KS4 English Curriculum Lead

Ark; Hawkesley; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Ark Kings Academy as a Middle Leader for KS4 English, where you'll develop and deliver an engaging curriculum that challenges students to excel. Collaborate with senior leaders, mentor colleagues, and access outstanding professional development opportunities as part of a committed team striving for excellence.

Benefits

Salaries are 2.5% higher than main pay scale.

Twice the number of training days as standard.

Generous pension scheme.

Access to Ark Rewards.

Interest-free loans for season tickets or bicycles.

Gym discounts.

Employee Assistance Programme.

Free fruit in Spring/Summer terms.

Free soup in Autumn/Winter terms.

Qualifications

• Passionate practitioner with experience in education.
• Experience in leading and mentoring staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of the KS4 English curriculum.
• Shape teaching strategies and monitor student progress.

Job description

About The Role

Be part of a truly ‘Good’ school now striving to be ‘Outstanding’ with a dedicated staff team.

You will be instrumental in our vision “At Ark Kings Academy, every individual will develop the character to thrive in life, education and employment.”

You will be a passionate practitioner, you will deliver high-quality, rigorous lessons that drive achievement and inspire a love of learning that extends beyond the classroom.

You will lead the development and delivery of an engaging and high-quality Key Stage 4 English curriculum, ensuring that all pupils are challenged and supported to achieve their full potential. As a middle leader, you will play a key role in shaping teaching strategies, monitoring student progress, and driving excellence in English across the department. You will also support and mentor colleagues, contribute to whole-school initiatives, and collaborate with senior leaders to enhance student outcomes.

Our school is committed to exceptional professional development, providing a clear and structured pathway for ambitious educators looking to advance their careers. As a Middle Leader for KS4 English, you will have access to tailored leadership training, coaching, and mentoring from experienced senior leaders. We offer opportunities to take on whole-school responsibilities, collaborate on curriculum innovation, and engage in cross-departmental projects that enhance your leadership skills. With a strong focus on career progression, we actively support our staff in developing the expertise and confidence needed to take the next step towards becoming Head of Department in English. Whether through bespoke CPD sessions, external leadership qualifications, we are dedicated to nurturing future leaders within our school community.

To contribute to a workplace culture which has safeguarding and child protection at its heart.

We warmly encourage prospective candidates to visit our school and experience our vibrant learning community firsthand. This is a fantastic opportunity to tour our facilities, meet our dedicated staff, and gain a deeper understanding of our vision and values. During your visit, you will have the chance to spend time with senior leaders, discuss the role in more detail, and explore how we can support your professional development. We believe that seeing our school in action will give you a real sense of what makes our school so special and the exciting opportunities this role offers. To arrange a visit, please get in touch with Thom O’Brien, Secondary Head of School at [e-mail].

Benefits

• • Our salaries are 2.5% higher than main pay scale.
  • Twice the number of training days as standard.
  • Generous pension scheme – a salary average defined benefit pension scheme, meaning you build up a guaranteed amount in your pension, payable for every year of your retirement.
  • Access to Ark Rewards – a scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers.
  • Interest-free loans – up to £5,000 available for season tickets or to buy a bicycle.
  • Gym discounts – offering up to 40% off your local gym.
  • Access to the Employee Assistance Programme – providing free, confidential counselling, legal advice and a range of different support services.
  • Free fruit in the Spring/Summer terms
  • Free soup in the Autumn/Winter terms

  Ark Kings are deeply committed to staff wellbeing and work-life balance, which is why we offer an additional leave of absence day for personal commitments, along with a two-week October half-term—providing our staff with extra time to rest, recharge, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. These initiatives, alongside our comprehensive support systems, contribute to our well above national average benchmark for staff wellbeing and workload, as highlighted in our latest staff survey. By prioritising the wellbeing of our team, we foster a positive and supportive working environment where staff feel valued, motivated, and empowered to deliver their best for our pupils.

Find out more about the benefits of working for Arkhere.

About Us

We are an all-through school serving the local community with pupils from Nursery - Year 11. Our mission is to create a school in which every child thrives, academically and socially.

Over the past 2 years we have made remarkable progress, moving from an Inadequate Ofsted rating to a Good. This achievement reflects the dedication and hard work of our staff with Ofsted commenting that pupils “understand the high expectations that staff have for them and strive to meet with”. The strengths of our school include:

• Behaviour: Our pupils know the school rules of, ‘ready, respectful and safe’ and demonstrate these qualities in their behaviour towards each other and their teachers.
• An ambitious curriculum: Our well-sequenced curriculum, spanning early years to Year 11, ensures that all pupils, including those with special educational needs, receive a high-quality education.
• Reading strength: Our effective teaching strategies empower pupils to become fluent readers, setting them up for success in their academic journey.
• Personal development: At Ark Kings Academy, we prioritize personal development, preparing our pupils for their future roles as responsible citizens.
• Attendance: Our pupils and parents recognise the importance of high attendance, and at secondary, we sit above the national average.

Visit arkkingsacademy.org/jobslearn more about us.

Diversity and inclusion:

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on thislink.

Safeguarding statement:

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click thislink.

Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage to submit your application at your earliest convenience.