Faculty Leader - English
Whickham School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE16 5AR24 days remaining to apply
Start date details
September 2026
Closing date
2 March 2026 at 9am
Date listed
6 February 2026
Job details
Job role
- Head of department or curriculum
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
Subject
- English
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- Leadership Scale L9-L12
What skills and experience we're looking for
You are an experienced and passionate English teacher with a proven track record of strong pupil outcomes. You have:
Essential:
Qualified Teacher Status and a degree in English or related subject
Successful secondary teaching experience with evidence of excellent student progress and outcomes
Leadership experience (formal or informal) with a commitment to continued growth
The ability to teach confidently across KS3-KS5
Strong understanding of curriculum development, assessment and data analysis
A passion for developing others and seeing them succeed
Evidence-based practice grounded in research and reflection
Desirable:
Experience leading a team or department
Experience of examination marking
Understanding of collaborative planning approaches
Track record of improving departmental performance
Your personal qualities:
You understand that great teaching is built on relationships, high expectations, and relentless focus on progress
You're reflective, solution-focused and committed to continuous improvement
You can inspire and motivate both students and staff
You're committed to upholding our school values and creating an inclusive learning environment
What the school offers its staff
What makes Whickham School special?
Whilst we are a high-performing school (Progress 8 of +0.26 in 2024 and 85% achieving grade 4+ in English in 2025), we are about much more than our academic performance. We are a community that values all of our stakeholders, recognising that our staff make the difference for our pupils. We therefore invest in our staff in a number of ways.
We support work-life balance in the following ways
Reduced teaching hours to support planning and professional development
Dedicated collaborative planning time – at least one hour every fortnight for each teacher to meet with their subject team to talk through upcoming learning episodes
Flexible approach to work-life balance considerations
Access to fitness facilities outside school hours
We invest in your growth
Join our established Faculty Leadership Group to shape whole-school practice
Meaningful leadership development opportunities, including an annual opportunity to be seconded to the Leadership Team as an Associate Assistant Headteacher
Evidence-based CPD that makes a real difference to your practice
Coaching and mentoring support to help you thrive
Access to a range of internal leadership programmes and external qualifications
The practical benefits:
Salary sacrifice schemes including bicycle and electric vehicle leasing
Higher priority for your children's admission to our heavily oversubscribed school
Modern facilities with the latest display technology in every classroom
Supportive, collaborative staff community
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
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Whickham School
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1721 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Whickham School website
- Email address
- recruitment@whickhamschool.org
- Phone number
- 0191 4960026
Whickham School is a large and successful school in Gateshead with over 1700 students including approximately 350 in our high performing sixth form.
Demand for student places is strong and the school is regularly oversubscribed. Students are organised into year groups whilst eight faculties deliver the school curriculum. The Sixth Form, which has its own dedicated facility, is an increasingly popular choice of students from all over the local area.
In January 2020 many faculties moved into a brand new, state of the art, STEAMS themed building. The stunning four storey building houses Science, Technology (plus Business and IT), Engineering, Art, Maths and Sport.
The Leadership Team meet weekly and share responsibility for policy generation, decision making, planning and the general wellbeing of the school. The relevant governing body committee is involved in strategic planning and policies from the onset. Faculty and Year groups meet every two weeks to discuss strategic issues
Arranging a visit to Whickham School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email recruitment@whickhamschool.org.
School location
Similar jobs nearby
Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed
Find more school jobs in Newcastle Upon Tyne and Tyne and Wear