Head of English

About this Role

Oakbank is a school of potential that drives for the betterment for all. The school is committed to a journey of transformation, where staff, students and parents are committed to improving the quality and experience of education for its community. We believe that every child deserves to not only access the full curriculum, but should thrive in their curriculums, developing academically, personally and holistically as a result of passionate and adaptive teaching, resulting in committed learning that secures successful outcomes. Our current phase of school improvement features our entire team, working together at pace to offer greater stability, more innovation and creativity.

Our collective determination to make Oakbank a happier and higher performing school affirms our commitment to our values: integrity, collaboration and excellence. We believe in excellence for our students to give them the opportunities to have choices in their lives, empowering them to choose the future that they desire off the back of hard work. We believe in working together to ensure that our community supports one another and challenges one another to be the ‘best yet’ versions of ourselves, not because we have to improve but because if we do, the potential is endless.

About This Role 

We are seeking to appoint a dynamic and enthusiastic individual as a Head of English. The successful post holder would:

• Be an excellent practitioner and someone who has good understanding of the pedagogy needed for the curriculum to be implemented successfully
• Demonstrate a commitment to developing a culture of effective coaching to improve the quality of teaching and learning
• Demonstrate a commitment to improving student progress

The post holder is required to carry out the duties of a Head of English in accordance with the provisions of the current School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document and within the range of teachers’ duties set out in that document and School Development Priorities. 

Job Purpose 

• To lead and manage the English Department to inspire students and raise their aspirations and achievements 
• Fulfil the professional responsibilities of a teacher, as set out in the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Documents 
• Meet the expectations set out in the Teachers' Standards. 

Responsibilities and Role 

Strategic Direction

• Develop and implement policies for science in line with our school’s commitment to high-quality teaching and learning
• Promote the subject, its importance, and the value that it brings across the school
• Have a good understanding of how well the subject is being delivered and the impact it has on pupil achievement
• Use this understanding to feed into the school development plan and produce an action plan for the subject
• Promote pupils’ spiritual, moral, social, cultural, physical and mental development alongside British values in the teaching of the subject
• Consult pupils, parents and staff about the subject and its effectiveness, and assess the feedback against the school’s values, visions and aims
• Work with the special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) to ensure the curriculum matches the needs of different pupils, such as disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) 
• Promote careers education through the subject and ensure that teaching and learning illustrates how the subject might lead to career opportunities
• Use additional staff in the subject area to ensure there is a framework for deployments and that teaching assistants are deployed effectively
• Liaise with our feeder primary schools on the transition of the subject to secondary school to ensure that progression is built into the curriculum
• Liaise with the Trust within subject groups on subject-related events, projects and activities

Leading the Curriculum 

• Develop and review regularly the vision, aims and purpose for the subject area
• Oversee the planning of the curriculum content, ensuring it is well sequenced to promote pupil progress
• Ensure the planned curriculum is effectively and consistently implemented across the school
• Make sure there is an effective system of assessment that oversees the progress of pupils to ensure the curriculum has a positive impact on pupils’ learning
• Have an overarching responsibility for pupils’ achievement and standards in the subject area
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Leading and Managing staff 

• Establish an effective team and hold regular meetings on the subject to keep staff informed on any developments or changes
• Provide support to staff regarding teaching and learning, resources, and planning in the subject area
• Monitor teaching and learning by visiting lessons, scrutinising books, and talking with pupils to assess how well the subject area is being implemented and how well it is delivered across the school
• Provide feedback to staff based on the above observations to identify training needs and provide continuing professional development (CPD) in the subject area
• Coach and model team teaching
• Liaise effectively with exam boards to ensure that teachers understand and are familiar with the syllabuses that are being delivered
• Support teachers to make accurate assessments, manage internal and external moderation, and complete external moderation exercises
• Take responsibility for performance management for your team, appraising staff in line with the school’s appraisal policy
• Contribute to timetabling and manage setting pupils into attainment groups

Efficient and Effective deployment of resources 

• Provide support with textbooks and library books in your subject area
• Create a safe, welcoming environment and take care of the classroom accommodation, ensuring classroom displays are stimulating, of high quality, and inspire curiosity in pupils
• Audit, check and manage resources to ensure they are up to date and match pupil and curriculum needs
• Prepare appropriate resources for remote learning to ensure the curriculum can be delivered to pupils learning from home if necessary

Safeguarding 

• Work in line with statutory safeguarding guidance (e.g. Keeping Children Safe in Education, Prevent) and our safeguarding and child protection policies
• Work with the DSL to promote the best interests of pupils, including sharing concerns where necessary
• Promote the safeguarding of all pupils in the school
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Please note that we reserve the right to close the recruitment campaign earlier that this date subject to the volume of applications received.  We therefore encourage candidates to submit applications as early as possible.

It is an offence for an individual who has been disqualified from working with children to knowingly apply for, offer to do, accept, or do any work in a ‘regulated activity’. The position advertised is a ‘regulated activity’.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and require all staff and volunteers to share and demonstrate this commitment. The successful candidate will have to meet the requirements of the person specification and will be subject to the relevant pre-employment checks which will, where applicable, include a health check, an enhanced DBS check, the Children’s Barred List check and satisfactory references.