Assistant Principal - English

Lift Firth Park; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Lift Firth Park in Sheffield is recruiting an Assistant Principal (English) to drive the 490 agenda and raise standards in English across all year groups. You will lead strategic direction, develop English across departments, and foster a culture of high-quality pedagogy and inclusive teaching.

The role requires an English degree with QTS, a proven track record in UK secondary schools, and the ability to inspire colleagues. A January 2027 or April 2027 start is preferred; other dates negotiable.

Qualifications

• Degree in English and QTS required.
• Proven track record of improving English outcomes in UK secondary schools.
• Strong understanding of evidence-informed English pedagogy and curriculum design.
• Experience leading whole-school or cross-curricular initiatives is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead on whole-school English excellence and strategic vision.
• Drive English across year groups and subjects.
• Promote English fluency and confidence for all learners.
• Embed evidence-informed pedagogy across departments.
• Use data to identify gaps and inform interventions to raise outcomes.
• Maintain high expectations in English teaching across key stages.
• Shape senior leadership strategy and school improvement priorities.
• Line manage staff delivering professional development.

Skills

Leadership

Curriculum design

Data-driven improvement

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in English

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

Job description

Be part of something transformational. Help shape the next chapter at Lift Firth Park.

At Lift Firth Park, we believe strong English skills are a powerful driver of opportunity, confidence, and future success. Knowing the importance of English capability in a child's education, we have created the new role 'Assistant Principal (English)' to drive our ambitious Lift 490 agenda and further drive improvement within English at Lift Firth Park. This post will ideally be a January 2027 or April 2027 start (other dates are negotiable).

We believe every young person is entitled to an excellent education, in every classroom, every day. Our 490 promise reflects that commitment. It isn't just a number; it's a shared ambition for what's possible- 90% of students achieve a grade 4 or above in GCSE English and maths.
This is a rare and career-defining opportunity for an inspirational leader who is passionate about English, driven by impact, and committed to ensuring an excellent education for every child, in every classroom, every day

Are you an inspiring educator looking to make a lasting difference in young lives? We would love to hear from you.

About the role:

As Assistant Principal, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of the school. You will lead on key whole-school priorities while spearheading the development of English across all year groups and subjects.
You will drive a culture where English fluency is visible, valued, and consistently applied. Through strong leadership, you will ensure high-quality pedagogy is embedded across departments, supporting staff to deliver engaging, rigorous, and inclusive English teaching.
At the heart of this role is a commitment to excellence, raising standards in teaching, learning, and behaviour, while fostering a positive and supportive environment for both students and staff.

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

What we are looking for:

Essential

• A degree in English (or a related subject), 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 within the last 2-3 years
• 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
• Above all, you will be values-driven, intellectually curious, and relentless in your pursuit of excellence. You will believe in the transformative power of education and be committed to ensuring every student at Lift Firth Park achieves their full potential

About Lift Firth Park

Lift Firth Park is a vibrant, mixed secondary school for students aged 11-16. Located in Shiregreen, Sheffield, we serve around 1,200 pupils and reflect a richly diverse community, with more than a third of students speaking English as an additional language.
The school is currently undergoing an exciting period of New Leadership and transformational change, and we are already seeing its positive impact in the classroom, across the curriculum and throughout our culture. This is an excellent time to join our team. We are looking for individuals who share our dedication to inclusive, aspirational education and who are excited to contribute to our renewed vision and ambitious future.

Who is Lift Schools?

Lift Schools is made up of 62 primary, secondary and special schools, educating more than 35,000 pupils across the country. We believe education can transform lives - and we want every child in our schools to achieve their full potential.

How we support you

We want you to feel supported, valued and able to grow throughout your career with Lift Schools. From high-quality professional development and career progression to well-being support and opportunities to connect and collaborate across our network, we invest in you so you can do your best work.