Head of Department - English

Teaching Personnel; Gillingham; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A supportive educational institution in Gillingham is seeking a Head of English to lead their department and prioritize the success of EAL learners. The role is full-time starting in January 2026 and requires a passionate educator ready to drive progress. Key responsibilities include leading a collaborative team, developing teaching approaches, and engaging with the school community to support student achievement. The position offers opportunities for professional development and may transition to a permanent role.

Benefits

Ongoing professional development

Leadership guidance

Modern facilities

Qualifications

• Experience in managing an English department in a secondary school.
• Ability to create inclusive teaching environments for EAL students.
• Strong communication skills with families and external agencies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the English department to enhance teaching quality.
• Monitor and support EAL students' progress.
• Develop effective teaching approaches for diverse learning needs.
• Foster collaboration among staff and support professional growth.

Skills

Leadership in education

Effective teaching strategies

Coaching and mentoring

Engagement with EAL learners

Education

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

Job description

Head of English – Gillingham

Full-Time | Start Date: January 2026

A thriving secondary school in Gillingham is seeking an enthusiastic and knowledgeable Head of English to guide their department and champion progress for students with English as an additional language. This full‑time post begins in January 2026.

Main duties include

• Leading the English team and driving engaging, high‑quality teaching across all year groups.
• Creating and delivering effective approaches to help EAL learners access the curriculum and succeed.
• Supporting and coaching colleagues to develop inclusive and adaptable classroom practice.
• Monitoring attainment and adjusting programmes to ensure every student receives the support they need.
• Building strong working relationships with families, external agencies, and the wider school community.

The school provides

• A warm, inclusive atmosphere where students are encouraged to reach their full potential.
• A collaborative staff team committed to ongoing professional development.
• Leadership guidance and clear pathways for career progression.
• Modern facilities and excellent resources to support outstanding teaching.

This opportunity would suit an experienced English teacher or current middle leader with a background in EAL who is ready to take the next step in a forward‑thinking and supportive school.

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQ’s on the Teaching Personnel website for details.

All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.

Teaching Personnel is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ and may include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants. We offer all our registered candidates FREE child protection and prevent duty training. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Full assistance provided.

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