Vacancy Information

Maternity Cover until 31st March 2025.
Days of Work:
2 days a week, to be discussed more with candidate.
To start 12th August 2024.

For posts starting August, applications are welcome from current probationers pending attainment of full registration with the GTCS.

Preston Lodge High School is a non-denominational secondary school serving the communities of Cockenzie, Port Seton, Longniddry and Prestonpans. Our roll is currently 1060, and the school is very easily commutable from Edinburgh. The strengths of our school are:

The high morale, sense of belonging and positive ethos of the school community
The contributions of young people to improvements and our significantly improved attainment
The nurturing, inclusive work of staff across the school in supporting young people’s learning and wellbeing
The strong, positive relationships between staff and students

Our motivated staff, students, parents, carers, and the community we serve, have worked hard to further improve all aspects of our school, and staff love working at Preston Lodge. We are a happy school, and new staff report very positively on our school’s culture and ethos. At a time of great uncertainty in education, we work together to provide the best education possible for all of our students.

Our work is focused on continuously improving our approach to classroom practice, developing student and staff learning, improving our curriculum offer and improving attainment with a keen focus on our equity gap. The home-grown PL Learning Cycle ensures staff and students work together to develop an understanding of not just what key skills should be learned by students, but how they should be learned and why they are important.

Although we have very strong Positive Destinations data, we are working hard to diversify our Senior Phase, to better meet the needs of all students.

Our curriculum fully meets the expectations of Curriculum for Excellence, and we are increasingly exploring alternative awards for young people. For example, we are a big user of the Open Universities Young Applicants in Scottish Schools scheme and have an increasing number of students participating in Youth Achievement Awards - all S3 students now undertake the Bronze Award of this scheme. We have recently introduced four one-year in-school Foundation Apprenticeships into our Senior Phase, and we are currently considering the long-term role of Home Rooms in our S1 Curriculum. This latter area is the result of a very challenging year, when RAAC-related building disruption forced us to completely rethink our S1 curriculum. Our school has now emerged from that challenge stronger than before, with a lot of really interesting learning coming out of a period of disruption.

Our vibrant, friendly and inclusive Humanities team are a key part of learning at Preston Lodge High School. In recent years we have been central to curricular developments at the school and as a result we have introduced a number of new courses to ensure the academic needs of all of our students are being met. Our strong team is always striving to help students achieve. This has led to our staff developing positive relationships with students and providing a safe place for students to learn. We are now looking to recruit an innovative teacher to allow us to further develop the RME contribution to Preston Lodge High School.

This is an exciting time for Preston Lodge High School, and the community it serves. Further details about the school can be found on our website at http://www.prestonlodge.net. and although we are just about to launch a new website there is a wealth of information about the school and its culture in the Publications section - do take a look at our weekly PLus newsletter to find out more about who we are!

Job Details

Teaching relevant subject through S1-S6.

Subject to the policies of the school and the education authority the duties of teachers, promoted and unpromoted, are to perform such tasks as the Head Teacher shall direct having reasonable regard to overall teacher workload related to the following categories-

Teaching assigned classes together with associated preparation and correction
Developing the school curriculum
Assessing, recording and reporting on the work of pupils
Preparing pupils for examinations and assisting with their administration
Providing advice and guidance to pupils on issues related to their education
Promoting and safeguarding the health, welfare and safety of pupils
Working in partnership with parents, support staff and other professionals
Undertaking appropriate and agreed continuing professional development
Participating in issues related to school planning, raising achievement and individual review
Contributing towards good order and the wider needs of the school

Please download the Job Outline/Person Specification (available under 'Job Attachments') for the full range of tasks and duties associated with this job. You will need to refer to these in order to complete the application form. You must ensure you meet every 'essential' criteria stated on the Person Specification to be considered for interview.

The ‘East Lothian Way’– values and behaviours we expect our employees to demonstrate in their everyday work. Should you be invited to interview, you may be asked questions based on these behaviours. Please refer to the document via the link to familiarise yourself with them.

Job Requirements

Relevant Qualifications
Registered with GTCS as a teacher of relevant subject
Permanent Posts: GTCS Full registration (General)
Temporary Posts: GTCS Full registration (General) / Provisional registration

PVG Membership
This post is considered as Regulated Work with vulnerable children and/or protected adults, as specified in the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007.

All preferred candidates for posts carrying out regulated work with these groups will be required to become a PVG Scheme member, or undergo a PVG Scheme update if they are already a member, prior to any formal offer of employment being made by East Lothian Council.

Please note: PVG member’s records are constantly updated with any new vetting information that arises. Any information that is disclosed on a PVG membership or update check, if relevant to the post being applied for, will be discussed with the applicant and investigated prior to any formal offer being made.

Please note:
If you have spent more than 3 months working or living outwith the UK in the last 5 years then you will be required to present a copy of an overseas criminal record check. Details of how to apply and contact details can be found on the GOV.UKwebsite.

Additional Information

For additional East Lothian Council employment information please click on the following link:
www.eastlothian.gov.uk/teachinginfo

Please Note - Pay arrangements for those starting after 1st day of school session
In accordance with Teachers Conditions of Service (SNCT - Appendix 2.19), Teachers who commence employment with East Lothian Council after the first day of the school session will have their salary for the remainder of the school salary year (which runs from 1 August to 31 July each year), recalculated to reflect how teachers accrue leave and pay.

In these circumstances, a calculation will be carried out upon commencement of employment and leave and pay will be adjusted. Further information will be provided to the successful candidate should this be applicable.

East Lothian Council Secondary Schools
Further details on all East Lothian Council Secondary Schools, including individual school websites can be found here: Secondary Schools

If you have any difficulties creating an account on MyJobScotland or applying for this post please contact the MyJobScotland support team via this link https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/contact-us.

If you require further information about this vacancy, please call 01620 827868, or email us on recruitment@eastlothian.gov.uk

Please note: We do not accept CV's (either electronically or by mail). All our vacancies must be applied for by fully completing the on-line application form. Although there is an ‘import data from my CV’ function on MyJobScotland, this only imports very limited data and should not be relied upon to complete the application form.