Head of English

Backwell School; Nailsea; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Nailsea seeks a dedicated Head of English to lead a robust English Department. The role involves developing a curriculum that inspires students and ensures success in public exams. Ideal candidates will have excellent classroom skills, leadership experience, and a genuine love for language and literature. You will work collaboratively with a committed team to enrich students' English experience. Closing date for applications is Monday 19 January 2026 at 11:50pm.

Qualifications

• Must have a genuine love of language, literature, and creativity.
• Experience in leading an English department in a school is ideal.
• Ability to establish a curriculum leading to success in public exams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead a committed English Department with twelve colleagues.
• Ensure ongoing excellence and impactful work throughout the school.
• Provide support to exam groups and make curriculum diverse and challenging.

Skills

Excellent classroom practitioner

Experience teaching across all three key stages

Leadership experience in English department

Passion for language and literature

Job description

Head of English

Backwell School

Backwell, Somerset

£46,832 per year - estimated ?

Permanent

Full time

Start date: 1 September 2026

Salary: MPS/UPS + TLR 1B

Contract: Full time and permanent

TLR time: 7 sessions over 2 weeks

We wish to appoint a Head of English to develop and lead a lively , committed and enthusiastic English Department consisting of twelve colleagues. You will be ably supported by a deputy and TLR holders for each key stage. Each play a vital part in the department's ongoing excellence.

The English department is one of the largest and most important departments in the school; your work will have an impact throughout the school and you will have a highly influential role.

The English team is impressively committed , collaborative and driven. The leader must be an excellent classroom practitioner who has experience of teaching across all three key stages . They will have a genuine love of language, literature and creativity and of communicating enthusiasm for the subject. Ideally you will have experience of leading an English department within a school already.

We are proud of our knowledge-rich, resource-rich curriculum . We've worked hard to make the Key Stage Three curriculum diverse and challenging . We offer comprehensive support to our exam groups in Key Stages Four and Five, whilst ensuring their experience of studying English is educationally stimulating and enriching . As an experienced professional, you will have a high degree of autonomy to establish a curriculum which leads to success in public exams 'whilst ensuring that our students love English and become critical readers, confident writers, and effective speakers.

Closing date for applications: Monday 19 January 2026 at 11:50pm