Teacher of English - Portobello High School in Edinburgh

Portobello High School is a six-year comprehensive based in the East of Edinburgh with a school roll of over 1500 young people, drawn mainly from five associate primary schools – Brunstane, Duddingston, Parsons Green, Royal High and Towerbank. The school enjoys a very high standard of accommodation with facilities used extensively by the community.

There is an excellent extra-curricular programme within the school, offering an extensive array of wider achievement opportunities, especially within the arts and sports. The school also has positive links with parents and is committed to building up partnerships with local businesses and the community.

The values of Portobello High School are rooted in the collective vision of ‘Achieving Together’ which drives our continuous efforts to enhance the educational experience for all young people. We focus on key priorities of raising attainment and achievement, fostering inclusion and wellbeing, and advancing learning, teaching, assessment, and skills.

We are committed to improving and enriching the learning experiences of all learners. We want our young people to enjoy their learning and to be actively involved and participating in engaging learning activities. To support this, we are one of the first schools in Scotland to introduce a mobile phone policy which incorporates an innovative phone pouch system.

This post represents a great opportunity for the right person to join a large staff team and work in a truly comprehensive setting. The successful candidate will join an enthusiastic team in a visionary department. In the Broad General Education (BGE), we support our young people to develop their skills in English and literacy using a varied selection of resources and experiences, before they progress into the Senior Phase. There, we offer English courses from National 3 to Advanced Higher. We continue to diversify our curriculum offer to meet the needs of all learners. At every level, the department is motivated by a commitment to engage learners with great texts and build their confidence in using language to engage positively with others.

This post is regulated work with children and/or protected adults under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. The preferred candidate will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check. Where an individual has spent a continuous period of 3 months or more out with the UK in the last 5 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check. An unconditional offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of both these pre-employment checks being deemed satisfactory.

Salaries will be in accordance with the Scheme of Salaries and Conditions of Service for Teaching Staff in School Education. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone feels valued and able to be their best. We particularly encourage applications from women for senior roles, as well as people from minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities or neurodivergent people, care experienced people, carers and LGBT+ people across all levels of the organisation, all of whom are currently underrepresented. All applicants will be considered fairly based on skills and experience. Disabled and care-experienced applicants who meet the minimum job criteria will be guaranteed an interview.

As part of our goal to improve organisational culture and create a great place to work together for the people of Edinburgh, we want to make sure we're recruiting the best people. We’re interested not only in your skills and experience but also in your approach to work. Therefore, part of our interview process will be an assessment of how you would bring Our Behaviours of Respect, Integrity and Flexibility into your ways of working.

Happy to talk flexible working.