Acting Head of English
River Academy, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 8EQ15 days remaining to apply
Start date details
April 2027
Closing date
27 November 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
9 November 2026
Job details
Job role
- Teacher or lecturer
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Subject
- English
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Fixed term
Full time equivalent salary
- £34,069.00 - £52,835.00 Annually (FTE) MPR/UPR based on experience , plus a TLR 1A allowance whilst acting HOD. This will drop to a TLR2B allowance when/if moving to 2nd in Dept.
Acting Head of English job summary
River Academy opened in September 2024 with 180 students and seven students in its resource base. From September 2026, student numbers will increase again as the school welcomes its next cohort of Year 7 students. The school is currently oversubscribed, with waiting lists in all year groups, and expects continued high demand for September 2026.
You will join a strong and committed school team, contributing to the delivery of clear routines and the setting of expectations in line with the River Way.
River Academy has a strong focus on calm, purposeful learning environments. Classrooms are quiet, corridors are calm. Students are expected to demonstrate good manners, strong oracy skills, and high standards of personal and academic presentation. Reflecting this focus on consistency and high expectations, River Academy is ranked in the highest decile across all DfE attendance measures, and Sparx homework completion rates consistently exceed 98%.
River Academy is seeking an exceptional Curriculum Leader of English to lead our English department for a maternity cover for two terms and drive excellence in teaching, learning and student achievement. This is an exciting opportunity for a talented practitioner with a passion for literacy, curriculum innovation and developing others to make a significant impact within a growing and ambitious school.
As Curriculum Leader of English, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for the department, ensuring that all students receive an outstanding English education. You will work closely with senior leaders and colleagues to develop an ambitious, knowledge-rich curriculum, promote high-quality teaching and learning, and secure excellent outcomes for all learners.
Key responsibilities include:
Leading and developing an innovative and engaging English curriculum.
Driving high standards of teaching, learning and assessment across the department.
Monitoring and analysing student progress and implementing effective intervention strategies.
Supporting, coaching and developing colleagues to achieve their full potential.
Promoting a culture of high expectations, inclusion and academic excellence.
Contributing to the wider strategic development of the school and Trust.
About you
We are looking for a candidate who:
Holds Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a degree in English or a related subject
Has a strong track record of excellent classroom practice and improving student outcomes.
Demonstrates excellent subject knowledge and a passion for English.
Has experience of curriculum development, assessment and leading improvement initiatives.
Can motivate, inspire and support colleagues through effective leadership and collaboration.
Shares our commitment to high expectations, inclusion and continuous improvement.
About Maiden Erlegh Trust
Maiden Erlegh Trust is a growing community of schools across Berkshire and Oxfordshire, working together to deliver the best possible education for every child and young person. With around 800staff and 5,000 students across nine schools, including primary, secondary, special, and alternative provision, we are proud of the diversity that shapes our expertise.
We Aim High, Be Inclusive, and Work Together. These values drive our focus on high-quality education for all, through collaboration, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
Through the Maiden Erlegh Institute, colleagues access high-quality professional learning at every stage of their career, supported by mentoring, leadership opportunities, and our annual MET Staff Conference—a day that unites our whole team in sharing best practice and learning.
Joining our Trust means being part of a community that invests in people and values expertise; it is about playing a direct role in shaping the lives and outcomes of young people.
You can learn more about working with us and hear from colleagues across our Trust by clicking here. to visit our website.
About the School
River Academy is a purpose-built secondary school serving the growing need for school places in the Reading area. Located on Richfield Avenue, the site includes specialist teaching facilities across the curriculum, including a hall, activity studio, learning resource centre, drama studio and sports studio. Classrooms are fully equipped with interactive screens and visualisers.
The school has high expectations for all students, with a clear focus on academic excellence and participation. When fully open, River Academy will serve students of all abilities and backgrounds, alongside an additional resource base for students with moderate learning difficulties.
The school also offers a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities through its after-school Electives programme, available to all students.
To learn more about River Academy, please visit the school website: www.river-academy.co.uk
Benefits
Further information about working at Maiden Erlegh Trust can be found on our website here. Staff wellbeing and professional development are central to how we work, and colleagues across our Trust benefit from a range of opportunities and schemes designed to recognise their contribution and support their growth.
Pension Scheme: Generous employer contributions, with auto-enrolment into either the Teachers Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme, both Career Average Earning Schemes.
Annual Leave: We offer a generous holiday entitlement, which increases with length of service.
ME Day: Colleagues may request one additional day’s leave each year to attend a special personal event, such as a child’s sports day or graduation, or a family celebration.
Professional Development: We offer a comprehensive programme of professional learning through the Maiden Erlegh Institute, including opportunities to both attend and deliver CPD. Colleagues also take part in our annual Conference, a full day of workshops, networking and learning for all staff.
Colleagues can also access a range of professional development opportunities using Apprenticeship Levy funding, and benefit from professional development networks.
Hybrid Working: For eligible roles, we support a flexible approach to working arrangements, balancing remote and office-based work where appropriate.
Perkbox: Colleagues have access to Perkbox, which offers a wide range of discounts and wellness resources and receive 25 Perk points each month which can be exchanged for goods and services.
Wellbeing and Health: Free flu vaccinations are offered to all staff, and free eye tests are provided to those who are eligible.
Employee Assistance Programme: Incorporating discount vouchers, access to 24/7 support and more.
Mental Health First Aid support.
Recognition and Community: We regularly celebrate staff achievements, milestones and contributions across our schools, reinforcing a strong sense of belonging within the #TeamMET community.
Employee Referral Scheme.
Working for our Trust means contributing to something larger by supporting the education and life chances of children and young people every day.
Additional Information
If you believe this is an environment where you can thrive, develop and make a meaningful contribution to the future of our Trust and its schools, please contact recruitment@maidenerleghtrust.org for an informal discussion.
Applicants are encouraged to apply early as we reserve the right to close the advert and interview at any time.
Maiden Erlegh Trust is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.
Further information about the job
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.
Applying for the job
This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About River Academy
- Organisation type
- Free School, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- Size
- 373 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Website
- River Academy website
School location
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