Teacher of French

Teaching Vacancies; Tonbridge; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK-based educational institution is seeking a qualified teacher to deliver high-quality French instruction to students from KS4 to A-Level. The role requires outstanding classroom management, effective teaching strategies, and a commitment to ensuring excellent student outcomes. Candidates should have a Qualified Teacher Status and demonstrate strong planning and interpersonal skills, as well as a dedication to professional development.

Benefits

Professional Development Opportunities

Healthcare Cash Plan

Flexible Working Options

Priority Admission for Staff Children

Employee Assistance Programme

Free Annual Flu Vaccination

Free On-Site Parking

Qualifications

• Outstanding classroom teacher and tutor.
• Ability to teach French to KS4 and A-Level.
• Sustained performance securing very good student outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality teaching and tutoring.
• Implement school policies and contribute to school development.
• Model and uphold professional standards.

Skills

Communication

Classroom Management

Planning Lessons

Team Collaboration

Behaviour Management

Education

Qualified Teacher Status

Degree or equivalent

Job description

What skills and experience we're looking for

• Qualifications

• Qualified Teacher Status
• Degree or equivalent

• Experience

• Outstanding classroom teacher and tutor
• Sustained performance securing very good student outcomes
• The ability to teach French to KS4
• The ability to teach French to A-Level

• Skills & Knowledge

• Able to communicate effectively, orally and in writing
• Able to consistently demonstrate effective planning for practical lessons to help support the delivery of outstanding lessons
• Confident in own ability to be effective and to take on challenges
• Ability to relate well to students, colleagues, parents and Trustees
• Effective behaviour management
• Able to support students in maintaining high standards
• Efficient and effective administrative, organisational and personal management skills

• Personal Attributes

• Ability to inspire, challenge and motivate
• Have a positive approach with a desire to succeed
• Energy, enthusiasm and perseverance
• Reliability and integrity
• Good interpersonal skills
• Professional appearance and manner
• Positive commitment to individual personal development
• Capacity to work hard, under pressure, to meet deadlines and manage time effectively
• A good record of attendance
• Adaptable and amenable with respect to working practices
• Ability to work independently and in a team, take a collaborative approach
• Ability to build supportive working relationships with colleagues
• Commitment to supporting the full life of the school
• Suitable to work with children
• To undertake other activities identified from time to time commensurate with the level of the post as determined by your Line Manager or SLT link
• To be committed to your own development through the effective use of the School’s CPD processes
• To understand your own responsibilities, be committed to and comply with School policies and procedures relating to child protection, health & safety, welfare, security, diversity & equality, confidentiality and data protection, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
• To work collaboratively with the wider organisation and act in the interests of the School at all times
• To support the delivery of the School’s strategy as it relates to this post

• Equal Opportunities

• A commitment to inclusive education

What the school offers its staff

• Professional Development

• Research led CPD programmes, tailored to individual’s aspirations, which are based both in school and across the wider Trust.
• A full induction programme for all new staff.
• ECT’s will have a lower teaching load, timetabled mentoring sessions and a full programme of training and induction activities.
• Unlimited access to the National College CPD platform.
• An additional INSET day at the beginning of the academic year dedicated to teacher planning and preparation.
• Our “No lesson judgements” policy ensures lesson observations are developmental and supportive.
• One INSET day a year dedicated to moderation and curriculum preparation.

• Staff Welfare

• Data capture that is measured and timely - we report progress home three times a year.
• Minimal written reports.
• No requirement for teachers to submit lesson plans, even for lesson observations.
• Teaching staff are only required to do a maximum of one twenty-minute duty each week.
• Supportive yet challenging governance, which understands that teachers are our most valuable resource.
• We are a school that appreciates the importance of family. We do our best to support staff when there are issues and requests for additional leave regarding family events and an Additional Leave policy that supports staff when they may need time off school.
• A teaching load of 43/50 one-hour periods of teaching per fortnight maximum.

