Head of English
Miltoncross Academy, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO3 6RBThis job expired on 13 October 2025
Job start date
1 January 2026
Closing date
13 October 2025 at 11:59pm
Date listed
2 October 2025
Job details
Job role
- Head of department or curriculum
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4
Subject
- English
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- MPS/UPS
Additional allowances
TLR: £9,500
What skills and experience we're looking for
Head of English - Miltoncross Academy, Portsmouth Leadership opportunity in a values-driven school community Miltoncross Academy is seeking a thoughtful, ambitious Head of English to lead a committed team of subject specialists. This is a key leadership role in the school that is building something purposeful and sustainable, where staff and students know they are doing their best work for the right reasons. We are an academy at the heart of our community, guided by three core values: Work Hard. Be Kind. No Excuses. These principles shape everything we do, from curriculum design to daily interactions; they underpin a culture where all of our learning is valued and people are respected.
We offer a collegiate, supportive working environment where the shared vision is simple: every young person will leave us having exceeded expectations; academically, personally, and socially because we believed in them, challenged them, and never settled for less. The measurement of this success will be when we have the best progress in Portsmouth, which will be within 5 Years. To achieve this, we are seeking our new Head of English who will be passionate and knowledgeable about their subject, ambitious for themselves, their staff and their pupils and have a real understanding about what good English teaching looks like for children. They will have a strong track record of good teaching themselves and be ready to motivate and lead others to achieve the same.
As Head of English, you will lead an established and stable department with a strong curriculum and a team of dedicated and skilled teachers. You will be supported by an experienced senior leader who will empower you to lead with clarity and confidence. Alongside our strong internal CPD programme, you’ll also benefit from guidance and collaboration from TKAT’s Strategic Leader of English, ensuring you and your department thrive within a wider network of subject excellence; you will never find yourself leading alone. Whether this is your first leadership role or you’re an experienced middle leader, we’ll empower, coach and support you to lead a very high performing department. Your ambition, energy, love of English, and passion for teaching, combined with our dedicated support, weekly CPD (2:30 to 4:30 every Tuesday) and timetabled (school day) department meetings will serve our wonderful pupils superbly. You will become the leader of a very high-performing subject within the academy, the Trust and even nationally.
What the school offers its staff
Why Miltoncross?
- Dedicated CPD Programme
- Dedicated department meeting time
- AI mock exam marking
- Strong existing team of enthusiastic teachers
- Collegiate school and collegiate department
- A school rapidly on the up with big ambitions
- Excellent modern buildings and facilities.
- A culture of clarity, kindness, and high aspiration.
- Easy access from the M27 and A27—staff commute from Southampton, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, and West Sussex.
- A leadership team committed to staff wellbeing and professional development.
Working for TKAT: As part of The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT), you’ll benefit from:
- A wide range of professional development opportunities across TKAT academies
- Collegiate work with other HoDs, locally and nationally
- Strong external support
- Wellbeing support and a strong sense of purpose.
- The reward of improving life chances for our pupils.
If you’d like to arrange a visit to Miltoncross or you just fancy a confidential and informal conversation with the Headteacher, please do not hesitate to contact his PA at janet.french@miltoncrossacademy-tkat.org. We’d be thrilled to hear from you!
We reserve the right to withdraw this advert early if a suitable candidate is found before the advertised closing date.
Safeguarding
TKAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Offers of employment will be subject to the full safer recruitment process, including an enhanced disclosure and barring service check.
Flexible working
TKAT recognises the value of enabling our employees to develop their career and balance this with their commitments and interests outside of work. In TKAT we promote flexible working practices and opportunities to promote a positive work life balance.
Our Commitment - Equity, Inclusion, Diversity and Belonging
At TKAT, we are committed to Equity, Inclusion, Diversity, and Belonging. We embrace and celebrate differences, value individual experiences, aspirations, and achievements, and continuously learn how to grow better together. We actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, as we believe diversity strengthens our community and drives us forward.
Access to interview
Be Who You Are at TKAT - should you be selected and invited to interview please let us know if you require us to adapt the recruitment process to enable you to participate as your authentic self. We want applicants to be able to engage with us in ways that support who they are and we are committed to making adjustments within the recruitment process and within the workplace.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
TKAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Offers of employment will be subject to the full Safer Recruitment process, including an enhanced disclosure and barring service check.
Equal Opportunities
TKAT is committed to equality of opportunity. We welcome applications from all suitable candidates, regardless of any protected characteristic for example race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. All applications are treated on merit. This includes applications from individuals wishing to work full time, part time or on a flexible basis.
Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Miltoncross Academy
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 937 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Miltoncross Academy website
- Email address
- nick.giles@miltoncross-tkat.org
Arranging a visit to Miltoncross Academy
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email nick.giles@miltoncross-tkat.org.
School location
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