Head of English
Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 0SZ25 days remaining to apply
Start date details
September 2026
Closing date
23 February 2026 at 9am
Date listed
28 January 2026
Job details
Job role
- Head of department or curriculum
Visa sponsorship
- Skilled Worker visas can be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
Subject
- English
Working pattern
- Full time: 37.5 hours a week.
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £36,400 - £53,040
Additional allowances
TLR2C - £6,583
What skills and experience we're looking for
Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology is looking for a new Head of English to join the successful and experienced English department. The Head of English is responsible for providing vision and strategic leadership to ensure that the department is managed effectively to the highest educational standards at National, local and school levels.
You will have the opportunity to teach students in Years 9 to11, and join an innovative and highly committed team who support one another to succeed and share a deep interest in professional learning and development. Your teaching will be underpinned by strong schemes of work and assessment and the work of the United Learning subject advisory team.
The English Department
The English Department is a small, dedicated team of three specialists working within a high‑performing STEM school. We teach English from Year 9 to Year 11, delivering the AQA GCSE Language and Literature courses and our strong results reflect both the hard work of our students and the collaborative ethos of the department. Our students are aspirational, motivated, and eager to succeed across all academic disciplines, including English.
At GCSE our students currently study: Power and Conflict Poetry, An Inspector Calls, A Christmas Carol and Macbeth. We have crafted our own Year 9 curriculum, which allows us to introduce different texts while building the skills needed for GCSE success. Year 9 students have 8 hours of lessons across a two-week timetable and at GCSE, students have 9 hours of lessons across the two weeks. All students study for both the Language and Literature GCSEs. As part of a supportive Trust, we also benefit from shared resources and ongoing development opportunities.
Although small, our team has a strong sense of identity. We have 3 specialist teaching rooms. We celebrate creativity, run writing competitions, and create opportunities for students to explore English beyond the syllabus, such as newspaper reporting, debating and public speaking. We have also hosted performances from professional theatre companies.
What the school offers its staff
About CAST
CAST is an inspiring, specialist science academy for young people aged 13-19 years old. As part of United Learning we seek to bring out 'the best in everyone'. We equip our students with the ‘powerful knowledge’ they need to make a success of their lives and the character to become resilient in overcoming obstacles; to responsibly manage themselves; to work independently on things which challenge them and to work with others.
The college offers GCSE, Alevel and T level courses, along with unique opportunities to learn from working scientists, technologists and engineers. Students work instate-of-the-art laboratories and facilities. Learning occurs in innovative and exciting ways, supported by CAST’s unique partnerships with business. CAST therefore gives students a head start into their future careers. Consequently, student results are strong, and students achieved well above national averages in both STEM subjects and English.
We instil a workplace ethos, with a positive impact recognised by Ofsted who stated that ‘the excellent behaviour of students in lessons and around college creates an environment in which it is a joy to teach and study.’
Staff feedback demonstrates to us that CAST is a great community to work in, with a supportive and collaborative culture that is highly valued. Staff have eight training and marking days built into the academic year. There are numerous internal and external development opportunities available to all staff.
United Learning
The school is part of United Learning, a large and growing group of schools aiming to offer a life changing education to children and young people across England. There are many benefits to working as part of United Learning – expert Subject Advisers, supportive Regional Director and best of all over 50 excellent academies that we work with to improve each other. We encourage staff to visit other academies, “steal with pride” and bring the best practice back to our own schools.
As a Group, we can reward our staff better: with good career opportunities, better pay, benefits, and ultimately, the satisfaction of helping children to succeed. We invest in our staff wellbeing. Our academies each have at least eight INSET days per year (with three of those solely dedicated to planning), and an ongoing group-wide wellbeing programme. It's an ethos we call ‘the best in everyone’.
We are working hard to become a more diverse organisation – which is key to our commitment to bringing out the best in everyone. We welcome applications from everyone committed to this ethos and would particularly welcome applications from black and minority ethnic candidates, who are currently under-represented in the Group as a whole. We always appoint on merit, and we are open to discussing flexible working options.
Further information about the job
UnitedLearning is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All positions are subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and shortlisted candidates will be subject to an online check.
Here at United Learning, we are committed to ensuring our employees feel valued and appreciated. Because we are a group, we can reward you better than any school could alone, and this includes your employee benefits.
Commitment to safeguarding
United Learning is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All positions are subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and shortlisted candidates will be subject to an online check.
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 Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology
- School type
- Free School, ages 13 to 19
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 455 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 13 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology website
- Email address
- laura.onyemembenedict@parksidecc.org.uk
Cambridge Academy of Science and Technology forms part of the Cambridge Cluster within United Learning; five schools who work collaboratively to further support our students through the quality of teaching and learning. We work as a team and achieve more, by sharing, than any single school could.
CAST is an inspiring, specialist science academy for young people aged 13-19 years old. As part of United Learning we seek to bring out 'the best in everyone'. We equip our students with the ‘powerful knowledge’ they need to make a success of their lives and the character to become resilient in overcoming obstacles; to responsibly manage themselves; to work independently on things which challenge them and to work with others.
The college offers GCSE, A level and T level courses, along with unique opportunities to learn from working scientists, technologists and engineers.
Students work in state-of-the-art laboratories and facilities. Learning occurs in innovative and exciting ways, supported by CAST’s unique partnerships with business. CAST therefore gives students a head start into their future careers. Consequently, student results are strong, for example in 2022 Attainment 8 was 59.53, Progress 8 +0.62 and students achieved well above national averages in STEM subjects with half of the cohort getting grade 7+.
We instil a workplace ethos, with a positive impact recognised in our most recent Ofsted inspection which stated that ‘the excellent behaviour of students in lessons and around college creates an environment in which it is a joy to teach and study.’
Staff feedback demonstrates to us that CAST is a great community to work in, with a supportive and collaborative culture that is highly valued. Staff have eight training and marking days built into the academic year. There are numerous internal and external development opportunities available to all staff.
We form part of the United Learning Cambridge Cluster, 5 schools who work collaboratively to further support our students through the quality of teaching and learning. We work as a team and achieve more, by sharing, than any single school could.
The college is situated in the heart of Cambridge’s Biomedical Campus, surrounded by world leading academic and commercial organisations which sponsor, support and contribute towards the life and work of CAST.
CAST is also supported by the Baker Dearing Trust as a University Technical College (UTC).
Please see the website for information about benefits offered and testimonials of staff https://www.cambridgeast.org.uk/work-with-us/why-work-at-cast.
United Learning is a large, and growing, group of schools aiming to offer a life changing education to children and young people across England.
United Learning schools work as a team and achieve more by sharing than any single school could. The subject specialists, Group-wide intranet, own curriculum, and online learning portal all help us share knowledge and resource, helping to simplify work processes and manage workloads for an improved work-life balance.
Here at United Learning, we are committed to ensuring our employees feel valued and appreciated. Because we are a group, we can reward you better than any school could alone, and this includes your employee benefits. Here is some information about the benefits available to United Learning https://unitedlearning.org.uk/staffrewards
Arranging a visit to Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email laura.onyemembenedict@parksidecc.org.uk.
School location
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