• Support

• The school calendar is planned in advance across the whole year so people know what is happening and when.
• In-house cover supervision team.
• A comprehensive pastoral team to help with supporting our students with behaviour and wellbeing.
• A highly effective and proactive support staff that play an important role in supporting teaching and learning.
• A Marketing, Events and Visits team that are responsible for organising key school events and trips.

• Benefits

• School budgets are set making the assumption that everybody will get their incremental pay rise.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Healthcare cash plan.
• Occupational health support.
• Priority admission for staff children (see admissions policy on school website).
• Employee Discount Scheme (Multiple Retailers – Kent Reward Scheme).
• Opportunity to perform paid lunch-time duties (with free lunch).
• Free annual flu vaccination.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Free tea and coffee provided in the staff room.
• Use of onsite canteen offering hot meals and salad bar.
• Opportunities to participate in enrichment activities e.g. theatre visits.
• Opportunities for flexible working.
• Free on-site parking.
• Membership of the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) or Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).

• Environment

• Pleasant working environment with very well-behaved students.
• Eleven acres of school grounds set in Green Belt land at Tonbridge Campus.

Further details about the role

• Employment Status: Fixed Term 25/26 Academic Year
• Full Time/Part Time: 0.8
• Salary: MPS/UPS
• Start Date: ASAP

All teachers are leaders of learning and are committed to delivering the school’s vision and the high ambitions for the school’s future. Their proactive support leads to sustained improvements and raised standards across the organization. As members of both “Standards” (Faculties) and Development (Tutoring) teams they model and actively implement “Development and Standards” policies and contribute to their development. They are accountable for specific identified and agreed operational functions within the teams to which they belong and which form part of the areas’ day to day work.

All teachers strive to be an outstanding teacher and tutor who also consistently models Professional Standards. All teachers, given the nature of the school’s context, accept that all teaching and tutoring should, when applying the Ofsted criteria, be at least good.

Teachers’ on-going professional development is valued as part of the school’s commitment to Investors in People and staff recognize their responsibility in seeking to improve their practice. Feedback to support professional development is provided formally and informally including through Performance Management reviews and the routine, rigorous and robust Quality Assurance process which underpins the school’s self evaluation strategies. Staff are aware that underperformance will be challenged and that they will be held accountable for the performance of students for whom they have a direct responsibility. Whilst it is accepted that not all students will realize their full potential evidence of strategies to remove barriers to inclusion and achievement should always be maintained. In addition, all staff support the school’s single opportunity policy and promote community cohesion as well as actively supporting the activities of the school community and the wider community. Languages are an important part of the school’s curriculum at the Weald of Kent. Language learning at the Weald of Kent is exciting and engaging. The Languages team consists of a Director of Faculty is also Head of French, a Head of German and a Head of Spanish.

At Key Stage 3, all students learn French, Spanish or German. At Key Stage 4, all students are expected to continue with at least one language. We have an increasing number of students who choose to take a language at A Level, with 8-12 students in each of Year 12 and 13 for both French and Spanish. We have reintroduced German to the curriculum from KS3 to KS5. Students follow the AQA specifications in the relevant language at both GCSE and A Level.

Every member in the Languages team plays their part to help provide a large and varied programme of extra-curricular activities throughout the year. We organise opportunities for our students to visit France, Germany and Spain on cultural trips and we also celebrate all our languages through a series of events throughout the year. Every classroom has an interactive whiteboard as standard and we have invested in a series of digital textbooks.

Application Closing Date: Wednesday 24 September 2025, 9am

Shortlist Interview Date: Thursday 2 October 2025

Early applications are advised as the School reserves the right to appoint at any stage during the application process.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post. As this role involves 'regulated activity' with children the successful applicant will be required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure application. Employment will be conditional upon the College being satisfied with the result of the Enhanced DBS check and the outcome of all other checks. The School will also carry out a check of the Children\'s Barred List on the successful applicant. Applicants should be aware that it is unlawful for the School to employ anyone to work with children if they are barred from doing so, and it is a criminal offence for a person to apply to work with children if they are barred from doing so.This role is also exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the School is therefore permitted to ask shortlisted applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.