GCSE Art Teacher (Part-time)

Job Title: Art Teacher
Department: Education
Location: Wolverhampton

Position: Part-time (2 Days per week)
Deadline for Applications: Friday 28th February 2025

Optima Plus Recruitment is seeking a highly skilled and compassionate Art Teacher to join our dynamic educational team in Wolverhampton. This role involves delivering high-quality GCSE Art and therapeutic art lessons to students with medical and mental health needs. The successful candidate will be instrumental in providing an environment where creativity and personal growth are at the forefront, helping students achieve their full potential both academically and emotionally.

Key Responsibilities:

Teaching and Learning:

1. Deliver engaging GCSE Art lessons, customized to meet the individual needs and abilities of students.
2. Design and lead therapeutic art activities that promote students’ emotional well-being, creativity, and personal development.
3. Assess, monitor, and report on student progress, ensuring alignment with school policies and examination requirements.
4. Ensure students are fully supported to achieve their best, adapting teaching methods and content as needed.

Student Support:

1. Create a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment where students feel valued and supported.
2. Collaborate with the therapeutic and pastoral teams to integrate art into students' emotional and mental health support plans.
3. Provide personalized support to encourage student engagement, confidence, and self-expression through art.

Collaboration and Communication:

1. Work closely with colleagues, including therapists and other professionals, to develop and implement holistic support plans for students.
2. Actively participate in team meetings, parent consultations, and multi-disciplinary meetings as needed to support the student community.

Professional Development and Safeguarding:

1. Engage in continuous professional development to enhance subject knowledge and teaching practice.
2. Adhere to safeguarding policies, ensuring the safety and welfare of all students.
3. Maintain accurate records in compliance with statutory and school requirements.

Person Specification:

Qualifications and Training:

1. Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) – Essential
2. Degree in Art or a closely related field – Essential
3. Evidence of ongoing professional development – Desirable

Experience:

1. Proven experience teaching GCSE Art, including preparation for exams – Essential
2. Experience working with students with additional needs, such as mental health challenges or medical conditions – Desirable
3. Experience integrating therapeutic approaches into teaching – Desirable

Skills and Knowledge:

1. In-depth knowledge of the GCSE Art curriculum, including assessment criteria and exam board requirements.
2. Ability to adapt teaching strategies to meet diverse learning needs.
3. Understanding of the therapeutic benefits of art in supporting emotional and mental well-being.
4. Excellent classroom management skills and the ability to maintain a positive, creative learning environment.

Personal Attributes:

1. A compassionate and patient approach with a genuine desire to support students with complex needs.
2. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, able to build positive relationships with students, colleagues, and families.
3. Resilience, flexibility, and the ability to remain calm and professional under pressure.
4. A deep commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
5. A creative and inspiring personality, passionate about the arts and its impact on education and well-being.

Key Working Relationships:

1. Internal: Students, teachers, therapeutic staff, pastoral team, and other school professionals.
2. External: Families, external therapists, and other support professionals.

Freedom to Act:
As a key member of the education team, you will have the autonomy to make decisions regarding art education and student well-being, with appropriate escalation to senior staff when necessary.

Optima Plus Recruitment is proud to be Disability Confident Accredited and a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, demonstrating our commitment to supporting individuals from all backgrounds, including those with disabilities and those who have served in the armed forces.