Head of English

Highbury Fields School is a flourishing, high performing 11-18 girls’ state school, which was graded Outstanding in all categories in October 2016.  

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a well-qualified and highly effective English specialist to play a key role in helping the school to maintain and further improve its current standards by leading and developing our committed and talented team of English teachers as Head of Faculty.  The successful candidate will have a proven track record of raising attainment both at a classroom and department level and will ideally have successful experience of leading and managing a team of teachers, for example as a second in charge or key stage co-ordinator. 

Thanks to the exceptional attitudes of our students and the dedication of their teachers, the study of English is currently flourishing at Highbury Fields School.  In 2016, 89% of our Year 11 students attained an A*-C in their English GCSE and the progress of students has been consistently in the top 3% nationally for the last three years.  The challenge for the new Head of Faculty will be how to sustain and improve upon these quite exceptional successes. 

However, whilst we are rightly proud of our students’ achievements, the English Faculty at Highbury Fields School is not a complacent environment.  GCSE Media Studies and A level English Literature have recently been introduced and, although these subjects are popular with our students and A level outcomes were very pleasing last year, performance in them is not yet as consistently successful as we would like.  We believe that with the right person leading the Faculty, attainment in these areas can match that of our GCSE results, as we expect the successful candidate to lead the department to excellence in all features of its practice.       

The new Head of English will report directly to the Deputy Headteacher in charge of learning and teaching and will have the opportunity to lead all aspects of the Faculty’s development, as well contribute to wider whole school initiatives.  It is envisaged that the successful applicant will see this position as a step on their career path towards senior leadership. If you are someone who wants to develop their career in a forward thinking and highly supportive environment, who can foster effective and harmonious relationships with members of staff and who truly believes, like we do, that every child can achieve excellence, then we look forward to receiving your application. 

The successful applicant will: 

• Be an excellent teacher who has proven results across all key stages 

• Be highly ambitious for all students 

• Be a team player     

• Be able to demonstrate experience of developing teachers’ practice 

• Be willing to contribute to the wider school curriculum 

If you are interested in the post and would like to find out more about the role and the school, please contact Ms Mary Mason, Headteacher’s PA on, on 0207 288 1888.  

To apply, please download the application form from the TES or school website and e-mail it to: hr@highburyfields.islington.sch.uk. 

Closing date: Tuesday 18th April, 9am.

Please note the school does not accept CVs. 

Highbury Fields School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. This post is subject to a DBS enhanced disclosure check.