Head of English

Our intention is to appoint a high calibre leader for this outstanding English department for a position starting in September 2019.

As a dynamic Head of English you will enthuse students through the provision of high quality teaching and learning, encouraging all students to develop their potential to the full. The successful candidate will be a leader who is passionate about all aspects of language and literature with a drive to make a difference and maintain our exceptionally high standards in English.

Students at St Andrew appreciate being taught well and enjoy their learning. They expect high standards and like to be challenged and stretched in the classroom. They participate well and enjoy taking responsibility across the school. All students are entered for both GCSE English Literature and Language.

The school’s first GCSE results last year were very good, especially in English: grade 4 and above was 88% and grade 5 and above was 72%. Progress 8 for English was 0.45 compared to 0.39 across the whole school.

Students benefit from one to one feedback and advice on Y11 English Mock exams from English advisers working for our Trust at key points in KS4 which they find inspiring. Ten Y12 students are studying English Literature A level in our first Y12 cohort.

The ideal candidate will:

• Be an outstanding practitioner and inspirational leader;
• Have a proven track record of success in raising student attainment in English;
• Have the ability to develop a love of English in order to maintain high standards;
• Be a committed team-player with experience of having led and managed successful teams;
• Fully understand the new English curriculum and have the vision required to raise standards further.

St Andrew the Apostle Greek Orthodox School opened in September 2013 as the first maintained Greek Orthodox secondary school in the country. It was developed from the beliefs, vision and commitment of a wide group of parents, teachers, business people and intellectuals in the Greek Orthodox community and the Church itself. Our first set of GCSE results (2018) placed us in the top 20% of school’s nationally and in many categories, including English, the top 3%.

Our school is part of the academy sponsor, the Russell Education Trust (RET) and was established as a partnership between RET, the Greek Orthodox Church and the Classical Education Trust. RET is a specialist education sponsor and has five secondary schools which work together to share and promote best practice. Our schools and teachers benefit from RET’s expert professional development service.

In addition to our exceptional GCSE results, St Andrew the Apostle School was judged as good in all areas our most recent OfSTED Inspection and the report noted the following:

• Governors and senior leaders set high expectations for pupils. They set challenging targets and provide support so that pupils can achieve them.
• Pupils’ outcomes in their GCSE examinations in 2018 were strong. Disadvantaged pupils achieved particularly well.
• Students said that there was a ‘family atmosphere’ in the school and that there is a warmth in the relationships between students.

The opening of St Andrew the Apostle promoted a significant level of interest in the local community. The school offers 50% of places on a faith basis and 50% to the local community. In discussion with parents it has become clear they are attracted to a school with high academic standards and a distinctive Christian ethos and visions and our Trust’s emphasis on excellence in English, maths and science and the EBACC is fully endorsed by our current parents and those applying for places for 2019. Our curriculum is designed to meet the needs of the full range of students, developing them intellectually, culturally, spiritually and morally.

Applications are welcome from teachers of all faiths and other belief backgrounds and this is reflected in our current staff composition.

If you are confident that you can rise to these challenges then visit our website www.standrewtheapostle.org.uk Please email your completed application form and completed Equalities Monitoring Form to: vacancies@standrewtheapostle.org.uk 

Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 29th April 2019

Interviews will be held week beginning: Monday 29th April, however, we may contact applicants regarding interviews prior to this date.

St Andrew The Apostle is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. An enhanced DBS check is required for all successful applicants.