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About The New School Madurai

The New School Madurai is a learning community rooted in the belief that education must engage the whole child — head, heart, and hands. We bring together the developmental depth of Waldorf pedagogy with the academic framework of the ICSE curriculum. Our craft programme is not an add-on; it is central to who we are. Through making, children develop will forces, aesthetic sensibility, patience, and a grounded relationship with the material world.

Role Overview

We are looking for a skilled and imaginative Woodwork Teacher who understands that working with wood is far more than a vocational exercise. In a Waldorf-inspired school, woodwork is a pedagogical art — a practice through which children learn to think with their hands, develop perseverance, encounter beauty in natural materials, and experience the deep satisfaction of making something real.

The Woodwork Teacher will design and deliver a woodwork curriculum for primary-aged students that is developmentally sequenced, safety-conscious, and richly connected to the broader life of the school. Projects will be purposeful and beautiful — objects children are proud to have made and that serve a genuine purpose in their lives or their community.

The successful candidate will have genuine craft skills and will model mastery with humility — bringing alive the dignity of working with natural materials in a culture that increasingly values the digital over the handmade.

Key Responsibilities

Curriculum Design & Delivery

- Plan and deliver woodwork lessons that are developmentally appropriate, drawing on Waldorf principles of craft education as well as ICSE guidelines.

- Design a progressive, multi-year woodwork curriculum — beginning with simple hand tools and form exploration in early primary, and building toward more complex joinery, design thinking, and finished craft pieces in higher grades.

- Choose projects that are meaningful, beautiful, and within reach for each age group — from carved animals and simple toys to functional furniture joints and small constructions.

- Integrate the woodwork programme with themes and subjects across the school day where appropriate, in consultation with class teachers.

- Introduce students to the properties, origins, and ecological significance of different types of wood, fostering respect for natural materials.

Workshop Management & Safety

- Maintain a clean, organised, and safe workshop environment at all times.





- Conduct thorough safety inductions for each class and enforce safe tool use practices consistently and calmly.

- Manage, maintain, and inventory all tools and equipment; arrange for repair or replacement as needed.

- Ensure that all safety protocols meet institutional and regulatory requirements.

- Supervise students closely during all practical sessions, with particular care for younger or less experienced learners.

Student Development & Observation

- Observe each student’s relationship with craft — their fine motor development, concentration, frustration tolerance, spatial thinking, and creative initiative — and share relevant observations with class teachers.

- Support students with special educational needs through adapted tools, modified projects, and close accompaniment as needed, in collaboration with the special education team.

- Cultivate an atmosphere in the workshop that is calm, focused, and purposeful — a contrast to the pace of much of modern life.

- Celebrate student effort and craftsmanship, not just finished products.

Community & School Life

- Contribute woodwork projects to school festivals, exhibitions, and community events — helping families experience the quality and intention behind what their children are making.

- Collaborate with other craft teachers (textiles, clay, gardening) to create a coherent and interconnected practical arts programme.

- Participate in staff meetings, school events, and professional development days.

- Report to the Head of School or assigned coordinator on curriculum progress, student welfare concerns, and workshop needs.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

- Demonstrable skill and experience in woodworking — whether through formal craft training, apprenticeship, or sustained independent practice.

- Experience teaching or facilitating craft work with children or young people.

- A sound understanding of child development and the ability to pitch tasks appropriately to different ages.

- Confidence in workshop safety management, including hand and power tool protocols.

- Strong communication skills in English and Tamil.

Desirable

- Formal teaching qualification (B.Ed.



or equivalent) with craft or vocational specialisation.

- Familiarity with Waldorf craft curriculum and its developmental philosophy, particularly the sequencing of craft work across Grades 1–8.

- Training or experience in traditional Indian woodworking traditions, furniture making, or related crafts.

- Experience supporting students with special educational needs in practical arts settings.

- Ability to design and build workshop infrastructure and storage systems.

Qualities We Value

- A craftsperson’s soul: someone who finds genuine meaning in working with natural materials and wants to pass that on to children.

- Patience and steadiness — the workshop asks this of both teacher and student.

- An aesthetic sensibility: care for beauty, proportion, and finish in everything that is made.

- Warmth and attentiveness to each child as an individual.

- Collaborative spirit and willingness to work within a Waldorf-inspired school culture.

- Humility — the ability to model making mistakes, learning, and trying again.

- Sensitivity to cultural and family diversity in Madurai’s community.

Working Conditions

- The role is workshop-based and involves sustained standing, manual handling of timber and tools, and active supervision of students.

- The workshop setting will require regular cleaning and maintenance as part of the role.

- Hours align with the school timetable; occasional early preparation or after-hours project work may be required around school exhibitions and festivals.

Compensation & Benefits

Remuneration will be commensurate with qualifications and experience, and in line with ICSE school norms. The school is committed to building a supportive, growth-oriented faculty culture and offers opportunities for professional development within both craft education and holistic education frameworks.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are invited to send their CV, a brief cover letter describing their craft background and philosophy of teaching, and if possible, photographs or a portfolio of woodwork they have made or taught, to:

[email protected]

Please use the subject line: Application – Woodwork Teacher

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

The New School Madurai is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Work Location: In person

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📌 Woodwork Teacher (Madurai)
🏢 The New School Madurai
📍 Madurai