Teacher of English

We are recruiting an exceptional team of staff to support the growth of a genuinely transformational school. The successful candidate will join a very strong English department and will work closely with the Head of Department to shape English provision at the school, embed the school vision and develop an outstanding school that empowers our students to take responsibility and drive their own destinies. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to grow with the school. They will be supported in their development and preparation for future roles. Teaching experience will not be a determining factor — we welcome applications from NQTs as well as more experienced candidates. We will develop every staff member that joins our team, providing one-to-one support, coaching and mentoring and access to extensive network training.

Key Responsibilities

• Set high expectations so that all students are inspired, motivated and challenged to reach their full potential.
• Create a positive climate for learning, by explicitly teaching lesson routines and applying behaviour systems consistently and fairly.
• Plan and teach well-structured lessons which allow adequate time to embed new knowledge, understanding and skills and which are responsive to student misconceptions.
• Nurture every student’s intellectual curiosity, asking pertinent questions to deepen students’ understanding.
• Systematically check students’ understanding and act to correct any misconceptions.
• Provide students with feedback aimed at moving their learning forward.
• Ensure that all students achieve at least at chronological‑age level and make significant and continuing progress at all levels.

Curriculum and Assessment

• Participate in and contribute to effective collaborative planning for every year group, feeding your experience into improvements in the curriculum.
• Contribute to the planning of assessments and subject‑specific revision, including preparing students for national examinations.
• Review and reflect on each assessment, making intelligent use of data to identify underperformance, and plan appropriate support to address this.
• Lead enrichment and participate in trips and visits to enhance the learning experience of all students.

Ethos and Culture

• Contribute to the modern English department’s behaviour management, implementing school systems consistently and in a kind and respectful manner.
• Develop strong partnerships and ensure regular communication with parents.
• Be active in issues of student welfare and support.
• Complete duties around the school, modelling best practice for all staff.

Development of the Ark Network

• Value and support practices driving continued progress across the network of Ark schools.
• Participate actively throughout the network, by attending relevant meetings and network‑wide training and assessment standardisation.

Benefits

• Leaders at Soane prevent unnecessary demands on teacher time – meetings, marking and administrative tasks are minimised to ensure teachers can be highly effective.
• The curriculum and resourcing ensure that teachers rarely plan alone: staff time is used where it is most valuable, working as a team to implement the curriculum for the students in our classrooms.
• We have a truly open‑door culture where frequent low‑stakes feedback is the norm.
• We value the input of all of our staff and collaborate to ensure the academy continues to improve as it expands.
• We frequently host teams of domestic and international educators who come to learn from us and help us shape our provision.
• Twice as many training days as standard.
• Weekly staff training designed to meet the needs of the school.
• Coaching for every teacher.
• Protected co‑planning time.
• Access to high‑quality, regular professional development.

About Us

We are a new secondary school in Acton which opened in 2021. We will have 720 students in Years 7‑10 from September 2024 and will be launching our GCSE programmes for the first time. Ark Soane seeks to redefine what is possible in education. Our model is “simplicity delivered expertly”: by delivering an immaculately planned and highly academic curriculum exceptionally well; and by providing our students with a compelling aspiration‑raising ethos we seek to transform the future of students in a highly deprived community. Behaviour at Soane is exemplary enabling you to deliver exceptional lessons. Students are entirely bought‑in to the values and ethos of the school and know that they are fortunate to attend a school where the quality of education is exceptional and where love, warmth, respect and the highest standards permeate every interaction. Students are a pleasure to teach and you can always expect a “thank you missed” when students leave your classroom.

Diversity and Inclusion

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective.

Safeguarding Statement

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non‑disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment – this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred.

Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on‑going basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage you to submit your application at your earliest convenience.