Job description
Darwen Vale High School
Blackburn Road
Darwen
BB3 0AL
Job Title: Lead Practitioner of English
Grade/Salary: MPS 1-5
Contract Type: Permanent
Contract Terms: 37 hpw, Full Time
Closing Date: Thursday, 5th March 2026
Interview Date: Friday, 13th March 2026
Required From: ASAP
TO APPLY FOR THIS VACANCY PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW
An exciting opportunity awaits an exceptional Lead Practitioner of English.
Are you passionate about inspiring the next generation of thinkers, writers, and communicators? Do you have the leadership skills to shape an outstanding English department and drive academic excellence?
If so, we want YOU to be part of our dynamic school community
What We're Looking For:
* Proven experience in teaching English to a high standard.
* Excellent leadership and mentoring skills.
* A deep passion for literature, language, and helping students grow academically.
* A deep passion for literature, language, and helping students grow academically.
* A strategic thinker who is solutions-oriented and able to inspire change.
* A commitment to creating an inclusive and motivating environment for students and staff.
Ready to Make an Impact?
If you're ready to take the next step in your career and make a lasting impact, we'd love to hear from you
A Recruitment Pack is available to download above. Apply via: .
Completing the Application
Candidates will need to create an account and are asked to complete all the standard information required on the application form. Please also address the mission alignment and capacity to meet the requirements of the Essential and Desirable criteria of the Person Specification and Job Description. CVs are not accepted as part of the application process.
We may interview candidates ahead of the closing date so early application is advised. The Academy reserves the right to interview and appoint prior to the advertised closing date. The advert may be closed at any time.
Important Application Notice
To apply for our roles, you must use a laptop, tablet, or computer. Mobile phones are not supported for submitting applications.
Please register using your personal email address. Work email addresses will not be accepted.
Please Note
We are unable to accept CVs as a method of application. To ensure a fair and consistent process for all applicants — and to help us gather the necessary safeguarding information — all candidates must complete the full online application form via the Every HR online portal.
Incomplete application forms or Applications submitted by CV alone will not be considered.
Disclaimer
Any unsolicited CV's sent to any member of our HR team on a speculative basis will not be recognised nor will we accept liability for any fee or commission should we subsequently employ a candidate who applied to us directly or was introduced by an instructed agency that may also have been submitted speculatively by an uninstructed agency.
Please note we only accept applications submitted via EveryHR Candidate Portal.
About Aldridge Education
Darwen Vale High School is a member of the Aldridge Education family of schools, which locally also includes Darwen Aldridge Community Academy, Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio and Sudell Primary School.
Aldridge Education is a charitable Trust of entrepreneurial community schools and colleges that help young people to reach their potential. We support our schools' Principals and teachers in rapidly improving the quality of education on offer at early years, primary, secondary and sixth-form levels in order to transform the life-chances of our students.
Operating Norms
We believe that the way we operate at all times and with all partners is of paramount importance.
Our agreed operating norms are as follows:
* We are Aldridge Education
* The standard is excellence
* We champion equality
* We're in the work together
* We behave with integrity
* We lead by example
* We use time well
References
In line with our safer recruitment policy and KCSIE 2025 we cannot accept personal email addresses (Gmail, Hotmail Yahoo etc) for referees in all cases two professional references are required. We cannot accept two references from the same employer. Please provide your current or most recent employer.
Candidates are advised that references will be taken up immediately after shortlisting. Candidates are asked to ensure that their referees are aware of the need to respond within the timescale set. In all cases two professional references are required.
Safeguarding Statement
Aldridge Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its students and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
A copy of Aldridge Education's Child Protection policy is available on our website at
Following successful application, Aldridge Education will conduct the necessary prohibition checks for all teaching staff, as well as for all candidates undertaking regulated activity.
If you are shortlisted for the position you are applying for, you will be required to complete a Declaration giving details of any relevant criminal offences and other relevant information relating to our safeguarding duty. Further information will be provided on that form.
Given the nature of the Trust's activities and the regulatory framework it is subject to, any offer of employment will be made conditional upon a satisfactory enhanced DBS check and barred list check conducted by the Trust (where applicable to the role in question). It is an express condition if you are appointed to the role that you join the DBS update service.
This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that while some spent convictions and cautions are considered 'protected' and do not need to be disclosed, others may still need to be declared. If a conviction or caution is protected, you do not need to share it, and if you do, it will not be considered. For more details, please see the Ministry of Justice guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order
Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.
More information on The Disclosure & Barring Service can be found at
Online Social Media Checks
If you are shortlisted for the position, Aldridge Education will carry out online searches, including a review of your social media presence, in line with our safeguarding responsibilities. These checks are conducted in accordance with the statutory guidance outlined in Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE The purpose of this process is to identify any publicly available information that may present potential safeguarding concerns and to ensure that appropriate due diligence is undertaken.
Data Protection Notice
In accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, Aldridge Education will process any personal data provided as part of the recruitment process lawfully, fairly, and securely. Such data will be used solely for the purpose of assessing an applicant's suitability for the role and will be retained only for as long as is necessary to fulfil that purpose. Once the retention period has expired, the data will be securely and irreversibly destroyed in accordance with Aldridge Education's data protection policies.
This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Any offer of employment will be subject to a satisfactory check supplied by the Disclosure and Barring Service. The check will include any cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions.
Job details
Job reference
REQ04731
Date posted
19/02/2026
Application closing date
05/03/2026
Location
Darwen Vale High School
Salary
MPS 1-5
Package
Blank
Contractual hours
37
Basis
Full time
Job category/type
Schools