Vacancies

Welcome from the Headteacher

Dear Colleague,

Thank you very much for showing an interest in starting or furthering your career at Nower Hill High School. We very much hope that what you read in this booklet inspires you to want to apply for the position, and that it helps you to begin to get a flavour of our brilliant school.  We would love to meet you and explore the prospect of you joining us.

We are based in North West London between North Harrow underground station and Pinner underground station (both on the Metropolitan line).  Please use the journey planner link below to see how to get to our school.  Our postcode is HA5 5RP.

https://tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/

There are many benefits to working at Nower Hill High School. We offer:

• A dynamic place to work
• A supportive environment encouraging your creativity, personal development and leadership skills.
• A diverse, ambitious and inspirational student body
• A highly skilled, professional and inspirational staff
• Supportive, friendly and sociable staff
• Friendly and sociable staff.
• An aspirational community of local families
• A comfortable and well-resourced working environment
• Substantial support staff structure enabling teachers to teach and students to learn
• Excellent in-school career advancement opportunities
• Comprehensive Professional Development and training opportunities
• Free fitness suite membership
• Staff well-being service (Employee Assistance Programme for both you and your immediate family) and a         dedicated member of the Senior Team for staff well-being
• Medical suite staffed by a qualified nursing sister and welfare assistant
• Free annual flu vaccinations
• Excellent student support systems which promote excellent behaviour
• A programme of staff social events
• A supportive Senior Leadership Team
• Competitive Outer London pay scales
• Excellent holidays
• Longer October half term break with an additional 2 days holiday
• 3 extra days without students at the end of summer term to support staff to complete the academic year
• Long service award (£400 tax free payment)
• Bike to work scheme
• Generous leave of absence policy
• Generous pension scheme
• Priority admission for children of staff (after 2 years’ service, unless a skills shortage area)
• A supportive Governing Board
• A thriving extra-curricular activities and trips programme
• On site catering facilities
• Excellent public transport links (National Rail, London Underground and TfL bus routes)
• Local shops within walking distance
• An Ofsted rating of ‘Outstanding’ in all categories (Nov 2023)
• Well above average progress scores at both GCSE and A Level
• The opportunity to teach across all Key Stages (3 to 5)
• Over 1600 applications each year for a school place in Year 7
• A financially secure, well-resourced school
• Summer Induction days for all teaching staff before starting work
• High potential for career progression

Nower Hill is a very happy yet hardworking school.  We are here to ensure that every student achieves and experiences as much as possible during their journey with us; we want our students to enjoy their education so that they value learning and can look back in later years with warmth on their time at Nower Hill.  We strive to ensure our students are as well prepared as possible for the next stage in their life; articulate, ambitious young people with the strength of character and the confidence to compete in a highly competitive world.

We are a school with a growth mindset and we welcome colleagues who share our view that every child has the potential to get the very top grades; we reject the concept of fixed intelligence.  We demand and achieve high standards in all areas of school life within a disciplined, secure, caring and stimulating environment.  We value and praise the successes of our students and staff.  The school is held in high esteem by the local community and, as a consequence, is very popular and heavily oversubscribed.  Alongside academic excellence, we place a strong emphasis on impeccable manners, articulacy, excellent behaviour, smartness of appearance, hard work and most importantly, kindness.

Our 240 teaching and support staff are a pleasure to work with. They are highly skilled, professional and inspirational. Candidates visiting the school invariably comment on how welcoming and friendly they find the school during their day with us and new members of staff are well supported by their colleagues, making transition to their new environment that much easier. Team spirit is high, whether that be faculty teams, Year teams, Education Support Staff teams, the Senior Leadership Team or the whole staff team.

Here is what some of our recently appointed staff have to say about working at Nower Hill:

Anthony, Deputy Headteacher, Achievement and Evaluation

“Nower Hill is a fantastic place to work. Despite the school’s size, there is a strong sense of community amongst staff and students and these supportive relationships helped me to settle into a new role and a new school surprisingly quickly. The school’s systems and clear communication ensure that there is a calm and consistent approach to all aspects of the school day and this really helps you to use your time effectively. It has been a privilege to join such a high performing, supportive and passionate Senior Leadership Team. As a result of their leadership, there is a real culture of developing staff, and this is clear from the wealth of high quality CPD available each week and the frequent opportunities for staff to take on additional responsibilities. Staff views are also genuinely valued; from the regular Staff Pulse questionnaires to the opportunities to feed back to your subject area or Year team, and this is reflective of the school’s commitment to self-evaluation and improvement that permeates all that it does.”

