English Subject Leader
Waddesdon Church of England School
Buckinghamshire
- New
- Salary:
- MPS/UPR + TLR 1c
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- September 2025
- Apply by:
- 29 January 2025
Job overview
“The limits of my language are the limits of my mind” - Wittgenstein
Fostering a love of literature and language enables young people to flourish and to live life to the full.
This is an exciting opportunity to lead a team of dedicated and creative specialists who share a desire for our young people to develop and grow through their study and enjoyment of English. The post will be of interest to aspiring or existing Subject Leaders who wish to develop professionally and personally in a supportive and happy environment.
We warmly welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, as diversity enriches our teaching and inspires our students to thrive in an inclusive learning environment.
Due to the outstanding teaching, supportive systems, and positive learning culture, students achieve highly at Waddesdon, with our Progress 8 scores consistently exceeding 0.5 (well above average) each year.
Reasons staff enjoy working at Waddesdon include:
· A genuine commitment to the education of the whole child
· High levels of expectations and discipline
· Generous teaching/non-contact period per fortnight (42/50)
· Positive relations between staff and students
The school’s SIAMS inspection celebrated our unique culture in the following way:
“Relationships are shaped by the focus on the twin values of dignity and respect. There is a palpable sense of Waddesdon being a safe and secure place to be, of a community built on good humour, mutual support and love of self and neighbour; this is seen in lessons and around the school.”
There is a very healthy uptake of English Literature A Level and a strong tradition of celebrating Speaking and Listening at the school. Students are encouraged to read for pleasure and use our vibrant, modern library at the heart of the school.
As part of working in an Outstanding school, the new Subject Leader will enjoy the freedom to develop the vision and direction of the department, with the strong support of an experienced department and Leadership Team.
Waddesdon School is an oversubscribed all ability 11-18 school, set in rural Buckinghamshire. The school is 30 minutes away from Oxford and also within easy commuting distance from Milton Keynes. There are just over 1000 students on roll, including 300 in the Sixth Form. The school has an excellent reputation for CPD and recognises and values the contributions of all staff.
There are realistic expectations regarding balancing family and leisure time and workload. Governors have recently changed the Admissions Policy to include children of staff members.
We encourage you to contact the school for a phone conversation and to discuss your interest in the post. The description of the department, the OfSTED and SIAMS reports, and our termly newsletter, Waddesdon Voice, will give you a flavour of the culture and ethos of our school and the department. Testimonials from our staff about the culture and ethos of our school can be found on our website in our ‘Working at Waddesdon’ section.
For more information on the school, please visit www.waddesdonschool.com
If you would like to arrange a visit or a phone conversation, please contact office@waddesdonschool.com
Deadline for applications to office@waddesdonschool.com:
Midday, Wednesday, 29th January 2025
The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. The post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, and employment will be conditional upon completion of satisfactory pre-appointment checks. Applicants are invited to view the school’s Safeguarding & Child
Protection Policy via https://www.waddesdonschool.com/safeguarding
We are an Equal Opportunities and Disability Confident Employer. We were awarded a Gold Award by MIND for Workplace Well-being in 2020.
School Lane, Waddesdon, Aylesbury, Bucks HP18 0LQ Tel: 01296 651382 Email:
Attached documents
About Waddesdon Church of England School
- Waddesdon Church of England School
- School Lane, Waddesdon, Aylesbury
- Buckinghamshire
- HP18 0LQ
- United Kingdom
Identified by OfSTED and SIAMS as "Outstanding"
"Naturally, pupils and Sixth Formers love coming here and are inspired to achieve." (OfSTED, Dec. 2021)
Waddesdon Church of England School is a co-educational, 11-18 secondary school with Academy status. We describe ourselves as an all ability school with soul, and value the socio-emotional development of our young people as much as their academic excellence. There are just over 1,000 students on roll, of whom 300 are in the Sixth Form. In December 2021, the school was judged to be “Outstanding” in all areas. In the 2018 Section 48 Inspection (SIAMS) Waddesdon was also judged to be "Outstanding" in every category, with the quality of relationships within the school community being particularly celebrated.
Waddesdon is a small, attractive village with a population of around 2,000, situated on the main A41 road six miles to the west of Aylesbury. It is perhaps best known for Waddesdon Manor, former home of the Rothschild family, now owned by the National Trust.
The school itself is situated on a beautiful, open site on the edge of the Waddesdon Estate. We have a five form entry and an admission number of 140 each year. Over the past few years the Sixth Form has grown substantially, with many students choosing to join us from a wide range of neighbouring educational establishments. Young people of all faiths and none are all equally welcome; we pride ourselves on being an inclusive community.
The importance of high achievement in all aspects of school life is recognised, as is the need for a caring, compassionate and happy community. The atmosphere in the school is friendly and informal, but also orderly and disciplined. School uniform is worn by the students to a very high standard. The school values and ethos promote exemplary behaviour; spiritual, moral, cultural and social skills; high academic attainment and an atmosphere where dignity and respect are shown to all.
The Governors of Waddesdon are keen to appoint well qualified, dedicated staff to all posts within the school. It is an excellent place to work, full of good will and good humour.
VISION STATEMENT
We believe that the purpose of education is to enable all people to flourish individually and collectively so that they live a life of value. As a community, we strive to achieve these aims, believing genuinely and unequivocally in the capacity and potential of every child.
Our ethos is rooted and grounded in the Christian values of love, compassion, kindness and inclusion which foster dignity and respect for all. Students tell us that they feel safe at Waddesdon School. Self-confidence, self-belief and agency are nurtured through praise, encouragement, acknowledgement of success and celebration of achievement.
Our vibrant and positive culture enables our students to fulfil their potential as self-disciplined, responsible and productive citizens who are proud to claim that they are a part of the Waddesdon tradition, the 'Waddesdon Way'.
Standards and expectations are high and learning is developed through a broad range of engaging and rich educational opportunities. We are a dedicated and motivated community which enables our students to work hard and achieve highly. However, our school cannot simply be measured by our outstanding outcomes alone; it is also measured by the development and character of our young people.
SAFEGUARDING 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. The post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.
Matthew Abbott
Headteacher
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