Head of German

The Headmaster and CEO of the Eltham College Family of Schools seeks to appoint an inspirational and highly professional Head of German to contribute to the development of the highly successful and dynamic Modern Languages department at Eltham College. The successful candidate must have the ability to inspire others and lead by example, supporting the school to meet its aims with students, teachers and parents.

They should be an outstanding classroom teacher with the ability to teach across the age range from Year 7 to Year 13, a genuine interest in their subject, a strong commitment to high academic standards, and experience of successful management of, or within, an academic department. German is currently taught in the Lower School as a core subject, and as an option subject at GCSE and A level. An ability to teach a second language and experience in a similarly high-performing academic environment would be an advantage. A commitment to excellent pastoral care, enriching co-curricular activities and outreach activities is also expected.

All members of staff are also expected to contribute to the pastoral care of students, usually as a tutor, and contribute in a meaningful way to the co-curricular programme and are also expected to carry out any tasks that may reasonably be required by the Headmaster according to the normal practice of an independent school.

The German Department at Eltham is a popular and growing department, with high retention rates. At GCSE and A level it attracts high calibre students with a strong work ethic and a desire to fully understand the subject. The high aspirations of the department encourage students to extend their knowledge beyond the scope of exam board specifications. In Years 10 to 11 we teach Pearson IGCSE and in the Sixth Form we teach AQA at A level. In Years 7 to 9 students undertake a stimulating and varied curriculum based on, but not limited by, the Stimmt! series of textbooks.

We are ambitious in our teaching at all levels, aiming to provide the students with academic rigour whilst allowing them to explore the cultural wealth of the German-speaking world. GCSE results have been exceptional over recent years with a three-year average of 94% of pupils gaining grade 7-9. A level results are excellent, with a three-year average of 100% gaining a grade A*-A.

We provide a healthy co-curricular offering, including film projects, letter and virtual exchanges at Key Stage 3, trips to the British Film Institute at Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5, and trips overseas. In recent years, we have organised city trips to the Christmas markets for Key Stage 3 and to Munich and Salzburg, Berlin and Hamburg for Years 9 upwards. Our A level students have also successfully competed in debating competitions, and we regularly enter writing and translation competitions run by universities.

The German Department operates within the wider Modern Languages Department, with the Heads of Department working closely together to promote languages throughout the school. We are well resourced and occupy the new and fully equipped Turberville building. The department is forward-thinking and innovative; the successful candidate will therefore have the opportunity to develop ideas and resources in a supportive and friendly environment.

Eltham College is a highly successful independent day school in south-east London, educating boys and girls aged 7 to 18 across both Junior and Senior Schools. The College has grown considerably over recent years: there are now over 800 students in the Senior School and around 260 pupils in the Junior School and places are heavily oversubscribed. Since 2020, girls have been able to join Years 3 and 7, mirroring the Sixth Form which has been coeducational for over 45 years.

The school places an equal emphasis on academic, pastoral and co-curricular excellence and has an outstanding reputation in all three areas as well as for the friendly, unpretentious nature of daily life. A highly competitive salary is available, together with a clear programme of staff development and opportunities for promotion. In addition to the base salary, the post comes with a Responsibility Allowance. Accommodation may also be available.

Application closing date: 8am on Friday 20 February 2026. Interviews to take place on Thursday 26 February 2026. Suitable candidates may be interviewed before the closing date and Eltham College reserves the right to withdraw the position if an early appointment is made. We welcome applications from all parts of our community as we aspire to attract staff that match the social and cultural diversity of our student intake. Candidates will be assessed against relevant criteria only (i.e. skills, qualifications, abilities, experience). Eltham College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants undergo enhanced child protection screening relevant to the post, including checks with past employers and the DBS.