Head of Modern Foreign Languages

Contract: Permanent Full time

Pay Grade: M1 - UPS3 +TLR1C

Salary: £41,432 - £58,866

32.5 Hours per Week 

Closing date: Friday 21st February 2025, 8.00am

Interview date 24th February 2025

Applicants can apply through our Sam Recruit platform by following the below link:

https://co-opacademiestrust.face-ed.co.uk/Vacancies/Detail?campaignRef=SCH-C-oAT-0269

Thank you for your interest in applying for the post of Head of Modern Foreign Languages. We are on the lookout for an individual who possesses drive, intelligence, is a team player, and who is dedicated to nurturing the love for languages in young people and helping them excel through their studies.

At Co-op Academy Failsworth, we deliver an excellent, well rounded quality of education for our students through our knowledge rich curriculum and innovative approach to pedagogy. Our academy is built upon the shared values and ‘ways of being’ that underpin all Co-op Academies ; Be yourself, always - Do what matters most - Show you care - and Succeed together. 

As a member of our Middle Leadership Team, this role offers the opportunity to lead and develop our very successful MFL team. In addition, it also provides the opportunity to work in close partnership with Senior Leaders to provide vision, leadership and management for the academy, and to help ensure that quality of education across the academy are excellent. 

Our ambitious and knowledge rich curriculum provides students with a dynamic journey of learning, supporting them in their progress from novice to expert. Our goal is to guide our students on their journey from novice to expert through knowledge and the development of character.

Our curriculum aims to:

• unlock the potential of our students through powerful knowledge and the development of character so that they leave us prepared for their next steps
• ensure all students develop deep, long-lasting knowledge which provides strong foundations for future learning, regardless of their starting points
• develop the knowledge and cultural capital required in students to understand, engage with and influence the world around them so they can communicate, engage and challenge the world around them confidently and critically 
• provide students with knowledge and experiences which transcend their everyday lived experiences whilst acknowledging and celebrating their differences

Our department is proud to be a highly successful team, achieving consistently strong results at GCSE. This success is a testament to the dedication of our staff, high-quality teaching, and the tailored support we provide to every child.

We focus on developing the creativity, cultural awareness, and strong communication skills, alongside the ability to think critically and solve problems. Our curriculum is underpinned by the belief that language learning opens doors to new experiences. We therefore aim to build resilience, curiosity in learning and excellent learning habits in every student, empowering them to navigate a diverse and interconnected world with the skills and values needed for both academic success and personal growth.

To compliment our academic focus, we are committed to providing enriching experiences for our students. We run a highly successful exchange letter program with schools in Spain, helping students develop their communication skills and cultural understanding. The department also organizes regular trips to Spain and France, offering students opportunities to experience the languages and cultures first hand. Closer to home, we plan cultural outings, such as visits to the Instituto Cervantes, where students can immerse themselves in Spanish culture by watching films and participating in workshops.

Our department is driven by a passion for language learning, and we believe in extending this enthusiasm beyond the classroom. Through these enrichment opportunities and our dedication to excellence, we aim to inspire our students to achieve their full potential and foster a lifelong appreciation for languages and cultures.

We are proud to be a team of committed professionals who combine dedication, collaboration, and a shared drive for exceptional understanding and implementation of pedagogy and curriculum.

We are looking for a leader who has already demonstrated excellent leadership, management and communication skills, the ability to effectively drive forward change which ultimately impacts positively on the outcomes of students and the overall standards of the academy. Exceptional teamwork, high standards and a capacity for hard work will be at the core of your success. You will be a creative thinker with an ability and determination to develop experience in all areas in order to secure high quality outcomes for all students.

The successful candidate will have recent experience and evidence of substantial impact on the improvement of a school or academy in areas relevant to this role.

Ofsted:

"Pupils are happy to come to school. They enjoy making friends and they are supportive of each other". 

"Pupils appreciate the support and care that is provided by staff. This helps pupils to feel safe".

"…pupils engage positively with their learning. As a result, behaviour in class and during social times is usually calm and orderly".

"Subject curriculums are well designed. The ‘powerful knowledge’ that the school wants pupils to learn is clearly identified. Subject content is introduced in a logical order so that pupils build their knowledge over time".

"Teachers have good subject knowledge. They select appropriate activities to support pupils to learn the intended curriculum". 

"The school has introduced a rigorous and well-structured approach to assessment. This supports staff to deliver the curriculum effectively, pre-empting pupils’ difficulties, identifying misconceptions and gaps in pupils’ knowledge and then using this information to plan for future learning".

"The school’s behaviour management system is underpinned by the trust’s values, including ‘be yourself always’ and ‘succeeding together’…pupils live up to these values and are considerate towards each other". 

"Learning is rarely disrupted by poor behaviour". 

Applicants can apply through our Sam Recruit platform by following the below link:

https://co-opacademiestrust.face-ed.co.uk/Vacancies/Detail?campaignRef=SCH-C-oAT-0269