Head of MFL

Hope Valley College, Hope Valley, Derbyshire, S33 6SD

21 days remaining to apply

Job start date
1 September 2025
Closing date
30 March 2025 at 11:59pm
Date listed
6 March 2025

Job details

Job role: Teacher
Head of department or curriculum
Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage: Key stage 3, Key stage 4
Subjects: French, German, Spanish
Working pattern: Full time: 100% FTE
Contract type: Permanent
Pay scale: M1 to UPS3
Additional allowances: TLR2a - £3391 per annum

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are seeking to appoint a creative, passionate and inspirational Head of MFL to continue to maintain our high standards in this successful subject. Languages are popular and we are keen to continue to recruit students at Key Stage 4. The successful candidate will lead a team of MFL specialists who have a track record of success and be confident in inspiring students in languages. The ability to teach French & Spanish is essential, whilst the ability to teach German is also desirable.

The specific duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Lead, manage and develop a subject or curriculum area; or to lead and manage pupil development across the curriculum

To provide strategic leadership for the development and management of Modern Foreign Languages in Key Stage 3 and 4.
To identify areas for development and improvement linked to the school improvement plan and national and local initiatives.
To develop and monitor schemes of work and ensure successful implementation which meets curriculum requirements.
To have an overview of, and contribute to, the planning and delivery of continuous professional development and training related to the teaching of Modern Foreign Languages.
To develop strategies for the use of other staff to promote new teaching methods and improve learning throughout the school and monitor effectiveness in raising standards of teaching and learning.
To monitor and evaluate pupil progress.
To ensure the provision of an appropriately broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum for pupils.
To identify clear, appropriate targets for attainment and/or achievement.
To monitor and evaluate pupil progress and achievement against targets.
To lead evaluation strategies to contribute to overall school self-evaluation.
To undertake lesson observations and provide constructive feedback and support as appropriate.
To implement school quality procedures and to ensure adherence across the school.
To ensure the establishment of common standards of practice and develop the effectiveness of teaching and learning styles.
To plan and implement strategies to improve teaching where needs are identified.
To provide induction, support and monitoring for new staff.
To act as a role model of good practice for other teachers, modelling effective strategies with them.
To act as a performance management team leader for identified teachers.
To ensure all staff in school are familiar with the aims and objectives of the Modern Foreign Languages Department.

Impact on the educational progress of pupils other than the teacher's assigned classes or groups of pupils

Leading, developing and enhancing the teaching practice of other staff

Specific duties relating to this post

Head of Modern Foreign Languages

This will include:

Developing teaching and learning in MFL to further improve the experience and outcomes for all children and young people
Continuing to develop the curriculum to meet the ongoing needs of the children and young people
Develop the MFL team through professional development in MFL/Whole School priorities
Plan the support/intervention for those children and young people that need intervention outside of the MFL classroom
Other duties that will be needed in time to enhance the MFL provision within Chorus Education Trust.
Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
Work in a flexible way to respond to the needs of the trust and to fulfil other duties and responsibilities appropriate to the grade and role as and when required.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equal opportunities for all.
Appreciate and support the role of other professionals.
Attend and participate in relevant meetings as required.
Contribute to the overall ethos/work/aims of the trust/schools.
Participate in relevant training, other learning activities and performance management as required.

Support for the trust/school

Team responsibilities: all staff are considered part of the overall trust team and may be required to provide assistance to colleagues in other areas from time to time commensurate with the role, skillset and grade.

What the school offers its staff

Hope Valley College is an 11-16 comprehensive school set in a beautiful location in the village of Hope in the heart of the Peak District. The school was originally modelled on the lines of the successful village colleges originated by Henry Morris to provide community education. Hope Valley College now welcomes 550 students from a wide area including Derbyshire, Sheffield and Greater Manchester. On our site, housed in a purpose-built facility, we also run a post-16 SEND provision; Hope Valley Pathways prepares young adults with SEND for life and work and has up to 20 young people on roll.

At Hope Valley College, we offer an ambitious curriculum that is supported by a wide range of enrichment activities. We have high expectations of our students, who achieve well and who are encouraged to embrace the opportunities that our beautiful location offers.

In addition to trust-wide benefits for all staff, those at Hope Valley College also have access to:

Supportive and friendly staff and leadership team.
Free staff parking.
Opportunity to be part of the varied extracurricular offering, including Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme, and many outdoor adventure activities.
Internationally renowned rural landscape on the doorstep.

You can view the school website at: www.hopevalley.chorustrust.org.

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.