Head of English (Years 7 -13 plus working with Years 5 and 6)

Apply by: Tuesday, 18th September 2018 by 9am

Likely interview date: Week commencing 24th September 2018

English Language has been at the heart of School 21, a pioneering school for 4 to 18 year, since our opening six years ago. We are now looking for an inspirational and creative candidate to lead a brilliant team of English teachers who think deeply about their craft and deliver great outcomes for students. You will have the chance to shape the curriculum so that it continues to brings alive the finest literature and the most powerful ideas. Writing is a particular focus as we seek to help young people develop as authors, exploring creativity, discernment and precision.

You will be responsible for ensuring that the interactions in the English classrooms empower young people - so you will need to coach and support others whilst showing a high level of reflection on your own practice. You will be refining constantly, reading about and sharing good practice and you will believe passionately that if learning is prioritised, everything else falls into place. You will have the autonomy to be creative and the accountability regime to ensure the highest standards.

You will be responsible for the strategy, ethos and culture of the English team as it seeks to continue to deliver in every year group. As a middle leader in a school with a rich teaching and learning dialogue, you will also have a platform across departments, infusing the school with English language as well as supporting our ‘text-led’ well-being programme.

More broadly you will have the resources and support to develop programmes that bring English alive for all students: workshops and visits, speakers and curriculum days, partnerships with theatre companies, authors, playwrights and poets. We want someone who inspires children to read great literature, but also someone with an eye for detail in the teaching of language, grammar and fluency skills.

We have a unique focus on oracy (speaking) at School 21, believing it should be elevated to the same status as reading and writing. The dialogic classroom is where rich subject knowledge is allied to rigorous structures for discussion and deep thought. You will work with the Head of Oracy to embed intentional talk across the school.

School 21 is an all-through school and we will want to use your expertise across the age ranges. You will work closely with other subject disciplines, to produce books, campaigns, exhibitions and powerful learning experiences.

School 21 is a very special and different kind of place to work in. We empower staff to find their voice and their creativity. We offer collaboration and learning across ages and subjects. All staff have more planning time than most schools and a tailored programme of professional development which results in extraordinary outcomes for the students. We offer multiple routes to progression through subjects and pedagogies. We believe strongly in developing the full potential of all staff.

Since we opened in 2012 we have put learning and teaching at the heart of everything we do. We have developed a unique approach to oracy including setting up a charity, Voice 21 (https://www.voice21.org/) which is already working with several hundred schools. We have also pioneered real world, interdisciplinary learning in collaboration with a network of extraordinary organisations: creative, artistic, high tech, professional.

At School 21, we believe that the purpose of education is to develop the whole child: head (academics), heart (character and well-being) and hand (generating ideas, problem solving, creating extraordinary authentic outcomes). School 21 has established a strong track record - an outstanding ofsted, excellent GCSE results and a growing reputation, for example being the first and only international case study chosen by US educators, Edutopia https://www.edutopia.org/school/school-21.

There was strong recognition in the Ofsted for the ethos and approach of the school:

- "Pupils across the school make exceptional progress."
- "Pupils have excellent attitudes to learning, impeccable manners and show respect for everyone.”
- “Staff morale is exceptionally high. Teachers at the early stages of their career value the ‘fantastic’ professional development and opportunities to learn from each other. Those with more experience said that they have become much better teachers since joining the school.”
- Through project-based learning "pupils achieve remarkable standards of work and demonstrated knowledge and skills at levels beyond those expected for their age group."
- “Pupils talk and discuss with a maturity and confidence that is remarkable for their years."

The successful candidate will be:

• An excellent teacher and subject specialist
• Experienced at developing other teachers
• Skilled at fostering independent, student-led learning
• A creative and deep thinker about pedagogy
• Innovative in using new technology to enhance learning
• A collaborative planner, able to work across subject disciplines
• Interested in developing the growth of every child – head, heart and hand

ABOUT SCHOOL 21:

• 4 to 18 mixed, inclusive school in the heart of Stratford, Newham
• Cutting edge pedagogy and curriculum
• Small - only 75 children in each year group
• We have plans to set up two new schools in close proximity to School 21 which will give staff more opportunities to grow and develop

WE OFFER:

• Outstanding career development and exceptional CPD
• The chance to network with outstanding practitioners and learn from the best
• Collaborative working across the 4 to 18 school
• Leadership training and development opportunities
• A strong feedback culture so that teachers can develop in areas of their practice that are important to them
• Being part of a team/circle that develops strategic practice

For more information see: www.school21.org.ukm or e-mail Anne Shaker at careers@school21.org.uk or call 020 8262 2121

To apply please visit www.school21.org.uk

School 21 is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding children.