Curriculum Leader - MFL

Noel-Baker Academy, Derby, Derbyshire, DE24 0BR

17 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  January 2027

• Closing date

  12 October 2026 at 8am

• Date listed

  25 September 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Other leadership role
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: Leadership Pay Scale L1 - L5 (£53,586 - £59,137)

Curriculum Leader - MFL job summary

About the Role

We are seeking an ambitious, inspiring and highly effective Curriculum Leader of Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) to join the team at Noel Baker Academy. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced teacher and leader with Spanish as their specialist subject, who is passionate about securing excellent outcomes for young people through a high-quality languages curriculum, outstanding teaching and strong departmental leadership.

The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership for the MFL department, ensuring a coherent, ambitious and inclusive curriculum that enables all pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, to achieve their full potential. You will lead on curriculum planning, assessment and quality assurance across MFL, with particular responsibility for the development and delivery of Spanish, using data and evidence to monitor performance, identify areas for improvement and implement effective interventions to raise attainment and progress.

Working closely with senior leaders and colleagues across the Trust, you will support, challenge and develop staff through coaching, mentoring, appraisal and professional development. You will play a key role in driving improvements in teaching and learning across the department, promoting high expectations of behaviour and achievement, and ensuring a culture of continuous improvement.

As Curriculum Leader of MFL, you will also contribute to school improvement planning, self-evaluation activities, transition arrangements, enrichment opportunities and wider academy priorities. You will manage departmental resources effectively, foster positive relationships with pupils, parents and external partners, and promote the Trust's values of Lead, Empower, Achieve and Drive. You will actively champion language learning, promoting cultural awareness and a love of languages through a range of enrichment and extracurricular opportunities.

This role would suit an inspirational middle leader who is committed to inclusive education, has a strong track record of securing positive outcomes for pupils and staff, and is motivated by making a lasting difference to the life chances of young people.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for a skilled, reflective and enthusiastic Curriculum Leader of MFL who can inspire pupils and colleagues alike through high-quality teaching, strong leadership and a relentless focus on improvement. The successful candidate will possess excellent subject knowledge in Modern Foreign Languages, particularly Spanish, strong analytical skills and the ability to lead and develop others effectively.

Hold a degree qualification in a Modern Foreign Language or related subject and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Have Spanish as a specialist subject and the ability to teach Spanish to Key Stage 4 and, ideally, Key Stage 5.

Have a proven record of delivering high-quality teaching and securing strong outcomes for pupils in MFL.

Have experience of leading or coordinating a subject, key stage or team.

Demonstrate strong curriculum, assessment and subject knowledge within Modern Foreign Languages.

Use assessment and performance data effectively to identify priorities and drive improvement.

Be able to coach, mentor and develop colleagues to improve teaching and learning.

Have excellent communication, organisational and leadership skills.

Be committed to high standards of behaviour, achievement and inclusion for all pupils.

Be able to work collaboratively with colleagues, parents, carers and external stakeholders.

Demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding, equality, diversity and ongoing professional development.

Be passionate about promoting language learning, cultural understanding and global awareness.

Have the vision and drive to lead and develop an ambitious MFL curriculum that inspires pupils to succeed.

Why Join Noel Baker Academy

This is an excellent opportunity to join a supportive and values-driven academy where you will make a direct contribution to pupils' achievement, confidence and future success through your leadership of Modern Foreign Languages and the delivery of an ambitious and engaging languages curriculum.

By joining our team, you will benefit from:

Working as part of a committed and collaborative MFL department that is dedicated to delivering high-quality teaching and securing strong outcomes for all pupils.

The opportunity to lead and shape the strategic direction of the MFL curriculum, ensuring pupils develop confidence, fluency and a genuine appreciation of language learning.

A varied and rewarding leadership role where you can inspire both pupils and colleagues, making a tangible difference to teaching, learning, progress and attainment across the department.

The chance to develop innovative curriculum and assessment approaches that promote high standards, inclusion and excellence for all learners.

Opportunities to lead and support colleagues through coaching, mentoring and high-quality professional development, helping to secure continuous improvement within the department.

The opportunity to contribute to intervention programmes, enrichment activities, educational visits and wider curriculum opportunities that broaden pupils' cultural understanding and help them achieve their full potential.

Opportunities to work closely with colleagues across the academy and Trust, sharing best practice and benefiting from extensive professional development and leadership opportunities.

The opportunity to play a key role in preparing young people for further study, employment and life in an increasingly global society through the development of strong communication, linguistic and intercultural skills.

The chance to promote a love of languages and foster curiosity about different cultures, helping pupils become confident, informed and successful global citizens.

This is a role where your passion for Modern Foreign Languages, commitment to excellence and dedication to young people will have a lasting impact every day.

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.

About Noel-Baker Academy

• Organisation type: Academy, ages 11 to 16
• Education phase: Secondary school
• Size: 1230 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Noel-Baker Academy website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/noel-baker-academy

Secondary Academy in Derby

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