Head of English

St Margaret's Church of England Academy is an ambitious and progressive 11-18 Academy in Liverpool with approximately 1000 students on roll. St Margaret's has a long-standing reputation in Liverpool for delivering high quality, Christian education and, as an all boys academy with a mixed sixth form, St Margaret's attracts young people from across Liverpool and remains a popular choice for parents and young people alike. The Academy is committed to ensuring that every student makes the most of their potential, ensuring that every person within our community can flourish & thrive.

The Academy is part of the All Saints Multi Academy Trust, which is a joint Church of England and Catholic Academy trust. At present, the Trust is made up of five primary schools, four secondary schools, and two sixth form colleges. We will be welcoming more schools into the Trust family over the next 12 months, and we are excited at this prospect of growth. There is a trust-wide commitment to improve, accelerate and enable ambitious life goals amongst all young people in their academies.

The headteachers within the trust work closely together to innovate, share good practice and support each other through various networks and opportunities. The trust has a strong central team who support each academy and headteacher with key functions, allowing the headteachers to focus on school improvement and improving standards for the young people that they serve.

Inspired by the knowledge and love of God, we all come together to learn in a Christian community where we are valued for who we are and who we could become. It is intended that education at St Margaret’s should be both life-lasting and life-enhancing. Our mission statement focuses on the work and the life of the school which takes place in an orderly atmosphere where self-discipline, mutual respect and the welfare of each individual is greatly valued. Importance is given to regular worship, religious education in the classroom and on the general presentation of Christianity in the school family.

Our Values: As an Academy we have adopted 3 Christian values which we feel are the basis of our community:

• Compassion
• Resilience
• Respect

The Academy of St. Margaret’s is seeking a reliable and aspirational Head of English to join the English Department on a permanent basis. This role will support the Academy in improving the quality of teaching and learning to its students. This is an exciting time to join the Academy as we are part of the All Saints Multi Academy Trust.

Main purpose of the Role:

• To hold direct responsibility for English within the Academy, including teaching English up to KS4.
• To line manage and be responsible for the development of the English department within the Academy, and the necessary improvements in outcomes for students.
• Share responsibility for the Academy’s strategic direction and operational effectiveness, and be responsible for embedding this within English.
• Overseeing the academic and social development of all students, particularly within English.
• To develop and successfully embed an innovative curriculum for English.

Core Responsibilities & Tasks:

• Ensure the effective development and delivery of the subject curriculum across the Academy.
• Maintain a focus and overview of students’ performance in the subject with a view to continual improvement and high achievements.
• Annually review and, where necessary, amend the policy for the subject and ensure it is translated into effective practice, fostering continuity and progression between the age groups.
• Co-ordinate record keeping and assessments in the subject, ensuring that data is analysed and used to improve standards of teaching and student performance.
• Monitor the effectiveness of the teaching of the subject; support colleagues’ subject needs and their work with individual students.
• Provide CPD as necessary (in partnership with SLT where appropriate) to teachers and other staff; encourage others to take up CPD opportunities in line with their continuing professional development needs and those of the subject and Academy improvement plan.
• Induct all new staff into the procedures and practice for the subject ensuring they know about expectations, resources, planning, record keeping, assessment etc.
• Control, evaluate, maintain and identify subject resources.
• Liaise across phases and, as appropriate, with primary and secondary schools and agencies.
• Maintain a good level of personal knowledge of current educational development and thinking on the subject.
• Promote parental and governor interest in and understanding of the subject.

Strategic and Operational Planning:

• In conjunction with the Headteacher and Assistant Headteacher will promote the Academy as an inclusive institution with Christian values, serving the local community and reflecting the approach of the Church of England to education.
• Implement the Academy Development Plan to meet the objectives set out in the Funding Agreement.
• Meet strategic targets for the Academy set by the Governing Body and Trust Board.
• Ensure the use of the latest environmentally sound technology in all aspects of the work of the Academy.
• Lead the development of appropriate syllabuses, resources, schemes of work, marking policies, assessment and teaching and learning strategies in a specified faculty area and across the Academy.
• Lead colleagues in the formulation of aims, objectives and strategic planning for designated learning areas of responsibility.

Key Responsibilities:

• To effectively manage and deploy Middle Leaders, Teaching staff, Support staff, financial and physical resources within the department to support the designated curriculum portfolio.
• To lead the development of appropriate syllabuses, resources, schemes of work, marking policies, assessment and teaching and learning strategies within English.
• Supporting staff in the department in managing and maintaining the highest quality teaching and learning.
• Producing regular reports for Senior Leaders in relation to performance in English.
• To monitor the effectiveness of a personalised curriculum for students in accordance with the aims of the Academy.
• To develop and lead the effective operation of quality control systems and to monitor and evaluate English in line with agreed Academy procedures.
• To be accountable for performance of all students within English.
• To embed high standards of behaviour for learning in every student across the Academy.
• To identify and communicate priority areas for improvement.
• To implement strategies for raising student achievement.
• To identify trends and intervene as appropriate to bring about positive change.
• To assist in the production of reports and reporting to parents.
• To assist and advise on examination entries within English.
• To regularly use national performance data to identify students at risk and to initiate and implement early intervention strategies in English.
• To track student progress and evaluate the impact of actions taken to improve the quality of provision.
• To lead the development of effective subject links with partner schools and the community.

Teaching & Learning:

• Use a variety of learning and teaching strategies to deliver innovative lessons to all students ensuring pace and challenge are maintained.
• Plan lessons and extended learning opportunities in line with Schemes for Learning.
• Ensure learning objectives and outcomes are communicated to every learner in line with Academy policy.
• To use adaptive teaching appropriately, taking into account individual learner needs.
• Make use of extended learning opportunities for use outside of Academy lessons.
• Utilise effectively, Learning Support staff in lessons.
• Participate in and collaboratively lead on the Academy’s Quality Assurance Programme.
• Provide a positive learning climate within lessons to promote a meaningful staff – student relationship and interaction.
• Adhere to the Academy’s Behaviour & Relationships Policy.
• Regularly evaluate the progress of students in relation to their prior attainment and use data to inform teaching and learning.
• Mark work in accordance with the Academy’s Marking Policy providing both formative and summative feedback on a regular basis.
• To take responsibility for individual professional development and use the outcome to improve learning and teaching.
• To demonstrate a thorough and up-to-date knowledge of learning and teaching.
• To maintain good order and behaviour for learning among students, with particular regard to Health and Safety.

Corporate Responsibilities:

• The trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
• To pursue and promote the achievement and integration of diversity and equality of opportunity throughout the Academy’s activities.
• To participate in the Trust’s Performance Management process and engage in continuous professional development.
• To maintain high professional standards of attendance, punctuality, appearance, conduct and positive relations with students, parents, and colleagues.

Additional Information:

The job purpose and key statements remain indicative and by no means exclusive. Given the evolving needs of the Academy, flexibility among staff is very important. All staff may be required to undertake other such reasonable duties as may be required from time to time in line with the grade of their post. An Enhanced DBS Check will be requested on successful application to a position at the Trust.