At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead English excellence and inspire students to achieve their full potential.
- Company: Join Lift Firth Park, a vibrant school committed to transformational change.
- Benefits: Enjoy career development, generous benefits, and lifestyle perks.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse community and contribute to a positive school culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on students' futures through excellent English education.
- Qualifications: Degree in English, PGCE, and proven track record in raising student achievement.
The predicted salary is between 57000 - 67000 £ per year.
Lift Firth Park, Fircroft Avenue, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S5 0SD, United Kingdom
Salary: Leadership Scale 13-18 + well-being cash plan + pension scheme (TPS) + additional Lift Schools benefits
Hours: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Start date: January 2027 (an earlier start date is welcomed)
Closing date: 22nd June 12 noon
Interview date: 29th June
Be part of something transformational. Help shape the next chapter at Lift Firth Park. At Lift Firth Park, we believe strong English skills are a powerful driver of opportunity, confidence, and future success. Knowing the importance of English capability in a child's education, we have created the new role ‘Assistant Principal (English)’ to drive our ambitious Lift 490 agenda and further improve English across the school. We believe every young person is entitled to an excellent education, in every classroom, every day. Our 490 promise reflects that commitment: 90% of students achieve a grade 4 or above in GCSE English and maths. This is a rare and career-defining opportunity for an inspirational leader passionate about English and committed to ensuring an excellent education for every child.
Why this role matters
As Assistant Principal, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of the school and spearheading the development of English across all year groups and departments. Lead a culture where English fluency is visible, valued, and consistently applied. Through strong leadership, you will embed high‑quality pedagogy across departments, supporting staff to deliver engaging, rigorous, and inclusive English teaching. At the heart of this role is a commitment to excellence, raising standards in teaching, learning, and behaviour while fostering a positive and supportive environment for students and staff.
Key Responsibilities
- Drive whole‑school English excellence.
- Lead the strategic vision for English across the school.
- Promote a culture of English fluency and confidence for all learners.
- Embed robust, evidence‑informed pedagogical approaches across departments.
- Use data intelligently to identify gaps, inform interventions, and raise outcomes.
- Ensure consistency and high expectations in English teaching across all key stages.
- Play a key role within the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to whole‑school strategy and improvement.
- Lead on designated strategic priorities that drive academic excellence and student wellbeing.
- Line‑manage teaching and support staff, providing clarity, coaching, and high‑quality professional development.
- Uphold and promote outstanding standards of teaching, learning, and behaviour across the school.
- Model and embed the values and ethos of Lift Firth Park in all aspects of leadership.
Essential Qualifications
- A degree in English (or a related subject), PGCE and Qualified Teacher Status.
- A strong track record of excellent classroom practice and raising student achievement in English.
- A strong understanding of evidence‑informed English pedagogy and curriculum design.
- Proven experience of improving outcomes within a UK secondary school setting.
- The ability to inspire, develop, and influence colleagues at all levels.
Desirable Qualifications
- Experience leading whole‑school or cross‑curricular initiatives.
- Experience supporting schools in challenging contexts or driving rapid improvement.
- Values‑driven, intellectually curious, and relentless in pursuit of excellence; belief in the transformative power of education and commitment to ensuring every student at Lift Firth Park achieves their full potential.
About Lift Firth Park
Lift Firth Park is a vibrant, mixed secondary school for students aged 11–16. Located in Shiregreen, Sheffield, we serve around 1,200 pupils and reflect a richly diverse community, with more than a third of students speaking English as an additional language. The school is undergoing a period of new leadership and transformational change, with positive impacts already seen across the curriculum and culture.
Benefits
- Career development and training: Access a wide range of statutory and developmental training to boost your career. Our partnership with One World powers our innovative Instructional Excellence Program. We also offer a comprehensive range of CPD programs, including Ambition Institute’s Early Career and NPQ offerings, tailored to both individual and network needs.
- Generous benefits: From your pension plan to healthcare and financial support, we’ve got you covered.
- Lifestyle perks: Enjoy discounted gym memberships and travel deals.
Equal Opportunity & Safeguarding
Lift Schools is committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our people and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair and consistent recruitment process inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and, where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check. Lift Schools embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. Job share, part‑time and flexible working opportunities will be considered. We are a Disability Confident Employer and there is a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response.
Assistant Principal (English) in Sheffield employer: Lift Firth Park
At Lift Firth Park, we are dedicated to fostering a transformative educational environment where every student can thrive. Our commitment to professional development, coupled with a supportive and inclusive work culture, empowers our staff to excel in their roles while making a meaningful impact on students' lives. With generous benefits and a focus on well-being, we offer an exceptional opportunity for passionate educators to join us in shaping the future of our diverse community.
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