Innovation Leader - English

Transform learning experiences for our vibrant student body. We are looking for a qualified teacher with subject leadership experience to join Harris Garrard Academy as Innovation Leader of English. Joining a dedicated team of staff, you will contribute to maintaining outstanding teaching and learning.

About Us

Harris Garrard Academy is an all-through 3–18 academy with approximately 1350 pupils on roll and joined the Harris Federation as a sponsored academy in September 2017. The academy is based in Thamesmead in a purpose built building. We are now on a journey towards “Outstanding”, led by highly experienced executive principals with proven track records of school transformation. Our vision is clear: nothing is impossible and everything is possible, irrespective of personal characteristics or background. Every problem has a solution. We believe we are more robust, resilient and determined as a team than as a group of individuals. We support, challenge and hold each other to account at all levels within the academy to ensure that our students achieve their potential, are motivated, engaged and fully prepared for life beyond our academy.

Dedicated to moving forward

Our vision is clear: nothing is impossible and everything is possible, irrespective of personal characteristics or background. Every problem has a solution. We believe we are more robust, resilient and determined as a team than as a group of individuals. We support, challenge and hold each other to account at all levels within the academy to ensure that our students achieve their potential, are motivated, engaged and fully prepared for life beyond our academy.

As one of Harris’s successful all-through academies, staff at all levels belong to a strong, cohesive team working with Executive Principal Chris Everett and the wider SLT team. Staff can expect to grow with us as we continue to innovate and evolve as an academy. With ample opportunity to build on CPD, your potential is limitless with us.

Main Areas of Responsibility

The main responsibilities of your role will be:  

• To lead improvement in teaching and learning across the academy, including the implementation of innovative “next” practice in literacy for learning.  
• Promoting this practice with the educational community, across the academy, the Harris Federation, and nationally through published articles, workshops and conferences including the Leadership and Innovation hub for London.  
• To ensure best teaching practice is systematically shared across the academy  
• To lead the Teaching and Learning Development team and coordinate meetings  
• To lead and coordinate staff CPD training through the CITP group  
• To lead on developing and embedding the academy marking policy  
• To support in the process of mentoring NQTs and teach first where required to do so by the relevant AP  
• To lead on the academy Coaching for Improved Teaching Programme (CITP)  
• To participate in formal procedures where required to do so by the Principal  
• To lead on specific strategies for personalising learning across the academy that have a high impact on increasing student and performance.  
• To use data analysis skills to identify and organise first class intervention strategies that ensure students maximise their potential  
• To recognise and fully utilise the power of new technologies within and across subject areas to innovate where required  
• To be an expert coach, using this skill successfully to develop our teaching staff to achieve their full potential.  
• To establish successful raising achievement plans and intervention programmes for year 11 and Post 16. Utilising the flexibility of the curriculum, ICT packages and after hours programmes for intervention and support.  
• To establish a successful programme that ensures all groups of students meet their targets and gaps in progress are closed. This to include students on the G&T profile.  
• To support coordinators and subject leaders in developing their self -evaluation and review.  
• To work closely with the Student Learning Commission of the academy and promote achievements across the Federation and beyond.  
• Leading staff and students on the development of faculty days that will be significant in raising achievement across the academy, by developing a greater range of teaching and learning opportunities and utilising “time” more creatively  
• Provide inspiration and direction on new innovation projects that will invigorate curriculum delivery.

Qualifications & Experience

The successful candidate will:  

• Hold QTS (or equivalent) and a relevant undergraduate degree, and, ideally, management training  
• Have a minimum of three years' teaching experience, of which two should be at leadership level.  
• Show proven success in raising achievement across at least two key stages.  
• Show evidence of leading, supporting and managing others, both individuals and teams, ensuring high quality performance.  
• Have a high level of ICT skills and experience of how new technologies can be used to raise achievement, including the use of interactive white boards.  
• Have recent experience of involvement in innovative curriculum development.  
• Have experience of presenting to a wide audience  
• Understand how whole academy strategies can be used across the curriculum to raise standards.  
• Have successful experience of embedding cross curricular subjects.  
• Have experience of embedding innovative strategies for Assessment for Learning and Learning to Learn in a whole school situation.  
• Have of using coaching as a model for ensuring ongoing professional development, particularly with subject leaders  
• Show evidence of continuous self-development and updated knowledge in the fields of teaching and learning and education management, particularly in the areas of responsibility for this post.  
• Ideally, have experience in multi-ethnic urban schools and of presenting in local and/or national education forums.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants. Before applying, please review our Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.