Director of English and Literacy in Leiston

Alde Valley Academy, part of Kingfisher Schools Trust, is a popular secondary school in Leiston, a small town not far from Saxmundham and Aldeburgh and close to the beautiful Suffolk coast. We are ambitious for our students’ progress, attainment and personal development and strive to create an environment that promotes a keen enjoyment of learning. We take pride in nurturing, motivating and encouraging all our staff and pupils to be the best they can be.

At Alde Valley Academy, every day offers the chance to Aspire and Achieve together. As part of our community, you’ll be embraced by colleagues who Lead with Kindness, champion your growth, and celebrate every milestone. Here, Stronger Together isn’t just a slogan, it’s how we work: mentoring one another, sharing expertise in collaborative planning, and offering tailored professional development that helps you thrive at every stage of your career.

We have high aspirations for our pupils and provide a range of opportunities to enrich their life experiences. We are proud that we provide a highly caring and safe environment for our pupils and families.

We are looking to employ a talented, ambitious leader to join our successful team as the Director of English and Literacy. The Director of English and Literacy will take a major role in driving forward the vision of the school with all internal and external stakeholders, ensuring that pupils achieve well in English and have the literacy skills they need to succeed in all subjects and in later life.

This is a leadership level appointment and the successful colleague will run a high performing English Department, shape and deliver a strategy for literacy across the school, and be an integral member of the Extended Leadership Team. As a member of the Extended Senior Leadership Team, it is anticipated that the Director of English & Literacy will have a track record of success as a middle leader, together with ambition for promotion to Assistant or Deputy Head in the next 3-4 years. This role is therefore one where the skills and expertise of senior leadership are developed in addition to those linked to the leadership of a core subject within the school. Additional whole school responsibilities may be agreed with the post holder and provision made for them to undertake this whilst in post, once outcomes are in a stronger and more stable position.

Key responsibilities

• To establish outstanding provision within English across all key stages, taking account of the school’s vision and values.
• Ensuring the smooth and effective running of the department on a day-to-day basis.
• Leadership of a Department Improvement Plan which supports the school’s strategic development plan.
• Providing robust and inspirational leadership to the department and wider school.
• Always maintaining high visibility and a positive profile around the school.

The Director of English is expected to take on additional responsibilities that allow them to develop skills in Senior Leadership. The primary whole school responsibility is to develop a convincing and effective strategy for literacy and put this into practice with tangible results. This will be a team approach and colleagues in the department have time and responsibilities to deliver much of this work.

You will:

• Be an experienced and highly effective Teacher/Middle Leader, with an excellent track record in teaching, outcomes, and leadership.
• Be someone who passionately believes that all children can achieve, no matter what their starting point, background or needs.
• Have a commitment to equality of opportunity and the celebration of diversity.

We will offer you:

• A welcoming and caring staff team.
• A supportive team of professionals within the school and as part of Kingfisher Schools Trust.
• A range of dedicated staff wellbeing support.

Kingfisher Schools Trust offers employees a wide range of benefits, including:

• Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development.
• Access to a huge variety of training courses through The National College.
• A Pension scheme (TPS) with generous employer contribution.
• An Employee Assistance Programme for free and confidential advice.
• Shopping and leisure discounts.
• A cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme.
• An affordable electric car salary sacrifice scheme.

To find out more, please read our Values in KST Valuing People (pdf).

To find out more, please read the Job Description (pdf) and Candidate Information Pack (pdf). We encourage interested candidates to visit our school so that we can show you around and answer any questions that you may have. To arrange a visit, please email recruitment@kingfisherschools.co.uk.

How to apply

To view the job description and apply, please visit the School career site and job page. Closing date: 9.00 am, 15 May 2026. Interview date: 21 May 2026. Please submit your completed application as soon as possible as we may close the advert early if we receive sufficient applications. We can only accept applications which are submitted through My New Term.

Our school is part of Kingfisher Schools Trust. 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. An enhanced DBS check will be part of the pre-employment screening process for this role. An application form must be completed in full; CVs alone cannot be accepted.