12 days remaining to apply

  • Start date details

    September 2026

  • Closing date

    4 May 2026 at 11:59pm

  • Date listed

    21 April 2026

Job details

Job role

  • Teacher

Visa sponsorship

Visas cannot be sponsored

Subject

English

Working pattern

Full time

Contract type

Fixed term

Full-time equivalent salary

£32,916.00 - £51,048.00 Annually (Actual) MPR/UPR based on experience.

Classroom Teacher of English - Maternity Cover job summary

We are seeking to appoint a Classroom Teacher of English to join Maiden Erlegh Trust on a fixed term maternity cover basis. This role offers the opportunity to deliver highly effective teaching within a collaborative Trust environment, ensuring that all students make strong progress, achieve high academic standards and experience a safe, purposeful and ambitious learning environment.

You will be responsible for planning and delivering engaging English lessons across your allocated timetable, contributing to curriculum development and supporting students to achieve their full potential. You will also take on tutor responsibilities and play a key role in supporting student wellbeing, behaviour and academic progress.

Key responsibilities

  • Plan, resource and deliver highly effective English lessons in line with Trust frameworks and schemes of work
  • Inspire and motivate students to engage positively in their learning and achieve high academic standards
  • Use assessment effectively to monitor progress, inform planning and close attainment gaps
  • Maintain high standards of behaviour for learning and contribute to a safe and purposeful classroom environment
  • Act as a form tutor, supporting students’ personal development, attendance and wellbeing
  • Work collaboratively with colleagues, parents and carers to support student progress
  • Contribute to curriculum enrichment, including trips, visits and wider learning opportunities
  • Uphold Trust policies including safeguarding, behaviour, assessment and reporting requirements
  • Participate fully in appraisal, professional development and wider school life

The ideal candidate

  • Holds Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a relevant degree
  • Has strong subject knowledge in English and a passion for teaching the subject
  • Demonstrates the ability to deliver high-quality teaching and secure strong student outcomes
  • Is committed to inclusion and ensuring all students, including those with SEND and disadvantaged students, achieve their potential
  • Has effective behaviour management skills and the ability to create a positive learning environment
  • Communicates effectively with students, colleagues and parents
  • Is organised, reflective and committed to continuous professional development
  • Is willing to contribute to the wider life of the school and Trust

Maiden Erlegh School in Reading (MER)

Maiden Erlegh School in Reading is an ambitious, over-subscribed 11-16 secondary school in an urban context. The school is as committed to staff and student wellbeing as it is to delivering high-quality education.

Staff voice is central to shaping change and wellbeing priorities. The school benefits from excellent modern facilities and is proud of its vibrant, diverse student body who work hard and have high aspirations. Click here to visit the school website

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 800 staff 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.

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

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.
Visas cannot be sponsored.
If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

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 Maiden Erlegh School in Reading

School type
Free School, ages 11 to 16
Education phase
Secondary school
School size
885 pupils enrolled
Age range
11 to 16
Ofsted report
View Ofsted report

Maiden Erlegh School in Reading is an ambitious, over-subscribed 11-16 secondary school in an urban context which is as committed to the welfare of students and staff as it is our high quality education. Our school benefits from excellent, modern facilities and teaching spaces and we are very proud of our vibrant, diverse and engaging students who work hard and have high aspirations.

We have a highly effective team of tenacious, optimistic and talented staff , supported by an experienced leadership team.

Professional development is a strength here, thanks to our Teaching School. We offer a flexible CPD programme which staff can tailor to their own needs which includes coaching and training for new entrants to the profession and to support career returners. We are very happy to discuss flexible working arrangements including part-time working and job-sharing.

The school is a part of the Maiden Erlegh Trust which offers a range of career opportunities in our vibrant and successful schools. We have a proven track record of supporting ambitious staff to middle and senior leadership posts and our can offer Specialist Leader of Education and school improvement opportunities to the right candidates

School location

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