Head of English
Cottenham Village College, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB24 8UA8 days remaining to apply
Start date details
April or September 2026
Closing date
8 February 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
26 January 2026
Job details
Job role
- Head of department or curriculum
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £33,235.00 - £52,064.00 Annually (FTE) MPS1-UPS3 (currently £33,235-£52,064 plus TLR2F (currently £8,610)
Head of English job summary
Head of English
Cottenham Village College
Salary: MPS/UPS + TLR 2F
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: 8th February 2026 (early applications encouraged)
Cottenham Village College (CVC) is a high-achieving, vibrant, and inclusive school committed to delivering an exceptional education for all students. With a strong culture of collaboration, high expectations, and a knowledge-rich curriculum, CVC is a place where both staff and students thrive. We are proud of our supportive community, our investment in staff development, and our determination to ensure every student achieves academic excellence.
Are you committed to ensuring every student achieves excellent progress, including those who may find English challenging?
Do you actively contribute to a collaborative culture where planning and resources are shared?
The RoleWe are seeking an inspiring, knowledgeable, and forward-thinking Head of English to lead our successful English department. This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious teacher to take on a significant leadership role and shape the future direction of English across the school.
As Head of English, you will:
- Lead, manage, and develop the English department.
- Be accountable for raising standards of student attainment and achievement within English.
- Monitor, track, and support student progress to ensure high-quality teaching and learning.
- Lead, train, support, and manage colleagues within the English team.
- Ensure the provision of an effective, engaging, and knowledge-rich English curriculum.
- Contribute to whole-school improvement and champion excellence in literacy.
We are looking for a committed and dynamic leader who:
- Has a strong track record of excellent English teaching.
- Demonstrates passion, expertise, and a clear vision for a high-quality English curriculum.
- Can motivate, support, and develop others within the department.
- Is committed to raising achievement and securing outstanding outcomes for all students.
- Shows excellent communication, organisation, and interpersonal skills.
- Is reflective, resilient, and engaged in ongoing professional learning.
We offer a working environment where teachers are trusted, supported, and developed. You’ll benefit from:
- A collaborative department with shared planning and fully resourced schemes of work
- A feedback-focused culture—no excessive marking
- Disruption-free classrooms and a clear, consistent behaviour system
- Instructional coaching rather than formal graded observations
- Opportunities to teach A-Level English (or adapt if needed)
- Access to NPQs and a clearly defined progression pathway
- Generous CPD and career development across the Astrea Cambridgeshire region
- Teachers’ Pension Scheme, Employee Assistance Programme, and free on-site parking
Interested in Applying?
If you are passionate about education, looking for a fresh opportunity, or simply want to make a positive impact, we would love to hear from you. Take a look at the job description and candidate pack to find out more about the role and how to apply or contact our recruitment team at recruitment@astreaacademytrust.org.
Closing Date:
The closing date for applications is 8th February 2026.
Commitment to Safeguarding and EDI:
Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to satisfactory background checks, including references and an enhanced DBS check. We value diversity and welcome applications from underrepresented groups. As a Disability Confident employer, we provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to ensure all candidates can fully demonstrate their abilities.
In line with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 and the statutory Code of Practice, the Trust requires all public-facing post holders to demonstrate fluent English. Within a school setting, this applies to all roles that involve direct or indirect interaction with pupils, parents, or members of the public.
Flexible Interview Dates:
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, so don't miss out on this exciting opportunity. Please note that interview dates are flexible, and the academy reserves the right to interview shortlisted candidates during the application window.
Ready to Make a Difference?
If you're ready to take the next step in your career and contribute to our dynamic and forward-thinking team, apply today and be a part of our mission to create a positive impact!
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and staff. Every child should feel safe and should be protected from any form of child abuse. We have robust policies and procedures that support our commitment to Safeguarding, this includes our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. The in-house Safeguarding teams at each Academy work in partnership with families and safeguarding partners to ensure the safety of children is paramount. We are committed to ensuring that all staff access regular, contextual safeguarding training to meet the needs of the local community.
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 Cottenham Village College
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 877 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Cottenham Village College website
Welcome to Cottenham Village College, part of the Astrea Academy Trust, a highly-successful 11-16 mixed academy situated close to the beautiful city of Cambridge; here you will find hard-working, well-behaved students and friendly, dedicated staff who are committed to a fully inclusive, comprehensive education.
The college was established in 1963, one of several village colleges in the region that were the inspiration of educational pioneer Henry Morris, who believed that the school should be at the heart of its community and that education should be a lifelong process. This vision of a school that serves and involves its whole community, that fosters high aspirations and inspires a love of learning is as central to our ethos today as it was when it opened.
Through a highly-ambitious curriculum at CVC, we aim to foster students’ curiosity, unlock their potential and raise their aspirations, as well as ensure that students achieve high levels of attainment that will open doors for their future. A stimulating and broad curriculum also places students in a strong position to question and debate the world around them, making them intellectually resilient and prepares them for citizenship in a democratic society. We believe this is a right of all students and one which is liberating and empowering.
We are equally proud of the wider curricular provision at CVC, both in formal lessons and outside the classroom. Our extensive range of extra-curricular activities, including sports, music, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme and residential trips, help to give all students a fully-rounded education and creates opportunity for their personal, as well as their academic, growth.
Cottenham Village College is a friendly, positive and exciting place to work and to learn and we take great pride in the high standards our students consistently achieve. We have very high expectations of all members of the College community and provide an inclusive, friendly and supportive environment in which everyone can thrive and achieve. Students leave as happy, well-qualified and well-motivated individuals who go on to excel in local sixth forms, colleges, universities and the wider world.
I hope you find the information on the school’s website useful. If there is anything you cannot find, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you wish to visit the school to see it for yourself, please contact the school and we would be delighted to show you around.
Zoe Andrews, Principal
School location
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