Teacher of English

The role:

Portsmouth High School is looking for a well-qualified and enthusiastic Teacher of English from September 2024. The successful candidate will be a confident and effective teacher with the ability to teach Key Stage 3 to 4; the ability to teach English at A Level would also be of benefit.

Whilst we welcome applications from experienced teachers, this might provide an excellent early career opportunity for the right candidate. ECTs receive a full induction programme, including allocation of an induction mentor, individualised structured induction support, and a programme of monitoring and observations, feedback/progress reviews, and assessment meetings.

The department:

The English Department is a supportive, dynamic, well-respected and collaborative department at the heart of the school. We firmly believe that the study of literature enriches all students’ understanding of the world around them, even our more reluctant English students. We aim for our students not only to appreciate the power of language by studying a wide variety of texts, but also to consider a diverse range of perspectives and attitudes; we sincerely hope this will be instrumental in them becoming thoughtful, empathetic young women. The department aims to help our students become confident, articulate speakers and accomplished writers; we always seek to help the girls achieve their best.

At Key Stage 4, we currently teach the CIE 0475 Literature in English syllabus and for Language, we teach Edexcel IGCSE Specification A. At A Level, we pursue Edexcel English Literature 9ETO and have an excellent uptake of students at this level, with students winning places at Russell Group universities and Cambridge.

We are exceptionally proud of our girls’ hard work and strong results across all curricular levels. The department works closely with Drama which allows us excellent cross-curricular links and interdisciplinary work on drama texts. Currently, we have two full-time English/English and Drama teachers; two teachers who teach across other academic disciplines in the school; three members of our team have school-wide pastoral or curricular responsibilities; and we have established excellent links with English in our prep school.

Our department meetings always include a teaching and learning focus so that we are reflective and adaptive practitioners. We strive to share and review best practice and resources, making use of digital resources to support learning as appropriate. Outside the classroom, we have flourishing reading groups at KS3 and KS4 level as well as a book group at Sixth Form which is dynamic and covers an extensive, challenging range of novels. A departmental colleague is also in charge of debating clubs and public speaking opportunities. We work very closely with the library to promote reading across the school, including for events such as National Poetry Day and World Book Day, and we enjoy promoting girls’ writing outside the classroom with a flourishing creative writing club and liaising with our GATE co-ordinator and other GDST English departments.

The school:

Portsmouth High School has been educating girls since 1882 and is part of the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) which is the UK’s leading network of independent girls’ schools. Pupils are happy, confident and ambitious giving them an unparalleled preparation for life. The school is located in Southsea, an attractive region on the south coast with excellent transport links. The area has retained much of its original Georgian character; notably, two of the school buildings were designed by architect Thomas Ellis Owen who was instrumental in shaping development of the local area.

We are a welcoming and caring community and pride ourselves on being a lovely place to work. The school offers a range of career opportunities both internally and more widely throughout the GDST network and is committed to staff well-being.

Benefits:

We offer a variety of benefits, such as:

• Competitive salaries and pay progression
• Access to extensive professional development opportunities
• Training grants for qualifications
• Generous pension schemes
• Free life assurance benefit
• A discount of up to 50% on fees for children at GDST schools
• Employee discount benefits, financial advice and an employee assistance programme
• A Cycle to Work scheme
• Competitive terms and conditions of employment

For further details and to apply please click the apply button.

Applications should be accompanied by a letter addressed to the Headmistress outlining why you would be suitable for the post, plus the academic qualifications form.

If you have any queries, please email hr@por.gdst.net or telephone 023 9282 6714.

The closing date for applications is midday on Monday 8 April 2024. 

Applications will be assessed upon receipt and we reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date.

Interview date: Friday 12 April 2024 TBC.

The GDST is committed to diversity, inclusion and real change: a family where every individual is valued, respected and included.

The GDST is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including online checks, checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

This role will involve daily contact with children teaching lessons and as form tutor. The Teacher of English will therefore be engaging in regulated activity and an Enhanced DBS with Barred List checks, and Prohibition from Teaching checks will be required. All school staff have a responsibility to work in accordance with statutory requirements and GDST Safeguarding and Child Protection policy and procedures. The school’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and Procedures can be found here: https://www.portsmouthhigh.co.uk/policies