Job Description
Head of English
Required from September 2026
Salary Range: MPS/UPS +TLR 1C (Inner London Scale)
Are you a talented and dynamic practitioner? Do you aspire to senior leadership in the future? Do you wish to play a key leadership role in a high-performing and highly successful school in the heart of East London?
This is an exciting opportunity to play a key leadership role in this vibrant and happy school. We are seeking an outstanding teacher and leader, who has the drive, vision and ambition to lead the English department and school to even greater success. You will already be a successful and experienced teacher with a proven track record of excellent practice in your current role. You will be passionate about English and committed to securing excellent outcomes for children of all abilities. As a dedicated and innovative professional, you will join a dynamic team of teaching and associate staff, all determined to ensure that the school maintains its reputation for excellence.
Oaklands is a high-achieving school at GCSE and A level. The English department is an experienced team, is consistently high-performing with areas of outstanding practice. We are seeking someone who is able to build further on this strength by demonstrating a clear vision for the continued excellent leadership of this key curriculum area and an unwavering commitment to outstanding extra-curricular provision for our students. You must be able to motivate and inspire students and colleagues alike, be able to develop and sustain excellent relationships and maintain a strong and visible presence around the school. As the leader of a core department, you will also make a key contribution to the professional development of colleagues and to wider school improvement.
The department benefits from established links with the English and Media Centre, RADA, National Theatre, The Guardian and the Old Vic.
In return we offer excellent opportunities for continued professional development for candidates that aspire to senior leadership in the near future.
We are keen to hear from you if you:
* Have an excellent track-record as a teacher
* Aspire to become a senior leader
* Are ambitious, hard-working and a team player
* Are emotionally literate with a good sense of humour
We can offer you the opportunity to join:
* A highly committed and dedicated staff.
* A coaching-based programme of professional development
* Excellent CPD opportunities for senior leadership.
* Students who love their school, are ambitious and want to learn
We are committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of young people. The successful candidate will be DBS checked.
Please apply by letter to the Headteacher on no more than 2 sides of A4, outlining your vision for the delivery of the English curriculum and pedagogy in our School and how your experience to date has prepared you for the post alongside your application.
Applications and enquiries can be emailed.
Closing date for applications: 9am Wednesday 4th March 2026