Salary
Teachers' Pay Scales plus TLR 1.1 (£10,174)
Contract
Full‑Time, Permanent
Overview
Are you an ambitious and inspirational English leader ready to make a significant impact? Shaftesbury School invites you to lead our passionate English department and help shape the future of literacy and language across our school community.
For the right candidate, we offer the exciting opportunity to step into senior leadership as an Associate Assistant Headteacher (Leadership Scale 6 - 10), with a clear leadership portfolio to influence teaching and learning beyond English. This role is ideal for an outstanding practitioner who wants to combine classroom excellence with strategic impact.
Shaftesbury School is a mixed secondary school and sixth form with a proud Church of England foundation, serving pupils aged 11-18 in Dorset. Rated Good in all categories by Ofsted (2023), we are committed to our vision for every pupil to “be the BEST they can be”, underpinned by our core Christian values of Belonging, Empathy, Service, and Thrive (BEST).
We celebrate a diverse community where around a quarter of our pupils are disadvantaged, and we offer tailored support to ensure all pupils, including those with SEND and EAL, flourish. Our school ethos is inspired by the parable of the Good Samaritan – we live by the principle to “Love thy neighbour as thyself” and foster a nurturing, respectful environment.
As part of SAST, we are on an exciting journey to strengthen curriculum quality, raise standards, and develop a thriving sixth form in strategic partnership with local schools. We are proud of our supportive, hardworking staff and our commitment to high expectations, excellent behaviour, and a positive academic ethos.
As Head of English, you will lead a dynamic and committed team, championing a rigorous and engaging curriculum that inspires pupils from Key Stage 3 through to A‑levels. You will be at the heart of driving strong outcomes in English Language and Literature, while also embedding a whole‑school literacy strategy that enhances oracy, reading, and writing skills across all subjects.
Key Responsibilities
Leading and developing a high‑profile English department
Shaping an ambitious curriculum aligned with the latest curriculum review
Leading literacy initiatives that improve reading, writing, and oracy
Managing departmental resources and budget effectively
Teaching English Language and Literature across all key stages
Collaborating with middle and senior leaders
What we are looking for
Inspire and motivate pupils and staff with energy, empathy, and professionalism
Demonstrate excellent classroom practice across Key Stages 3‑5, including examination courses
Be committed to inclusive education and student wellbeing, fostering an environment where every pupil can thrive
Have strong leadership skills with the ability to support, develop, and empower your team
Be organised, adaptable, and solutions‑focused, ready to embrace challenges with positivity and patience
Share our Christian values and contribute to the life of a busy, successful school community
Be eager to grow professionally and collaborate across the school and Trust
Experience in middle or senior leadership, curriculum development, and literacy initiatives is highly desirable, but not essential. We welcome candidates who are committed to learning and developing within a supportive environment.
What we offer
A supportive and collaborative working environment with a strong focus on professional development
Access to a well‑resourced English department including Drama and Film Studies expertise
Membership of Sherborne Area Schools Trust, with opportunities for cross‑school collaboration
A thriving sixth form with strategic partnerships and shared leadership
Excellent facilities including a resourced library, ICT suites, and sports amenities
Staff wellbeing initiatives, free refreshments, and a positive, inclusive school culture
We warmly welcome applications from candidates who share our vision and values.
We are looking for someone who is organised, committed and able to motivate our young people, whilst also leading a dedicated and strong team of English teachers. We want someone who will go the extra mile. In return, you will join a school and a Trust that is full of activity, opportunity and optimism. The school has a centralised behaviour management system, supporting staff workload. We have bespoke Internal Alternative Provision on site for students who struggle with the mainstream lesson setting. The school has a thriving 6th Form and fantastic facilities, including a Techno Gym Suite (staff use free of charge), AstroTurf, Multi‑Use Games Area, a full‑scale climbing and bouldering wall, wonderful grass pitches that drain well, tennis courts, five ICT suites, a 6th Form/Staff Café, a fully resourced Library, free staff refreshments every day, a multi‑faceted Steps to Support programme for our young people, a staff well‑being charter and staff counselling.
For more information about our wonderful school, pleaseclick hereto view our careers page.
To find out more about the benefits of working for SAST, click here
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