Lead Practitioner - English Faculty

We are looking for someone who is passionate about their subject and determined to impart knowledge, skills and understanding to all our young people, whilst exciting and engaging them in their learning. We will only consider candidates who can evidence a strong track record of success at GCSE and who have made a significant impact on the lives and education of the children they teach. This will need to be demonstrated in your application and be clearly evident on the selection day. 

You will play a leading and highly visible role in the improvement of teaching and learning of the Faculty and the academic success of all students, ensuring the highest standards of teaching, learning and achievement and leading in the monitoring, evaluation and review of standards and provision in the subject area.

The general expectations of this role are:

• To collaborate as a member of the Teaching and Learning Team in order to build and realise the shared vision of excellence and high standards for all students.
• To account for students' performance in line with School procedures.
• To provide the Governing Body with relevant and accurate information relating to the Faculty's performance and development.
• To support and participate in the work of the Every Child Every Day Trust
• To ensure high quality teaching and learning in the Faculty or across the School.
• To ensure that Schemes of Work are of a high quality.

If you are a dynamic and inspirational Teacher of English seeking a new adventure, we’d like to hear from you!  

Ideal candidates will:

• Love English in all its forms
• Be a leader that can lead strategically and deliver operationally 
• Lead by example and be an excellent English teacher who inspires and engages within the classroom. Equally, you will provide a wide range of opportunities outside of the classroom
• Have a track record of positive impact on student’s progress across the English Faculty 
• Possess a strong desire to play a key role in raising standards. 
• Have demonstrable evidence of raising attainment and developing excellence within a team
• Be passionate about developing their own practice and the teaching and learning practice of others
• Communicate effectively to staff, students and parents

The successful candidate:

• will champion all of our young people 
• is passionate about the importance of education and their subject area. Sharing in the pride of the Faculty.
• refuses to accept that disadvantage or SEND should limit ambition or potential 
• is consistently an excellent practitioner with a positive work ethic. Leading by example to others within the team.
• is student centred and progress focused
• stays solution based in their leadership 
• is reflective, with a constant drive to improve 
• is a versatile and proactive  professional who is flexible in their operational and strategic outlook
• Will have a commitment to safeguarding.  Ensuring students grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care, and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes. 

Why work at Chessington: 

• Our students are wonderful. They love the school, their teachers, sport and learning. 
• £30 million state of the art modern facilities in an Ofsted rated ‘Good’ school (February 2024) which is rapidly improving. 
• Fantastic support from line managers and SLT who genuinely want to see you succeed and thrive. 
• Excellent opportunities for career progression and professional development in a successful family of schools within the Every Child Every Day Trust 
• Our staff and students live by our ethos - Everyone Valued, Every Day an Opportunity, Every Moment Focussed on Success. 
• A school dedicated to well-being, (see below). Increased length of October Half Term, workload reducing feedback strategies, Free gym membership, onsite childcare and more.

Please see our school video here 

Please see our school pledges here

Here’s what our teachers say:

“I have been at this school for 9 years and I love it! It gets better and better each year without losing the supportive and caring environment” Head of Subject

I am in my ECT year. The CPD, support and commitment I get has been overwhelming. I made the right choice” ECT New Teacher 

“This is the best school I have ever worked at” Deputy Headteacher 

Applications need to be made no later than midday Friday 3rd May. We reserved the right to withdraw the advert if suitable candidates are found.  

Application packs are available from Elsa Harris, Chessington School, Garrison Lane, Chessington, Surrey, KT9 2JS, email eharris@chessington.kingston.sch.uk or telephone 020 8974 1156 x 204. For an informal conversation please contact Tony Smith, Deputy Headteacher.

Chessington English Faculty

The English team currently consists of five specialist teachers. This vacancy has arisen due to our growing school and Faculty.

The Faculty has a good blend of age and experience and gets along extremely well together as a team. The Faculty regularly enjoys mentoring trainee English students in their teaching practice.

The aims of the Faculty are:

• to ensure that every student, regardless of ability, reaches his/her full potential

• to ensure that each student on leaving school has the literacy and cultural skills for the next stage of their educational journey 

The students are set in ability groups for their English lessons, but these are fluid and monitored regularly.  We follow our own scheme of work which we have developed over the last few years, and our GCSE exam board is AQA. 

The English classrooms are located together in our own corridor, with teachers having their own classroom. Each classroom is equipped with a projector, visualiser and interactive whiteboard.