Subject Lead for English

Suffolk County Council; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 39,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

Suffolk County Council is seeking an experienced Subject Lead for English at The New Skill Centre in Ipswich. The role oversees GCSE and Functional Skills English for 11–19 students, including planning, teaching and leading a small English department.

Experience with SEND and adapting to individual needs is essential. You will promote high standards, manage curriculum development and collaborate with HLTA support to deliver outcomes.

Qualifications

• Qualified teacher status is required.
• A degree is required.
• Evidence of successful teaching experience is essential.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver GCSE and Functional Skills English Language and Literature.
• Lead a small English department team and support colleagues.
• Promote SEND knowledge and adapt teaching to meet individual needs.

Education

Qualified teacher status

Degree

Teaching experience

Job description

• New Skill Centre
• Address: Wolsey House, 2-5, The Drift, Nacton Road, Nacton, Suffolk IP3 9QR
• Salary: £46,000 per annum
• Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week, between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm
• Contract: Permanent, required as soon as possible
• Reference: 5403

Your role

We are looking to recruit an experienced Subject Lead for English or someone who is an experienced English teacher looking for additional responsibility of leading a small team. We want someone who can promote and deliver GCSE and Functional Skills English Language and Literature to pre and post 16 pupils, working alongside colleagues as part of the English department. Other subjects within the subject area include Drama and Film Studies.

Main purpose

The New Skill Centre is a Special Independent SEND School catering for the needs of young people aged 11 to 19 years old, who are academically capable of achieving GCSE'S and other level 1 and 2 qualifications. All our students are gentle by nature and have an EHCP with identified SEND needs. Class sizes typically consist of 4-6 students with experienced HLTA's in support. You will have experience or willingness to develop knowledge of SEND and the ability to adapt teaching practice to meet individual needs of all students.

This is an opportunity to reaffirm the positivity of teaching and the transformative power of education, working alongside and being part of a dedicated and friendly team.

You will:

• fulfil all professional responsibilities of a teacher
• demonstrate consistent delivery of high-quality teaching, improving learning standards and achievement for all students
• oversee the planning of the curriculum content, ensuring it is well sequenced to promote pupil progress.

Your responsibilities

Teaching

• Plan and teach well-structured lessons to assigned classes
• Assess, monitor, record and report on the learning needs, progress and achievements of pupils, making accurate and productive use of assessment
• Adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and individual needs of pupils
• Set high expectations which inspire, motivate and challenge pupils
• Promote excellent progress and outcomes by pupils
• Demonstrate excellent subject and curriculum knowledge
• Demonstrate their quality of teaching is consistently 'good' to 'outstanding'
• Participate in arrangements for preparing pupils for external tests
• Demonstrate high-quality adaptive teaching as the first step in meeting the needs of all pupils.
• Have a clear understanding of the needs of all SEND pupils and be able to use and evaluate distinctive pedagogical approaches to engage, support and ensure progress and achievement.
• Have extensive knowledge of their subjects/curriculum areas, related pedagogy and assessment

Organisation, strategy and development

• Make a positive contribution to the wider life and ethos of the school
• Provide support to staff regarding teaching and learning, resources and planning in the subject area
• Develop and regularly review the vision, aims and purpose for the subject area
• Provide cover, in the unforeseen circumstance that you or another teacher is unable to teach
• Be proactive in supporting pupils and colleagues in all activities of the school
• Contribute to the continual development of the subject and school curriculum

Health, safety and discipline

• Promote the safety and wellbeing of pupils
• Maintain good order and discipline among pupils, managing behaviour effectively to ensure a good and safe learning environment
• Complete/contribute to producing risk assessments for trips/visits and activities

Professional development

• Take part in the school's appraisal procedures
• Take part in further training and development to improve own teaching
• Take part in the appraisal and professional development of others, where appropriate

Communication

• Communicate effectively with pupils, parents and carers
• Communicate effectively with colleagues, other professionals and agencies

Working with colleagues and other relevant professionals

• Collaborate and work with colleagues and other relevant professionals within and beyond the school
• Develop effective professional relationships with colleagues
• Work effectively as a team player
• Provide advice, coaching and mentoring to less experienced teachers/tutors to help them develop and meet the relevant standards

Personal and professional conduct

• Uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school
• Have proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices of the school, and maintain high standards of attendance and punctuality
• Understand and act within the statutory frameworks setting out their professional duties and responsibilities

Safeguarding

• Work in line with statutory safeguarding guidance (e.g. Keeping Children Safe in Education, Prevent) and our safeguarding and child protection policies
• Work with the designated safeguarding leads (DSL/DDSL) to promote the best interests of pupils, including sharing concerns where necessary
• Promote the safeguarding of all pupils in the school
• Be vigilant at all times and comply with all local safeguarding protocols
• Be effective in reporting and recording of all incidents/disclosures using the appropriate and relevant school safeguarding reporting systems
• Provide pastoral care as required and being aware of mental health and wellbeing needs

You will need:

• Qualified teacher status
• Degree
• Successful teaching experience

About us

The New Skill Centre is an independent SEND school catering for the individual needs of young people aged 11 to 19. Our most recent OFSTED inspection took place in June 2025, and we were rated with an overall outcome of GOOD. Pupil places are commissioned via Suffolk LA. The young people who attend the setting are working towards achieving qualifications ranging from Entry Level to GCSE.

For more information

Please visit our website

Visits to the school are welcome. If you are unable to visit and would like a discussion with the Headteacher, please call 01473 290276 option 2 to make an appointment.

Closing date: 28 September 2026.