Post: Director of English
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary Range: Leadership Range L14 – L18 (£71,330 - £78,702 FTE)
Working Type: Full Time
Base: A trust secondary academy in the North West region
Please note: the post holder will be engaging in regulated activity, working mainly or wholly with children. This position is exempt from the rehabilitation of offender’s act 1974. It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.
Northern Education Trust (NET) is a charitable education Trust with a good track record for school improvement. The Trust sponsors 30 academies; 17 secondary and 13 primaries across the North of England in fourteen Local Authority regions.
An important part of the Trust’s strategy for school improvement is to increasingly grow the capacity for specialist outstanding practitioners.
You will be able to demonstrate successful leadership with significant curriculum experience in your specialist area. You will have a proven track record of examination success and be able to evidence that you are a consistently good to outstanding teacher who can demonstrate and model the qualities required for this key leadership role.
You will be joining a team of English directors, working under the leadership of a senior director of subject, and your key role will be to work with curriculum leaders and teachers throughout the trust in order to accelerate the pace of improvement. As part of this, you will contribute to the development of teaching and learning within the subject, will be part of refining the trust-wide English curriculum, and will be jointly responsible for ensuring academic success.
Although you will be based at an academy in the North West of England, providing you with an opportunity to be part of a leadership team, regular travel across the North West region will be necessary in supporting curriculum leadership and teacher development throughout the trust.
Northern Education Trust offers:
The opportunity to work and progress across the family of schools, should you wish in the future;
The chance to apply for leadership roles in the Deeps structure taking on a whole school leadership project;
The support and expertise of Directors of Subject.
A full and detailed programme of support and development for all;
A further comprehensive programme of professional development, including leadership, provided through the NET Inspire.
Employee benefits
Free flu vaccinations
Free onsite parking
In accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026, an online search will be completed on all shortlisted applicants prior to interview. Any relevant information will be discussed further with the applicant during the interview process.
The Trust is committed to considering flexible working requests.
The Trust is committed to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. All posts are subject to enhanced disclosure and barring service checks. We expect all adults to share our commitment to safeguarding and the health and wellbeing of our pupils. For more information, please contact Mr Joshua Cranston, HR Assistant, at j.cranston@northerneducationtrust.org
Closing date: Monday 5th October 2026, at 9am
Director of English employer: Northern Education Trust
Freebrough Academy, as part of Northern Education Trust, is an exceptional employer that fosters a supportive and collaborative work culture. With a focus on employee growth and development, staff are encouraged to enhance their skills while contributing to a nurturing educational environment in the beautiful coastal town of Saltburn-by-the-Sea. The academy offers a fulfilling opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of students and the community.
