Assistant Principal - English

Lift Schools; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Lift Firth Park in Sheffield is seeking an inspirational Assistant Principal (English) to lead on the whole-school English strategy and raise attainment across year groups. The post is expected to commence January 2027 or April 2027, with flexibility for other start dates.

You will work with senior leaders to embed evidence-informed pedagogy, drive high standards, and develop strong professional practice across the English department.

Qualifications

• A degree in English (or related subject) and QTS.
• Proven experience improving English outcomes in UK secondary schools.
• Strong ability to inspire, develop, and influence colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Drive wholeschool English excellence across the school.
• Lead the strategic vision for English across all year groups and subjects.
• Promote a culture of English fluency and confidence for all learners.
• Lead on designated priorities to drive academic excellence and student wellbeing.

Skills

English leadership

Curriculum development

Strategic planning

Staff coaching

Education

Degree in English

Qualified Teacher Status

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 improvement within English at Lift Firth Park. This post will ideally be aJanuary 2027 or April 2027 start (other dates are negotiable).

We believeevery young person is entitled toan excellent education, in every classroom, every day. Our 490 agenda 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 andcareer-defining opportunity for an inspirational leader who is passionate about English, driven by impact, and committed to ensuring an excellent education forevery 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, youwill 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 wholeschool English excellence
• Lead the strategic vision for English across the school
• Promote a culture ofEnglish fluency and confidence for all learners
• Embed robust,evidence-informed pedagogical approaches across departments
• Use dataintelligently to identify gaps, inform interventions, and raise outcomes
• Ensureconsistency and high expectations in English teaching across all key stages
• Play a keyrole 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 inEnglish (or a related subject), and Qualified Teacher Status
• A strong track record ofexcellent classroom practice and raising student achievement in English
• A strongunderstanding of evidence-informed English pedagogy and curriculum design
• Proven experience of improving outcomes within a UKsecondary school setting within the last 2-3 years
• Theability to inspire, develop, and influence colleagues at all levels

Desirable

• Experienceleading whole-school or cross-curricular initiatives
• Experiencesupporting schools in challenging contexts or driving rapid improvement
• Aboveall, you will be values-driven, intellectually curious, and relentless in your pursuit of excellence. You will believe in the transformative power of education andbe 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 andwho are excited to contribute to our renewed vision and ambitious future.
We would warmly welcome visits to the school; please contact: [e-mail]

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 cantransform 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 andopportunities to connect and collaborate across our network, we invest in you so you can do your best work.

Discover how we'll support you to thrive, develop and grow your career in the way that's right for you: How we support you

• Safer Recruitment Statement - September 2026.pdf
• Assistant Principal Job Description and Person Specification (2).pdf