Head of English

We are looking for a new Head of English following the successful internal promotion of the the previous Head of English into a senior leadership position.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record of exceptional teaching across all key stages, have the ability to make positive student connections by guiding those of all abilities to ensure the best results and offer a variety of extra-curricular activities for our students. 

Desborough College is an all-boys (with girls in the 6th form), comprehensive school in Maidenhead, characterised by excellent pastoral care and an ever-growing Widening Horizons programme of extra-curricular activities. We enjoy a diverse community who are proud to be inclusive and welcoming and our staff body have high expectations in terms of behaviour and attitudes as well as striving to achieve excellent outcomes for our students.

We are deeply committed to the emotional and professional well-being and development of all our staff with the added benefits of peer coaching and a supportive CPD system, family friendly policies, on-site parking and a range of well-being initiatives.

 To be successful at Desborough College you will:

• Teach to a high standard at GCSE and A Level.
• Be passionate about learning and teaching.
• Have high expectations of all students.
• Go above and beyond to ensure students make great progress.
• Be relentless in ensuring exceptional outcomes for all our students 
• Be committed and hard-working

In return we will offer you:

• A school with enthusiastic students who want to succeed.
• An incredibly supportive group of colleagues. 
• A personalised CPD and peer coaching programme to provide first-rate preparation towards promotion.
• A two-week October half-term.
• The chance to perform on a wide stage through our proud membership of the Pioneer Educational Trust.

In line with the values to invest and collaborate, Pioneer Educational Trust provides additional time for professional development and collaborative working in the form of CPDL Wednesdays. On these days, the pupils finish their school day one hour earlier to facilitate two hours of back-to-back learning and team work for all staff, teaching and non-teaching. During this time, colleagues have time to produce collaborative planning, moderate, share best practice as well as receive formalised programmes of CPDL. 

The school offers free refreshments to staff during the school day. The Trust also provides an Employee Assistance Programme to all staff within the Trust Schools. Through this, staff can access support and advice on any number of things such as wellbeing, work-related issues, housing, family, financial and legal support. There is also an employee benefit scheme which offers savings and discounts across a number of well-known retailers and services. Staff across the Trust can also receive a free, annual flu vaccination. The Trustees are also active in recognising years of service for staff. Service is designed to reward loyalty to the school and recognises those who have accrued between 3 and 30 years of service.

Our ethos is to ‘recruit for attitude, train for skill’! Pioneer Educational Trust seeks to invest intelligently, inspire collaboration and pioneer so that all learners in our family of schools have equal access to an outstanding education. Our mission is grounded on four core values which our schools embrace:

• we pioneer: by preparing the way for others to follow, we transcend barriers through aspiration, merit and risk. Pioneer engenders determination, commitment and responsibility to better society through education and learning, never accepting mediocrity
• we inspire collaboration: we believe in working in partnership. In a culture of high trust and intelligent risk-taking, collaboration exists at all levels and between all stakeholders
• we invest intelligently: by providing high-quality professional development for all staff and a positive and enriching work environment. We provide high support and challenge that enables all colleagues to flourish
• we consciously liberate: providing equal access to an exceptional education to all is central to the aims of the trust. The trust champions the vulnerable and disadvantaged, breaking down barriers to learning and preparing all children and young people for adulthood. We drive equality, celebrate diversity and promote equity, inclusion and belonging.

We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more innovative, more creative and gets better results. We want our workforce to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our workplace to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

This means that when we are recruiting, we actively seek to reach a diverse pool of candidates. It also means that we are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful. 

We welcome applications from disabled and ethnic minority backgrounds as they are currently under-represented throughout Pioneer Educational Trust. We also welcome applications from, LGB and Trans and non-binary candidates.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we commit to employing disabled people by offering an interview to all disabled candidates who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role as set out in our job descriptions and person specifications.

We are a Flexible Working Ambassador MAT and Schools for the Department for Education, we are happy to discuss any flexible working requests with you.

Pioneer Educational Trust reserves the right to interview for all positions as suitable applications are received.

CVs on their own will not be accepted.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This post is subject to satisfactory references, Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check (previously CRB check), and evidence of essential qualifications and proof of legal working in accordance with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996.