupils as a Form Tutor and the delivery of the PSHE curriculum
• To maintain standards of discipline in line with Hampton School policies
• To attend parent and pupil meetings, as required
• To attend in whole school and departmental INSET and contribute to the evaluation and progress of the Biology curriculum
• To undertake any other reasonable tasks required by The Headmaster or Head of Department in association with the role.
Person Specification
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following skills, qualifications and experience.
Essential criteria
• Commitment to the paramount importance of the safeguarding and wellbeing of pupils
• A good honours degree ideally in Biology, Engineering, or Natural Sciences but possibly in Mathematics or Technology
• Enthusiasm and vision for Biology and the ability to convey this to pupils, up to Sixth Form
• A teaching qualification and previous teaching experience
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Knowledge of at least one high level programming language, and/or the willingness to learn
• Excellent IT skills - all teaching staff are supplied with a laptop computer
• The ability to demonstrate characteristics of outstanding teaching practice
• An awareness of the demands of teaching bright students and a commitment to fostering high academic achievement in an academically selective school setting
• An understanding of the nature of independent education and high expectations
• The ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with all members of the School community and outside agencies
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team and a willingness to contribute to departmental resources
• A professional, collaborative approach which inspires confidence in pupils, parents and colleagues courses
• Calmness and efficiency, with the ability to work under pressure when required to do so
• Commitment to continuing professional development through attendance at INSET
• A keen eye for detail and a high level of organisational and administrative ability • Awareness of the nature of the School and prepared to commit to its all-round ethos, extracurricular activities, including visits and trips and pastoral approach • Assiduousness and willingness to avoid the ‘9 to 5 approach’
• An understanding of appropriate Health and Safety requirements.
Desirable Criteria
• A higher degree or experience of educational/subject-specific research
• Experience of leadership and management of people and resources
• Experience of external examining
• Experience of preparing pupils for Oxbridge entrance
• Knowledge of the requirements and operation of the Independent School Inspectorate in terms of teaching, learning and assessment.
Other:
• To act as Fire Marshal and First Aider as required. Training will be provided
• Any other reasonable tasks required by the Headmaster and/or Bursar in association with the above role.
Please note that there may be some changes and additions to the above, which will be discussed before implementation and changes may occur as the post develops. This document is designed to provide applicants with a “flavour” of the position and responsibilities.
Training
Where necessary, to attend INSET training or undergo other on the job training under the general direction of the Head of Department or training outside the school to increase competence, proficiency and safety awareness
Salary and Benefits
Hampton has its own generous salary scale and benefits package. Accommodation may also be available.
NQTs/ECT’s are provided with an appropriate programme of induction leading to QTS, valid across both sectors.
The Hampton School Trust Governors currently offer the following non-contractual benefits to staff, subject to any terms and conditions and the School’s eligibility requirements: death-in-service benefit insurance policy; private health care scheme (BUPA), a healthcare cash plan; enrolment in appropriate Pension Scheme, personal accident insurance, School fee remission, cycle to work scheme, lunch, sports facilities and counselling.
Hampton School is pleased to be a London Living Wage employer.
Please note that the above list is not exhaustive and non-contractual benefits are provided at the discretion of the Governors.
Candidates must have the right to work in the UK as Sponsorship is not available.
Equal Opportunities
It is the policy of Hampton School to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified individuals and to prohibit discrimination in employment on any basis protected by applicable law, including but not limited to race, colour, religious creed, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, age, medical condition or disability. Hampton School promotes equal employment opportunities in all aspects of employment through positive employment policies and practices.
If any special requirements are required to attend an interview, please inform the School.
Offers of employment will be made on merit and suitability of qualifications and experience, in pursuit of our policy of equal opportunities.
Safeguarding
The post holder's responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom s/he is responsible, or with whom s/he comes into contact will be to adhere to and ensure compliance with the School's Safeguarding Policy and Procedures at all times. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the School s/he must report any concerns to the School's Safeguarding Designated Persons or to The Headmaster.
The School reserves the right to offer the post at any stage in the appointment process. Further details of the School are available on the website.
Please note all appointments are subject to the Hampton School Trust Recruitment, Selection and Disclosure Policy and Procedure.
The School is legally required to carry out a number of pre-appointment checks which are detailed in the School's Recruitment, Selection and Disclosure Policy and Procedure. The information you are being asked to provide in this form is required so that the School can comply with those legal obligations should your application be successful. Please note that in order to be considered for a position at the School, you must complete this application form. A curriculum vitae will not be accepted in place of a completed application form.
Hampton School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, contractors and volunteers to share this commitment.