Salary: Leadership Scale L9-L12 (£63,070 - £67,898)
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Start Date: September 2026
Are you ready to lead a high performing English Faculty?
We are seeking an exceptional leader to join Whickham School and lead our thriving English & Media Faculty. This is your opportunity to shape the literacy and learning of 1,700 pupils while working with a talented team of 15 English specialists.
About the role:
* Lead and inspire the English & Media Faculty, driving continuous improvement in teaching and learning
* Work alongside a Deputy Faculty Leader, 2 Assistant Faculty Leaders and a Lead Practitioner to deliver an outstanding curriculum
* Champion our school values whilst supporting whole‑school improvement priorities
* Ensure every student achieves their potential in English
What makes Whickham School special?
Whilst we are a high-performing school (Progress 8 of +0.26 in 2024 and 85% achieving grade 4+ in English in 2025), we are about much more than our academic performance. We are a community that values all of our stakeholders, recognising that our staff make the difference for our pupils. We therefore invest in our staff in a number of ways.
We support work‑life balance in the following ways
* Reduced teaching hours to support planning and professional development
* Dedicated collaborative planning time – at least one hour every fortnight for each teacher to meet with their subject team to talk through upcoming learning episodes
* Flexible approach to work‑life balance considerations
* Access to fitness facilities outside school hours
We invest in your growth
* Join our established Faculty Leadership Group to shape whole‑school practice
* Meaningful leadership development opportunities, including an annual opportunity to be seconded to the Leadership Team as an Associate Assistant Headteacher
* Evidence-based CPD that makes a real difference to your practice
* Coaching and mentoring support to help you thrive
* Access to a range of internal leadership programmes and external qualifications
The practical benefits:
* Salary sacrifice schemes including bicycle and electric vehicle leasing
* Higher priority for your children’s admission to our heavily oversubscribed school
* Modern facilities with the latest display technology in every classroom
* Supportive, collaborative staff community
Your impact
* Model excellence – demonstrate what outstanding English teaching looks like across KS3-KS5
* Develop others – coach and mentor colleagues using evidence-based approaches, building leadership capacity across your team
* Drive innovation – ensure our English and Media curriculum is dynamic, relevant and accessible, developing excellent English and literacy skills in every pupil
* Shape practice – plan and deliver regular subject-specific CPD that supports excellent teaching
* Lead strategically – use the Whickham Learning Model & evidence based teaching strategies to ensure consistency and quality across the faculty
* Make it real – work with engaged pupils in a school where behaviour is strong and aspiration is high
Who you are
You are an experienced and passionate English teacher with a proven track record of strong pupil outcomes. You have:
Essential:
* Qualified Teacher Status and a degree in English or related subject
* Successful secondary teaching experience with evidence of excellent student progress and outcomes
* Leadership experience (formal or informal) with a commitment to continued growth
* The ability to teach confidently across KS3-KS5
* Strong understanding of curriculum development, assessment and data analysis
* A passion for developing others and seeing them succeed
* Evidence-based practice grounded in research and reflection
Desirable:
* Experience leading a team or department
* Experience of examination marking
* Understanding of collaborative planning approaches
* Track record of improving departmental performance
Your personal qualities:
* You understand that great teaching is built on relationships, high expectations, and relentless focus on progress
* You’re reflective, solution-focused and committed to continuous improvement
* You can inspire and motivate both students and staff
* You’re committed to upholding our school values and creating an inclusive learning environment
Are you ready to lead our team?
Want to see it for yourself? We actively encourage visits. Contact Rebecca Erskine (PA to the Headteacher) at atrerskine@whickhamschool.org to arrange a time that works for you.
Application deadline: 9am Monday 2nd March 2026
Submit to: recruitment@whickhamschool.org
Application forms: Download from the Whickham School website where you’ll also find the full job description, person specification and further details about the school and role.
Whickham School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE). We expect all staff to share our commitment to safeguarding.
What happens next?
* Download the full job description and person specification from our website
* Visit us (optional but highly recommended) – see our facilities, meet the team and experience Whickham
* Complete your application – tell us why you’re the person to lead our English department to even greater success
* Submit by 9am Monday 2nd March 2026
* Interviews will be held week beginning 9th March 2026
Questions – Contact Fraser Turnbull (Headteacher) at rerskine@whickhamschool.org (PA to the Headteacher)
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