Deputy Head of English

City of Derby Academy, Derby, Derbyshire, DE24 3AR

4 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  September 2025

• Closing date

  20 May 2025 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  15 May 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • Head of year or phase
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: MPS/UPS £31,650 - £49,084 plus TLR 2.2 £5,650

Deputy Head of English job summary

PURPOSE OF THE POST:

• Assist the leading, managing and developing of English courses across all specific year groups;
• Accountable for the attainment and progress of all students and discrete groups of learners, including Eligible, EAL and SEND students, across all year groups within department;
• Assist with monitoring and supporting student progress within English, in conjunction with the Head of Department;
• Effectively assist with the management and development within the curriculum areas, including human resources;
• Assist with the monitoring, developing and enhancing the teaching practice of others;
• Promote the development of students' academic, moral, social, personal and cultural education through the consistent and fair implementation of the academy’s values and expectations;
• Contribute to the provision of an appropriately broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum for students studying across all specific year groups, in accordance with the aims of the school and the curricular policies determined by the QEGSMAT, Local Governing Body and Headteacher;
• Play a full part in the life of the school community, to support its distinctive ethos and to encourage and ensure staff and students follow this example;
• Help to lead the department and school in fostering an attitude of positivity towards English

 

MAIN DUTIES

Teaching Duties

• Undertake an appropriate programme of teaching in accordance with the duties of a teacher (Ref: Job Description – Teacher);
• Engage actively in continuing professional development and the appraisal process.

 

Pastoral Duties

• Be a Form Tutor and to carry out the duties associated with that role as outlined in the generic Teacher’s Job Description, including supporting the Head of Year in monitoring and maintaining student progress, behaviour and attendance;
• Contribute to PSHE and Character Education within the Academy’s Wellbeing framework;
• Ensure behaviour and rewards are implemented in the curriculum area so that effective learning can take place;
• Support the Emergency Call Out and Duty rotas as appropriate;
• Liaise with Progress Leaders and monitor positives and negatives, lesson removal and Emergency call out logs within the curriculum area and identify where support is required in order to maintain behaviour standards.

 

Curriculum and Assessment

• Assist with the development and delivery of the curriculum across all year groups, including the development of appropriate schemes of work, resources, and departmental guidance documents relating to teaching, learning and assessment;
• Ensure continuity of student learning and progress within the curriculum within a linear assessment model across all specific year groups, including the review and selection of appropriate exam boards and specifications;
• Develop and enhance appropriate assessments and criteria linked to the subject-specific knowledge, skills and understanding expected of students to facilitate their progress;
• Keep up to date with and respond to national, regional and local initiatives within the curriculum, including changes associated with new exam specification content and assessment;
• Assist with the development and implementation of whole-school initiatives and strategies, including literacy and numeracy, across the curriculum. 

Staff Deployment, Development and Recruitment

• Assist with the day-to-day management, timetabling and deployment of staff within the designated curriculum area;
• Act as a positive role model, promote teamwork and motivate staff to ensure effective working relations;
• Ensure the efficient and effective deployment of support staff, cover supervisors and supply within the curriculum area, ensuring that appropriate cover is set in the during staff absence;
• Work with the member of the Leadership Team and Head of Department to be responsible for the school calendar to ensure curricular events are calendared and to arrange appropriate cover;
• Manage the performance of staff and conduct appraisal reviews within the designated curriculum area in accordance with academy guidelines;
• Work with the Leadership Team Line Manager and Head of Department to ensure that staff development needs are identified and that appropriate programmes are designed to meet such needs;
• Participate in the school’s Initial Teacher Training programme as and when applicable.
• Participate in the interview process for teaching posts when required and to ensure effective induction of new staff in line with academy procedures; 

Student Progress Monitoring and Reporting

• Monitor the progress made by all students and discrete groups of learners, including Eligible, EAL and SEND students, across all specific year groups within English using whole-school and departmental data tracking systems;
• Coordinate with the Head of Department and colleagues within the curriculum area in identifying underachieving students and the implementation of appropriate mentoring/intervention programmes as required;
• Ensure that reporting deadlines are met by all colleagues within the curriculum area, and that where students are not making expected progress, they and their parents receive clear information on how they can improve;
• Review student “Flight Paths” after every assessment period and in light of amendments to national performance data as appropriate;
• Liaise with the Head of Department and colleagues within the curriculum area and the Leadership Team Line Manager before making amendments to student “Flight Paths”; 
• Liaise with the SENCO and their team in order to ensure that the specific needs of SEND students within the curriculum area are being met, and to ensure effective transition between all specific year groups.
• Assist with producing reports on external examination performance for the Leadership Team and Local Governing Body compared to internal projections and national performance data e.g. A8 Estimates, RAISE Online, ALPS and other comparative data sets;
• Assist with producing reports for the Leadership Team and Local Governing Body on the progress being made by students currently on roll.

