Head of Department - MFL
Leigh Academy Rainham, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 8GSThis job expired on 15 April 2024 – see similar jobs
Start date details
September 2024
Closing date
15 April 2024 at 3:21pm
Date listed
5 March 2024
Job details
Job role
- Head of department or curriculum
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4
Subject
- Languages
Working pattern
- Full time: Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- MPS/UPS commensurate with experience + TLR2a £3,409 + R&R bonus
What skills and experience we're looking for
We know that exceptional MFL practitioners are in high demand which is why we are offering a recruitment and retention bonus of £2,000 for the right candidate(£1,000 payable upon joining, and £1,000 payable after 1 year's service).
Are you a visionary leader ready to shape the future of language education? We are seeking an exceptional Head of Languages to drive our aspirational curriculum, where languages are not just taught but experienced. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring a continuous and enriching linguistic journey for students from their starting point in year 7 guiding them through to mastery at GCSE and beyond.
Working in a brand new school is a unique and rare opportunity and we are seeking a highly skilled Head of Department - MFL with a can-do ethos, drive, grit and boundless enthusiasm. MFL is a compulsory subject until year 11 so we are seeking someone with the knowledge and understanding of second language acquisition to help all students succeed.
It is essential that our Head of MFL is a highly effective teacher with an exceptional understanding of curriculum design, is supportive of others and openly shares best practice, modeling this with their growing team. They need to embrace a forward-thinking approach to both curriculum intent and implementation, with carefully sequenced high-quality learning experiences for our students.
The ideal candidate will have a track record of excellent outcomes and an awareness of the latest MFL pedagogy, cognitive science and second language acquisition to continue to challenge our students, making us a beacon for MFL teaching in the UK. The MFL team currently consists of 2 staff and one Assistant Principal who all teach French and Spanish. The successful candidate will play a fundamental role in managing this growth and the recruitment process going forward.
This post would suit an experienced and ambitious subject specialist who is sympathetic to challenging perceived orthodoxy and who wants to play a leading role in continuing to build a very high-performing department.
What we are offering:
- A salary commensurate with the profile of the post
- Bespoke CPD with mentoring and coaching opportunities
- The opportunity to work laterally across a number of Leigh Academies Trust schools to benchmark best practice and to be involved in teaching and learning innovation
We’d like to hear from candidates who are:
- An excellent teacher who is passionate about learning and has strong subject knowledge
- Able to maintain a positive growth mindset despite challenges they may face
- Collaborative, able to build strong professional relationships
- Able to motivate and inspire students and staff to achieve their full potential
- Energetic and have a can-do attitude
- Confident and has strong career aspirations
- Committed to safeguarding and the happiness and wellbeing of everyone at the Academy
- Prepared to be involved in leading co-curricular activities either within or outside of their teaching subject
- Committed to accessing the support from the Trust to improve their digital skills in preparation for becoming Level 1 Certified Google Educators
This is a permanent opportunity offering a MPS/UPS commensurate with experience.
What the school offers its staff
About Leigh Academy Rainham:In September 2021, we opened our doors to the 180 founding students of our co educational comprehensive school for 11-18 year olds. Already oversubscribed, our new school is firmly set to be a beacon of excellence for secondary education in Medway. The wellbeing and success of each individual child is at the heart of everything and we are driven by the belief that it is our role to ensure all pupils develop an appreciation of the limitless possibilities ahead of them. Every learner is entitled to an enriching, varied and personalised education; delivered through a broad and balanced curriculum that provides challenge, irrespective of need, starting point or background. It is our ambition that in our highly inclusive setting, all our students will flourish, becoming inquiring, compassionate and culturally aware young adults. We will work together to embed the essential skills, knowledge and attributes needed to be highly successful in achieving their own personal goals, as caring members of our community and as leaders in tomorrow’s world.
Our strong learning community works together and shares the value of collaboration; every member of our academy family works together to achieve success, cultivating a strong sense of belonging. Our belief in human-scale education, delivered through our college model, ensures every one of our students is known and valued. Strong pastoral care is at the heart of our academy and we place great importance on building strong partnerships with parents and carers.
