Head of English

SCHOOL VISION

Situated in over forty acres, Crosfields currently educates boys and girls between the ages of 3 and 16. An exceptionally friendly school, Crosfields emphasises manners, kindness and good behaviour. The children benefit from a vast range of opportunities provided by a committed and talented staff enhanced by facilities which are second to none. Though they are taught broadly, the children are also  taught thoroughly, preparing them for the challenges that await inside and outside of school and also laying the foundations for the adults they will become. 

ABOUT THE POSITION

This is an exciting time to join the school as we expand our provision with the ambitious ‘Crosfields to 16’ project. We added our first Year 9 to the school in the 2021–22 academic year, with Year 10 to be added in 2022–23 and Year 11 in 2023–24. Along with a new, modern building to accommodate new year groups, several ancillary projects will also be taking place to facilitate Key Stage 4 teaching. 

The English department is situated in our new, state-of-the-art Senior School building.

The successful candidate will have a pivotal role in the introduction of GSCE English to the school and will support and lead the current team of 2 English teachers in teaching Senior School year groups. The ideal candidate will be flexible. They would be able to lead English throughout the senior school, including coordinating internal and national English competitions such as poetry and creative writing, organising author visits and writing workshops, as well as trips in all year groups. As an expanding school, we would expect other positions of responsibility to become available for the right candidate.

It is expected that the candidates will enjoy contributing to the whole life of the school, that they are a form teacher, be involved in whole school initiatives, contribute to the activities programme, and attend residential trips. Those with experience in senior school activities such as DofE, MUN or HPQ/EPQ are strongly encouraged to apply. 

OBJECTIVES

• To implement and deliver an appropriately broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum for pupils and to Lead the English Department;

• To monitor and support the overall progress and development of pupils as a teacher/form tutor;

• To promote high standards of behaviour through the effective teaching of individuals, groups and classes;

• To enhance the teaching of English throughout the school;

• To contribute to raising standards of pupil attainment in English at all levels.

STRATEGIC PLANNING

• To create and oversee the direction of English in the school; 

• To lead and support the planning and teaching of English in KS3 & KS4;

• To coordinate and organise internal assessments, moderation, and external examinations for English and liaise with the Director of Studies and Deputy Head Academic to coordinate assessments and external examinations in English;

• To assist with and lead trips, both locally and abroad; 

• Develop whole-department policies;

• To promote English through whole-school activities to encourage students to gain experience and confidence in this core subject;

• Ensure that staff are clear about the importance and role of the subject in contributing to pupils’ spiritual moral, cultural, mental and physical development, and in preparing pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life;

• Use data effectively to identify pupils who are underachieving in the subject and, where necessary, create and implement effective plans of action to support those pupils;

• Analyse and interpret, relevant national, local and school data, plus research and inspection evidence, to inform policies, practices, expectations, targets and teaching methods;

• Ensure that the headteacher, SLT members and governors are well informed about subject policies, plans and priorities, the success in meeting objectives and targets, and subject-related professional development plans.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

• Teach English to Years 7–11;

• To monitor the teaching of English and to guide, as well as inspire colleagues;

• To actively engage with whole school Teaching and Learning initiatives, such as those included in the INSET programme or the Professional Development Review; 

• To produce an English scheme of work that inspires the pupils and staff responsible for its delivery, as well as challenging the students; 

• To review the scheme of work annually; 

• Plan, enact and monitor appropriate syllabuses, materials, schemes of work, which include clearly identified aims and objectives which are shared with the students; 

• Respond appropriately to the abilities and aspirations of the pupils enabling them to take responsibility for their learning;

• Ensure the efficient administration of a programme of student feedback;

• Ensure that accurate and up-to-date records of pupil progress are kept within the department;

• To utilise ICT as an effective tool to aid teaching and other classroom resources as appropriate.

PROMOTING AND DEVELOPING THE DEPARTMENT

• To take full responsibility for the development of English throughout the senior school;

• Plan, provide, and evaluate an English Curriculum for KS3 & KS4;

• Prepare this curriculum, within the priorities determined by the SLT, an annual set of targets for the development of the department;

• Participate in an annual meeting with the appropriate member of the senior leadership of the School to review this development; 

• Liaise with/work alongside the Curriculum Lead for English in the Junior School;

• Work closely with the Senior School librarian to promote a love of reading across the school;

• To promote English by encouraging and leading special events;

• To review and update the Departmental Handbook; 

• To develop Academic scholars in the school; 

• To run trips; 

• Attending Heads of Department meetings, occasional meetings with the Governors’ Education and Welfare Committee and the SLT as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• The candidate should have attained QTS/NQT; 

• The candidate will be expected to hold a good honours degree.

COMPETENCIES AND QUALITIES

• We are looking for a teacher who is an enthusiast; 

• The teacher should be kind, approachable and have a sense of humour; 

• We look for staff who have high academic expectations and who instil high standards of behaviour; 

• It is expected that the teacher will be extremely professional in that they are diligent, punctual and thorough; 

• The teacher will be expected to encourage an atmosphere of mutual respect when dealing with children, staff and parents; 

• The candidate has to be an excellent communicator – with children and adults alike; 

• The candidate must be able to work as part of the school’s team; 

• The candidate has to enjoy working with children, to be able to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children; 

• The candidate must put the child’s welfare and well-being above all else; 

• The candidate will be very proficient in the use IT

Please refer to the applicant info pack for further information.