Lucy, Assistant Headteacher, Inclusion and SENDCO

When I found out, as a PGCE student, that my second school placement was Nower Hill High School, after diligently studying the school website, I was beyond excited to get started! In my first few days of being at Nower Hill, I quickly realised what a truly fantastic environment it was to work in. The staff and students alike took tremendous pride in their school and I was in awe of how collaboratively Nower Hill worked with families; there really was a true community feel. Needless to say, when a job opportunity arose I jumped at the chance and have never looked back.  I have had numerous roles here at Nower Hill and being promoted to the Senior Leadership Team recently was a real privilege. I feel proud to work in a truly inclusive school which is always striving for the best for its students. The personalised support and extensive CPD offered have assisted me to progress throughout my time at Nower Hill and I would, without hesitation recommend Nower Hill as a wonderful place to work.

Sarub, Teacher of English

Returning to Nower Hill High School as a fully qualified English teacher was an easy decision. I was previously here as a student between 2011 and 2017 and instantly wanted to come back upon graduating. I thoroughly enjoyed being in the school environment; during my student years I was a Senior Prefect, Head Prefect and Head of House. I am now an English teacher and returned in September 2023. However, I previously came back to the school in 2021 and gained experience for a year as a Graduate Intern, showing that I was desperate to return! The values of Nower Hill High School were always at a high standard and those expectations continue twelve years later. I am extremely proud to represent this school, previously as a student and now as a member of staff, aiming to have a positive impact on the current cohort of students.

Sapna, Teacher of Science

Growing up in the borough and being aware of Nower Hill's reputation, I jumped at the opportunity to apply to teach in this fantastic school when a vacancy arose. During the interview I felt my experiences were valued and together with the warm welcome I received, I was assured that Nower Hill would be a great place to work. I joined Nower Hill as an Early Career Teacher (ECT), and throughout my first year I received support from various staff members which instilled in me the confidence to create a positive learning environment that aligned with the school's and my own values. At Nower Hill, numerous opportunities for continuous development are available. The students at Nower Hill are at the heart of all that we do and are inquisitive, enthusiastic and motivated, which makes teaching them an absolute delight.

Ceri, Administrative Assistant

I heard about the vacancy within the support staff at Nower Hill through two good friends who work here. From the start I found it a well organised, professional, lively and very positive place to work. Staff are really hard working, committed and kind, and I felt welcome and supported from my first day. They are also passionate, and genuinely care about their role in helping to develop both the academics as well as the characters of every individual student. It’s a daily pleasure to play a part in that. Standards are maintained at a very high level and everyone is proud to attend a school with ambition and vision for the future. My role is active and varied, it has been fascinating to see how a school works from the inside.

Lewis, KS4 & 5 French Lead (Linguistic and Cultural Studies)

Nower Hill was the first school I applied to when I qualified as an ECT in 2022.  The school is an incredibly welcoming and inclusive environment. I have found the support and mentoring highly valuable at this early stage of my teaching career. Moreover, working in a school with such a diverse tapestry of both staff and students is a true privilege. Being heavily involved with the LGBTQ+ working group has offered an additional insight into the diversity of the staff and student body. Furthermore we are committed to our work in developing the student pride club, embedding diversity and inclusivity across all curricula, and the delivery of continuous professional development on issues of diversity and inclusion. It is a pleasure and a privilege to be a part of the diverse community that is Nower Hill High School.

Daniella Badoo, ex-student/Graduate Intern (Inclusion)

My tenure at Nower Hill has been a continuous journey of personal and professional growth. Starting as a dedicated sixth form student from 2017 to 2019, I had the privilege of being taught by exceptional educators who nurtured my skills. Upon graduation, I returned to Nower Hill as a staff member, and in the past year, I’ve undergone three fully funded professional development courses in Mental Health First Aid, Emotional Literacy Support and teaching Phonics; thanks to the school’s commitment to staff growth. Furthermore, I’ve built strong professional relationships and cherished friendships among my colleagues, which have added depth to both my work and personal life. However, the most rewarding aspect has been my role within the outstanding Inclusion team, where I take pride in contributing to the academic and personal success of our bright young students. Nower Hill’s dedication to excellence in education, both for students and staff, makes me proud to be part of this institution.

Amber-Simone, Teacher of Design & Technology (Textiles)

Nower Hill High School was one of the first schools I applied to during my teacher training year as I felt that the school's ethos really resonated with me. Before starting my role I was given a thorough introduction to the school which allowed me to start in September feeling settled and well equipped with all of the information I needed. From day one, the staff both in and outside of my department have been friendly and supportive, always having a moment to spare for any queries I had. This made me feel very welcomed as an ECT as I knew that the staff at NHHS wanted to help me to develop my teaching practice further, constantly helping me in becoming the best version of myself.

There are many opportunities for continuous development at NHHS, with the Wednesday CPD sessions each week providing specific, targeted and practical advice which can be used in many elements of my teaching practice. The pupils at NHHS love to learn and are full of character, enthusiasm and motivation which further makes it an amazing place to work.

I hope that you like what you read about Nower Hill and if you, like us, have a deep commitment to inclusive, comprehensive education and endless ambition for children, then I do hope we will be hearing from you.

Best wishes

Jo Skelhorne

Headteacher