Senior School English Teacher (Expat Contract)

General:

The school is in search of a dedicated, enthusiastic, and skilled educator with the requisite qualifications and experience to teach students in the Senior School range (ages 11 to 18). The English department is a vibrant and dynamic area of the school, providing courses at the IGCSE and IB levels.

English Department:

The Senior School's English department consists of a well-organized, supportive, and energetic team of nine professionals. Our department plays a crucial role within the school, ensuring that students graduate with confidence in their English proficiency and a passion for literature and the language itself. We pride ourselves on inspiring our students through engaging and structured teaching backed by thoughtfully designed schemes of work. Despite the fact that most of our students speak Portuguese at home, our teaching philosophy, in alignment with our British school ethos, is to instruct as though they are native English speakers. During Key Stage 4, students undertake the Cambridge IGCSE in English language and literature, consistently achieving outstanding results.

At Key Stage 5, students engage with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma in English A: language and literature, which remains one of the most sought-after subjects among our sixth formers. Our department is well-resourced, featuring an extensive collection of texts and multiple teaching schemes. Past text selections have included Greek tragedies, Renaissance dramas, postcolonial prose, and much more. Teachers have the freedom to choose literary and non-literary texts that cater to their students' ages, abilities, interests, and identified gaps in knowledge. This autonomy contributes to our students consistently outperforming the global average in IB English points, a fact we take great pride in, particularly at Key Stage 5.

This position is anticipated to commence in 2026.

About St. Paul’s School:

Established in 1926, St. Paul’s was the first institution in South America to gain accreditation from the UK government as a British School Overseas. This fully coeducational institution serves around 1,200 students aged 3 to 18 and combines a rich history and tradition with a commitment to innovation, contemporary values, and cutting-edge digital learning. We are recognized as a world-class school and are international members of HMC and IAPS, as well as members of COBIS and the LAHC. We take pride in our esteemed local, national, and international reputation and are continually striving to enhance opportunities for our students and staff. A recent BSO inspection rated us as a leading British School overseas, and the report can be downloaded from our website. Our exceptional facilities are designed to prioritize teaching and learning at the core of our school.

The English Teacher's Role:

At St. Paul’s, the teacher's primary objective is to foster both the intellectual and social growth of pupils, promoting learning and encouraging independent learning skills in every possible way.

Responsibilities:

• Prepare, guide, and develop St. Paul’s pupils to help them realize their potential by fostering understanding and learning in various aspects of the subject area.

• Utilize a holistic approach to enhance skills and abilities, promoting a positive learning attitude, critical thinking, global citizenship awareness, and a high-quality British and Brazilian education for pupils’ academic and personal development aligned with the school's mission and values.

• Inspire pupils' learning by providing diverse curricular opportunities to cultivate subject skills through a differentiated learning environment that includes digital resources to nurture talents and abilities.

• Assess and monitor pupils’ progress, providing timely and constructive feedback to ensure advancement, including communication with parents through the reporting framework and at parent meetings.

• Create a safe learning environment, ensuring all pupils feel happy, secure, and supported, while fostering a strong sense of community that aligns with school values.

• Design and deliver lessons tailored to the needs of different year groups across the Senior School, collaborating as a team player and adhering to departmental guidelines and school policies for student progress.

• Conduct occasional workshop sessions and recuperação activities to support pupil learning and contribute to the enrichment program.

• Attend departmental and staff meetings, participating in school development training sessions to share best practices and engage in administrative training.

• Supervise pupils during break and lunch times weekly as part of your duties.

• Invigilate annual mock examinations according to the school timetable.

• Occasionally cover for absent colleagues as needed.

• Engage in, assess, and document relevant professional development to support best practices and personal career objectives in line with school guidelines.

• Serve as a pastoral tutor, responsible for the safety and well-being of a small group of pupils within the school's pastoral framework.

Benefits:

Expatriate staff are offered a two-year (renewable) contract that includes: housing allowance; furnishing allowance; food allowance; return flights with luggage allowance (at the beginning and end of each contract); visa expenses covered; a premium bank account with benefits; an opt-in private pension scheme; a high-interest savings plan; a 13th month salary; an annual bonus; healthcare and dental coverage; Portuguese lessons (in the first year); assistance with local knowledge and logistics; on-site lunches; an average of 14 weeks' vacation annually, and a salary allowance in UK sterling.

Living in Brazil and São Paulo:

“I would highly recommend moving to Sao Paulo and Brazil. The opportunity to travel, meet new people, learn new cultures and experience so many exciting opportunities is something not to be missed. Sao Paulo really does have everything you want and need…don’t miss out!!” - Mr. Lee Sutton, Assistant Head Enrichment for Whole School.

“It only took a matter of weeks for me to fall in love with Brazil: the warmth of its people; their optimism and zest for life; their willingness to help strangers, and their ever-readiness for a party! This, against a backdrop of stunning natural beauty, incredible wildlife and some of the best beaches I have ever seen make Brazil an unrivalled country to call home away from home. More locally, São Paulo is an elating metropolis in which to live: I love how diverse it is demographically; how green and leafy it is; the excellent arts and culture options; the food offering is second-to-none, and the nightlife is awesome. In all, São Paulo (and Brazil) are the best places to live if you value good people, fun, quality of life and heady adventure.” - Mr. Jonathan Tarrant, Second in the English Department in Senior School.

Requirements:
The ideal candidate will:

• Hold a PGCE (or PGDE) from the UK, ideally with a focus on secondary English education.

• Possess UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

• Have a minimum of three years' experience teaching UK secondary, IGCSE, and/or IB curricula to students aged 11-18.

• Demonstrate excellent knowledge of English language and/or literature, supported by relevant academic qualifications.

• Understand student learning processes and possess a robust pedagogical toolbox to unlock every pupil's potential, regardless of their starting point.

• Foster pupils’ intellectual and social growth, including independent learning skills.

• Have a strong record of professional development and a commitment to collaborating with colleagues in this arena.

• Maintain positive, professional relationships with students, parents, and staff.

• Be an adaptable and effective team player.

• Contribute to the department's extracurricular activities.

• Exhibit a positive demeanor and a calm, professional approach.

• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with students, parents, and colleagues.

• Be a native English speaker or possess English as a first language.

Desirable:

• Have experience teaching Cambridge IGCSE, UK A-level, and/or IB Diploma in English language and/or literature.

• Be familiar with utilizing MacBooks, Office 365, and other technologies to enhance students’ learning.

• Have experience with management systems like iSAMS, CPOMS, and ManageBac.

• Be willing to participate in school events and engage with the wider school community.

Safeguarding:
The school is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to uphold this commitment. The offer for the position is contingent upon receipt of satisfactory references, proof of relevant qualifications, identification checks, and other safeguarding measures, including an overseas check when necessary and a pre-placement medical assessment. Proof of the right to work in Brazil is also required when applicable.