Head of Department MFL
Start date: September 2023 or January 2024
Location: Ark Alexandra, Hastings, East Sussex
Salary: Ark Outside London Leadership Pay Scale, points 5 – 9: £49,617 to £54,770
Hours: Full-time
Contract: Permanent
Closing date: 9.00 am, Tuesday 20 June 2023
Applications will be reviewed as submitted therefore the school reserves the right to close this advert early and interviews may take place before the advertised closing date. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early for this role to avoid disappointment.
Based in the UK and considering making a move to Hastings? Are you looking for progression into Leadership? Would you like to help us create a truly great school for the young people in Hastings? We are able to offer relocation allowances of up to £5,000 to support you with the process. Download our relocation flyer and get in touch to find out more.
We are excited to welcome applicants for this rare leadership opportunity to join our successful languages department at our dynamic school in Hastings on a permanent contract. The successful applicant will be joining a supportive and friendly team, made up of French and Spanish teachers. The department has high expectations of achievement, and the GCSE results are amongst the highest in the academy, both scoring positive progress 8 scores in 2019 and 2022.
We are seeking a passionate leader who can articulate a love of languages and be able to communicate effectively with students of all abilities. The successful candidate will line manage and support two Heads of Subject and take on the exciting challenge of securing success with large cohorts of students as the English Baccalaureate path of study is highly encouraged at Ark Alexandra. We have a strong focus on language learning as we recognise the importance of MFL in preparing students for a globally interconnected world.
As Head of MFL, the successful candidate will be responsible for leading our dedicated team of MFL teachers, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and high academic standards. The role will involve developing and implementing an engaging MFL curriculum, overseeing assessment and progress tracking, and providing guidance and support to colleagues within the department.
For more information please read the job description and person specification in the information pack you can download from here.
We’re looking for an individual who:
- Can lead by example, through outstanding practice and professionalism
- Cares about students, their learning, and their futures
- Has motivation to continually improve standards and achieve excellence
- Is driven to make a difference, to overcome barriers, to be relentless in enabling all students to make exceptional progress
- Is committed to their own personal development and to collaborative, consultative working
What we offer:
- Salary higher than the national pay scales
- Twice as many training days as standard and network-wide events with Ark colleagues, held by the best minds in education
- Weekly staff training designed to meet the needs of the school
- Coaching for every teacher
- Protected co-planning time
- Access to the high-quality, professional development, including nationally recognised qualifications such as the NPQML and NPQSL
- Opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across the network
Our school:
Ark Alexandra is a two-campus secondary academy with a Sixth Form provision in Hastings, East Sussex and is the largest secondary with 6th form in the Ark network. A popular school, we are growing from a 10 to 12 form entry this year, working across a split site, which brings with it unique opportunities for growth and development. At our most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2021, Leadership & Management, Behaviour & Attitudes, Personal Development and Sixth Form were all judged to be Good.
Ark Alexandra works closely with our feeder primary schools, Ark Blacklands, Ark Little Ridge and Ark Castledown, all of which have exceptional leadership graded as Outstanding by Ofsted.
As a Church of England school, our values of faith, excellence and kindness underpin our ethos, culture and behaviour. We have an inclusive admissions policy that welcomes, without preference, students of all faith and none. Our vision is to create a truly great school for the young people in Hastings. We believe that everyone deserves to be accepted, included, and empowered to live a purposeful and fulfilling life.
How to apply:
Please click 'apply' on the website you are visiting or visit www.arkalexandra.org/vacancies to complete an online application form by 9.00am on Tuesday 20 June 2023, however please be aware we reserve the right to close this vacancy early. You will be able to pause, save and log back in to complete your application up until the vacancy closes. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early for this role to avoid disappointment.
If you’re interested in further information about our school, please visit our website – www.arkalexandra.org or to find out more about Ark Schools, please download and read Why Join an Ark School? from here.
We welcome conversations about the role and visits to our school. If you would like to arrange an informal and confidential conversation, please contact the HR Department at ALEHR@arkalexandra.org
Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.
Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link.