Lead Practitioner (English) from 1 September 2026
Aylsham High School, Norwich, Norfolk, NR11 6AN19 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
5 May 2026 at 9am
Date listed
16 April 2026
Job details
Job role
- Other leadership roles
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Subject
- English
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- Lead Practitioner Pay Scale L10–L14
What skills and experience we're looking for
We are seeking a committed and hardworking professional to provide strategic leadership for our English department and drive a whole-school culture of literacy and reading. At Aylsham High, we believe leadership is fundamentally about valuing people; your ability to get the best out of both students and colleagues is central to this role. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of securing excellent outcomes at GCSE English as well as ensuring strong progress in KS3. The successful candidate will also have a strong track record of leading, motivating, and inspiring others to teach effectively.You should be a highly reflective practitioner and strategic thinkerwho leads with humility and integrity, acknowledging when improvements are needed and maintaining a relentless focus on high standards.
This position is designed for an accomplished teacher with senior leadership aspirations. As a Lead Practitioner, you will:
- Sit on the Senior Leadership Team (SLT): Work directly with the Deputy Headteacher to align departmental goals with the wider School Improvement Plan.
- Lead the English Department: Act as the direct line manager for the Head of English and the Second in English, providing mentorship and "critical friendship".
- Curriculum Architect: Design a knowledge-rich English curriculum rooted in cognitive science and robust educational research.
- Drive Literacy: Take full accountability for the school’s reading strategy, including overseeing the library and leading Year 8 reading assessments.
- Model Exemplary Practice: Maintain a teaching timetable that demonstrates the highest standards of evidence-informed pedagogy, such as Rosenshine’s Principles and adaptive teaching.
- Key Stage Progression: Ensure the curriculum is carefully sequenced to build on Key Stage 2 learning by working with feeder schools, maintaining this progression through to Key Stage 4.
What the school offers its staff
We believe wholeheartedly in helping teachers improve through professional dialogue rather than top-down monitoring. Every teacher works with an experienced coach to develop their practice. You will lead high-quality CPD and research-based working groups, fostering a team dynamic rooted in openness and honesty.
Aylsham High School, Bure Valley School and John of Gaunt Infant and Nursery School are all part of Aylsham Learning Federation which supports the learning of children from nursery through to year 11. All schools are members of The Aylsham Cluster Trust, which along with other cluster schools, is focused on raising standards and improving the quality of life for our children and their families. All of our colleagues can benefit from discounted membership to our leisure facilities available through Aylsham Sports Hub along with reduced fees for our nursery located in Aylsham. We also operate an EV salary sacrifice scheme.
Our schools have excellent staff, great facilities and a wonderful group of students. The support that we enjoy from parents and the wider community is fantastic.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Aylsham Learning Federation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
More details about our commitment to safeguarding can be found on our job advertisements.
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 Aylsham High School
- School type
- Local authority maintained school, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1108 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Aylsham High School website
- Email address
- abarker@aylshamhigh.norfolk.sch.uk
- Phone number
- 01263 733270
Aylsham High is one of the most consistently successful schools in Norfolk and our work is underpinned by the values of the co-operative movement. Our cohort is truly comprehensive and we are committed to being an inclusive, welcoming, and supportive school community. The school is blessed with excellent staff, great facilities, and a wonderful group of students. The support that we enjoy from parents and the wider community is second to none. We believe that if we are going to maintain and improve on the school’s achievements, we have to continuously evaluate our approach to teaching and learning and this is a theme that runs throughout our school improvement planning.
Arranging a visit to Aylsham High School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email abarker@aylshamhigh.norfolk.sch.uk.
School location
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