Start date:      ASAP
Contract:  Permanent 
Salary:          Highly Competitive
 
The Role
To develop, lead and manage the exceptionally effective delivery of an outstanding English curriculum to ensure all our pupils make excellent progress.
 
Key Responsibilities
·      Be held accountable for the progress of all pupils in English learning across the school
·      Constantly improve the quality of teaching and learning, where necessary holding teachers to account
·      Lead the design and implementation of English curriculum and assessment including controlled assessment and examinations
·      Be a role model of outstanding teaching in the department
·      Observe, mentor and provide guidance to teachers in the department.
 
Outcomes and Activities
Teaching and Learning
·      Meticulously plan and teach engaging and challenging lessons that pave the way for success in school and life
·      Meet the needs of all learners by consistently planning and teaching carefully differentiated lessons
·      Set and mark appropriate homework
·      Use regular, measurable and significant assessments of their teaching
·      Complete all reporting on time
·      Closely monitor progress and attainment of their pupils and use it to inform their teaching
·      Provide content for and where necessary deliver high quality pupil interventions with direction from SLT member responsible for behaviour.
·      Ensure that all pupils achieve or exceed academy targets
·      Maintain regular and productive communication with parents about their child’s progress, behaviour and development, including attending after school parent meetings as required
·      Organize and participate in exciting and motivating trips and events.
 
Leadership of subject
·      Develop innovative schemes of work which are inspiring for learners and teachers alike and feed into standards based assessments
·      Produce half termly assessments with marks schemes
·      Ensure assessments are moderated internally and externally
·      Ensure end of year assessments reflect each pupil’s overall level which is both externally valid and provides an accurate baseline for the next academic year
·      Analyse progress and attainment data to make data-driven changes to curriculum design, and pupil interventions
·      Work in collaboration with colleagues to ensure pupils receive high quality interventions
·      Through regular observation and feedback, mentor subject teachers to ensure excellent teaching and learning in all lessons
·      Ensure that classroom teachers are utilising best pedagogical practice for their subject
·      Conduct half termly evaluations of the quality of teaching and learning of individual classes and as a department, agreeing implementing and holding teachers to account to changes to teaching and learning
·      Create and sustain a positive department culture, where team mates feel collectively supported and developed.
 
Other
·      Undertake professional development as agreed with school leaders
·      Perform additional duties and tasks required for the effective operation of the school
·      Undertake other various responsibilities as directed by the Principal.

 

Person Specification: Head of English

 

Qualification criteria
·       Qualified to degree level and above
·       Qualified to teach in the UK
·       Right to work in the UK
 
Experience
·       Experience of raising attainment in a challenging school
·       Evidence of continually improving the teaching and learning of their subject though schemes coaching or staff
·       Evidence of leading and/or teaching up to KS5 English is desirable
·       Training and practice in Ruth Miskin’s ‘Read and Write Inc.’ (desirable)
 
Skills and attributes
·       We are looking for these skills and attributes or at the very least, a clear, demonstrable capacity to develop them:
·       Leadership
·       Effective team worker and leader
·       High expectations for accountability and consistency
·       Vision aligned with ARK’s high aspirations and high expectations of self and others
·       Genuine passion and a belief in the potential of every student
·       Motivation to continually improve standards and achieve excellence
·       Commitment to the safeguarding and welfare of all pupils.
 
Teaching and Learning
·       Excellent classroom practitioner
·       Effective and systematic behaviour management, with clear boundaries, sanctions, praise and rewards
·       Has good communication, planning and organisational skills
·       Demonstrates resilience, motivation and commitment to driving up standards of achievement
·       Commitment to regular and on-going professional development and training to establish outstanding classroom practice.
 
Communication skills
·       The ability to listen and communicate effectively
·       Empathy and the ability to understand the needs, aspirations and motivation of diverse individuals and groups
·       The ability to influence and motivate others
 
Problem solving
·       Identify, analyse and resolve problems and issues
·       Develop plans with concrete outcomes and effective solutions
·       Evaluate results and identify necessary actions
·       Make fact-based decisions.
 
Resilience
·       Sustain energy, optimism and motivation in the face of pressure and setbacks
·       Stay calm in difficult situations and maintain clarity of vision
·       Be adaptable in the face of adversity.
 
 
Results and learning orientation
·       Commitment to ongoing improvement and learning
·       A passion for teaching subject
·       Focus on achieving challenging goals and results
·       Resourcefulness and flexibility in delivering outcomes.
 
Other

This post is subject to an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosure.