Lead Practitioner
The Spires College, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 3PE23 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
5 February 2026 at 9am
Date listed
13 January 2026
Job details
Job role
- Teacher
- Other leadership roles
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- Lead Practitioner Pay Range 6 – 10 (2025-26: £58,857 - £65,010)
What skills and experience we're looking for
We are seeking to appoint a Lead Practitioner to join our extended leadership team. Candidates will be skilled in the classroom, articulate and dedicated to bringing positive outcomes for young people in our school community. The successful candidate will be both an exceptional teacher as well as inspiring, intelligent and thoughtful in their approach to leading others.
This post will have a whole-college focus. The successful applicant will work as a small team with the Vice Principals to support the development of teaching and learning across the College. Lead Practitioners have two central responsibilities in addition to their own teaching: to work with staff individually to guide their practice and to facilitate small group CPD and coaching. They work closely with the Senior Leadership Team to ensure the College offers the right support to all staff.
The post is open to applications from experienced teachers of all national curriculum subjects. We are looking to appoint an exceptional teacher, and this matters more than the subject offered. The post holder absolutely must model great teaching themselves. They must also have a good understanding of how children learn and what makes great teaching to allow them to work alongside others to address their development needs.
This is a fantastic opportunity for talented teachers to impact more widely on students’ success beyond their own classrooms. If you are ready for the next step in your career but wish to focus completely on developing teaching and learning, this could be the ideal opportunity for you.
The successful applicant will:
- put children and young people first;
- be an exceptional classroom practitioner, who is able to teach a national curriculum subject at Key Stages 3, 4 and 5;
- be able to use a strong pedagogical understanding to guide teachers to develop their practice in a genuinely useful way;
- have experience of developing the work of colleagues at various professional stages;
- have the ability to motivate and inspire others;
- have an up to date knowledge of the emerging issues in education;
- be confident to work with a degree of autonomy whilst also being collaborative and an effective team player;
- be a committed, highly-competent, reflective and resilient individual;
- have a sense of humour and good interpersonal and communication skills.
What the school offers its staff
The College is a close community, with a shared desire to be the best we can be. We are committed to staff’s professional development and invest heavily in ensuring our teachers grow and flourish as practitioners.
We offer:
- excellent professional development and a wide range of professional opportunities,
- a high level of support for all new staff;
- the opportunity to work alongside excellent practitioners across the College;
- an exciting and fulfilling place to work in a friendly environment;
- a supportive departmental team;
- a modern, purpose-built building and excellent facilities;
- the opportunity to live and work in a beautiful part of the country:
An exceptional staff benefits package including: access to the Local Government Pension Scheme; free 24/7 counselling, legal and information line; critical incident advice and telephone support; online health portal; and free onsite gym access
The Spires College is a co-educational, 11-18 Bilateral School with a selective stream. We are a friendly, caring school which puts the needs of our children at the heart of all we do.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
The College is committed to safeguarding and to the promotion of the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts are subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure with barred list information.
Applying for the job
This job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
Upload additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About The Spires College
- School type
- Local authority maintained school, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1131 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- The Spires College website
- Email address
- jobs@thespirescollege.com
- Phone number
- 01803 400660
The Spires College is a co-educational, 11-18 bilateral school with a selective stream.
We are a friendly, caring school which puts the needs of our children at the heart of all we do.
We are committed the professional development of our staff and invest heavily in ensuring our teachers grow and flourish as practitioners.
The College is committed to safeguarding all of its students. All staff are required to adhere to our safeguarding policies and procedures and regularly undertake a full enhanced DBS check.
Arranging a visit to The Spires College
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email jobs@thespirescollege.com.
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