Team Leader English

Interview date: Tuesday 14 February 2023

Wilmslow High School

• School age range: 11-18
• Number on roll: approx. 2,000 (including 500 sixth form)

We are seeking to appoint an innovative, committed and highly efficient team leader who truly believes that all children are entitled to read literature that challenges them to imagine a world beyond the confines of their own, and that encourages them to think conceptually and philosophically about the human condition.

The successful candidate will directly support the curriculum team leader (CTL) in setting the vision and direction for the department and be responsible for ensuring that our curriculum and its implementation is aligned to the challenges that our students face as young, global 21st century citizens.

Our curriculum recognises our school’s unique local context; the disparity between disadvantaged pupils and those from affluent backgrounds can, at times, be polarising. Therefore, the successful candidate will be acutely aware of this from the outset, and be able to demonstrate a track record of leading students from all backgrounds to reach their full potential.

In what context this track record has been forged, we don’t mind – just as long as you can demonstrate your ability to help students make more progress than most would believe possible. Please be specific in your application about your record in this area. Similarly, we are looking for someone who genuinely loves their subject and is a first rate classroom practitioner with the ability to inspire colleagues to improve their own practice through an asset based, collaborative approach.

You will need to demonstrate excellent organisation, communication and management skills and experience in effective curriculum planning and sequencing. You will also be up to speed with current pedagogy and evidence-informed practice.

We really do believe that this post is a fantastic opportunity for the right candidate to make a real difference in an especially appealing context. However, the fact that it is a lovely setting to work should not lead anyone to under-estimate the level of ambition we have here and the work required to build a truly outstanding English department.

Young people only get one chance at education: at Wilmslow High School we are committed to the pursuit of excellence for every student, every day. We do this through our dedication to learning, by being guided by values and in striving to serve.

We endeavour to preserve a happy and caring environment that is rooted in our core values, and in which staff and students can flourish, whilst challenging ourselves to pursue excellence for all our students. The school is set in extensive grounds, ideally positioned between the thriving city of Manchester and the open countryside of the Peak District.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff to respect this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.