 Quality Assurance

• Establish departmental expectations relating to teaching, learning and assessment practice, marking and feedback, and homework in accordance with whole-school standards and expectations;
• Assist with monitoring the implementation of whole-school and departmental expectations and the quality of teaching, learning and assessment through lesson observations/learning walks, work scrutinies, student interviews, surveys and parental feedback;
• Identify areas of effective practice to be shared within the curriculum area, and areas of practice that require development or urgent action;
• Complete self-evaluation reports (SEF) for the Leadership Team and Local Governing Body relating to the quality of teaching, learning and assessment, external examination performance and the progress being made by students currently on roll as appropriate;
• Produce departmental improvement and action plans (DIP/DAP) based upon departmental self-evaluation to develop and enhance the curriculum, quality of teaching, learning and assessment and/or to improve student progress as appropriate;
• Participate in and contribute to whole-school quality assurance procedures, e.g. lesson observations beyond the curriculum area, as appropriate;
• Assist with producing reports for the Leadership Team and Local Governing Body on the impact of departmental improvement and action plans (DIP/DAP) and mentoring/intervention programmes and as appropriate. 

Communications and Marketing

• Work with colleagues to formulate aims, objectives and strategic plans for all aspects of the curriculum area which have coherence and relevance to the needs of students and to the aims, objectives and strategic plans of the academy;
• Ensure effective communication/consultation as appropriate with all stakeholders including students, parents, colleagues, Local Governors;
• Represent the curriculum area’s views and interests, and to provide updates relating to curriculum development, student performance and the quality of teaching, learning and assessment at leadership meetings, Local Governor’s meetings and other relevant forums.
• Assist with the development of effective curriculum links with partner schools and the community, attending where necessary liaison events in partner schools, and the effective promotion of English at Open Days/Evenings and other events;

 

Other Deputy Head of English duties

• Implement whole-school policies and procedures (e.g. Equal Opportunities), initiatives and aspects of the School Improvement Plan relevant to the curriculum area;
• Ensure that Health and Safety policies and practices, including Risk Assessments, throughout the curriculum area are in line with statutory requirements and are updated where necessary;
• Assist with leading and managing the business planning function of all aspects of the curriculum area, and to ensure that the planning activities of the curriculum area reflect the needs of students within the curriculum area, including School Improvement Plan/Departmental Improvement Plan and the aims and objectives of the academy;
• Liaise regularly with the Head of Department to lead and manage the business planning function of all aspects of English.
• Liaise with the Leadership Team and/or Exams Officer to maintain accreditation with the relevant examination and validating bodies;
• Assist with the management of the available resources of space, staff, money and equipment efficiently within the limits, guidelines and procedures laid down; including deploying the curriculum area budget, acting as a cost centre holder, requisitioning, organising and maintaining equipment and stock, and keeping appropriate records.

 

Please note:

• Employees will be expected to comply with any reasonable request from their Line Manager to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified in this job description.

Why work for us?

•  At QEGSMAT, we value the hard work and dedication of our team members, and as such we believe that progression should be a simple process. That’s why we are proud to offer an Automatic Pay Review program, rather than the traditional annual pay and performance review, as part of our comprehensive benefits package.
• Continual access to CPD opportunities. QEGSMAT works with a large number of organisations to develop staff to fulfil their aspirations and potential. We are committed to providing first-rate training and development to all our staff within this evolving Trust.
• We are committed to promoting equality, challenging discrimination, and developing community cohesion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.
• All staff have access to our Employee Assistance Programme, which provides confidential, independent and unbiased information and guidance 24/7. This can also include bespoke counselling sessions for staff if needed.
• All roles are subject to nationally agreed terms and conditions of service.
• Teacher Pension Scheme employer contributions of 28.68%
• Family friendly policies
• Access to Flu Vaccines
• Opportunity to work flexibly
• Access to 750+ discounts on everyday essentials via our benefits package with Vivup

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 are not accepted.

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.

About City of Derby Academy

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 16
• Education phase: Secondary
• School size: 955 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: City of Derby Academy website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/city-of-derby-academy-derby

At the City of Derby Academy, we believe that academic outcomes are important and our expectation is that we will achieve national progress standards. However, we do not measure the success of our students by their examination results alone. Students access a balanced curriculum and we continually strive to develop characteristics such as self-confidence, self-belief and self-esteem so our students are fully prepared for life in modern Britain.

We believe that when the school, parents/carers and students share high expectations every child will achieve great things. This includes having an excellent attitude centred on respect, high standards of appearance, good manners, full attendance and punctuality.

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