At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead English excellence and inspire students to achieve their full potential.
- Company: Join Lift Firth Park, a vibrant school in Sheffield with a diverse community.
- Benefits: Enjoy career development, generous benefits, and lifestyle perks like gym discounts.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team committed to equality and safeguarding.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on students' lives and drive transformational change in education.
- Qualifications: Degree in English, PGCE, and proven track record in raising student achievement.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
Location: Lift Firth Park, 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 (earlier start welcome).
Closing date: 22nd June 12 noon.
Interview date: 29th June.
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.
Qualifications
Essential
- 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
- 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.
- A belief in the transformative power of education and commitment to ensuring every student at Lift Firth Park achieves full potential.
About Lift Firth Park
Lift Firth Park is a vibrant mixed secondary school for students aged 11–16, serving around 1,200 pupils in a richly diverse community. Over a third of students speak English as an additional language. The school is experiencing a period of new leadership and transformational change, with positive impacts across curriculum and culture.
Benefits
- Career development and training: access to statutory and developmental training.
- Partnership with One World powering an innovative Instructional Excellence Programme; CPD programmes including Ambition Institute’s Early Career and NPQ offerings.
- Generous benefits: pension plan, healthcare and financial support.
- Lifestyle perks: discounted gym memberships and travel deals.
Equal Opportunities & Safeguarding
Lift Schools is an equal-opportunity employer. We appoint, employ and develop talented and committed individuals who contribute professionally to our school’s and children’s success. We are guided by Equality Act 2010 and promote equality of opportunity, protecting our people, pupils and the broader community from discrimination, harassment and victimisation. We are a Disability Confident Employer and offer a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. Lift Schools is committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils. We adopt a fair and consistent recruitment process consistent with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance, including online checks and DBS checks where relevant.
Additional Information
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response. All candidates are advised to refer to the job description and person specification before applying.
Assistant Principal (English) in Sheffield employer: SIR HERBERT LEON ACADEMY
Lift Firth Park is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and dynamic work environment where educators can thrive. With a strong commitment to professional development, including access to innovative training programmes and generous benefits such as a well-being cash plan and pension scheme, we empower our staff to drive academic excellence and foster student well-being. Located in the vibrant community of Sheffield, our school is dedicated to transforming education and ensuring every student achieves their full potential, making it a rewarding place to work.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Principal (English) in Sheffield
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former staff at Lift Firth Park on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give us insider info about the school culture and what they really value in an Assistant Principal.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by diving deep into the school's recent changes and initiatives. We want to show that we’re not just interested in the role, but also passionate about contributing to their vision for English excellence.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice our responses to common interview questions, especially around leadership and pedagogy. We should be ready to share specific examples of how we've driven improvement in English outcomes before.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure our application gets noticed and shows we’re serious about joining the Lift Firth Park team.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Principal (English) in Sheffield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for English:When writing your application, let your love for English shine through! Share specific examples of how you've driven excellence in English teaching and how you plan to inspire students at Lift Firth Park.
Be Data-Savvy:We want to see how you use data to inform your teaching strategies. Highlight any experiences where you've identified gaps in student learning and implemented successful interventions to boost outcomes.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure your application speaks directly to the key responsibilities outlined in the job description. Show us how your experience aligns with our vision for English across the school and how you can contribute to our culture of excellence.
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It's the best way to ensure we receive all your details correctly and gives you a chance to showcase your enthusiasm for joining our team.
How to prepare for a job interview at SIR HERBERT LEON ACADEMY
✨Know Your English Pedagogy
Make sure you brush up on the latest evidence-informed pedagogical approaches in English. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these strategies in your previous roles and how they can drive excellence at Lift Firth Park.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As an Assistant Principal, you'll be part of the Senior Leadership Team. Prepare examples of how you've inspired and developed colleagues in the past. Highlight any initiatives you've led that improved student outcomes or staff performance.
✨Data-Driven Decision Making
Familiarise yourself with how to use data to identify gaps in student achievement. Be prepared to discuss specific instances where you've used data to inform interventions and raise outcomes in English.
✨Embrace the School's Values
Lift Firth Park is undergoing transformational change, so it's crucial to align with their values and ethos. Research the school’s culture and be ready to explain how you would model and embed these values in your leadership approach.