Working in a brand new school is a unique opportunity. A flexible approach with a can-do ethos is required, as is drive, grit and boundless enthusiasm. We will be looking to recruit a staff body that has a multitude of talents to enable us to provide a rich academic and co-curricular offer from the outset and look forward to hearing what additional skills, talents and interests you could bring to a role at the Academy. A sense of humour is also essential!
Further details about the role
Being part of Leigh Academies Trust:As of 1st April 2024, our Trust comprises 32 geographically organised academies (16 secondaries, 14 primaries and 2 special) educating more than 20,000 students and employing 3,000 talented staff. Nearly 40% of our academies are judged outstanding overall by Ofsted, versus 15% nationally. The Trust is establishing four ‘clusters’ of academies: North Kent; Central Kent; South East London; Medway. In addition, the Trust is responsible for one of the region’s biggest initial teaching training organisations, a large teaching school hub and is an accredited apprenticeship provider.Our future plans are found in our Vision 2030 document available on our website.
As part of Leigh Academies Trust, you will have ample opportunity to collaborate with your peers both within the academy and across the whole Trust. This is an important part of our vision as we know through experience that we perform better when we work together. You are supported to undertake regular self-development to continue your professional development and hopefully progress further within the organisation.
Click here to view the benefits available to all LAT employees from day one.
Our commitment to safeguarding:Leigh Academies Trust and all of our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair, robust and consistent recruitment process across all academies and business units which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates - you can read more about this in our Recruitment Guidance. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.
Our commitment to equality and diversity:As a Trust, we are passionate about diversity and recognise that as individuals, we all bring something unique to the role regardless of any protected characteristics which is why we treat all of our people equally, without compromise. We are committed to providing equality and fairness throughout our recruitment and employment practices and not discriminating on any grounds.
Based on the quality and quantity of applications received, Leigh Academies Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy sooner than the specified closing date.Applicants will be notified of this where possible. Therefore, early applications are encouraged.
Commitment to safeguarding
Our commitment to safeguarding: Leigh Academies Trust and all of our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair, robust, consistent recruitment process across all academies and business units which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. Including online checks for shortlisted candidates - you can read more about this in our Recruitment Guidance. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.
Upload additional documents
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About Leigh Academy Rainham
- School type
- Free School, ages 11 to 19
- Education phase
- View all Secondaryjobs
- School size
- 405 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report (opens in new tab)
- School website
- Leigh Academy Rainham website (opens in new tab)
- Email address
- charlotte.herberts@latrust.org.uk
In September 2021, we opened our doors to the 180 founding students of our co educational comprehensive school for 11-18 year olds. Already oversubscribed, our new school is firmly set to be a beacon of excellence for secondary education in Medway. The wellbeing and success of each individual child is at the heart of everything and we are driven by the belief that it is our role to ensure all pupils develop an appreciation of the limitless possibilities ahead of them. Every learner is entitled to an enriching, varied and personalised education; delivered through a broad and balanced curriculum that provides challenge, irrespective of need, starting point or background. It is our ambition that in our highly inclusive setting, all our students will flourish, becoming inquiring, compassionate and culturally aware young adults. We will work together to embed the essential skills, knowledge and attributes needed to be highly successful in achieving their own personal goals, as caring members of our community and as leaders in tomorrow’s world.
Our strong learning community works together and shares the value of collaboration; every member of our academy family works together to achieve success, cultivating a strong sense of belonging. Our belief in human-scale education, delivered through our college model, ensures every one of our students is known and valued. Strong pastoral care is at the heart of our academy and we place great importance on building strong partnerships with parents and carers.
Working in a brand new school is a unique opportunity. A flexible approach with a can-do ethos is required, as is drive, grit and boundless enthusiasm. We will be looking to recruit a staff body that has a multitude of talents to enable us to provide a rich academic and co-curricular offer from the outset and look forward to hearing what additional skills, talents and interests you could bring to a role at the Academy. A sense of humour is also essential!
Arranging a visit to Leigh Academy Rainham
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email charlotte.herberts@latrust.org.uk.
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