Lead Practitioner (English)

Inspiration Trust, Norwich, NR2 1NR

13 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  September 2026

• Closing date

  5 May 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  22 April 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 3, Key stage 4
• Subject: English
• Working pattern: Full time: 32.5 hours per week
• Contract type: Permanent
• Pay scale: Salary: Leadership Scale, Point 11 (£66,368 per annum)
• Additional allowances:

  Relocation Allowance + Performance Related Bonus

What skills and experience we're looking for

Qualifications:

Essential - Applicants should have: • An appropriate degree and other qualifications required for the award of QTS (Qualified Teacher Status).

Desirable - Applications may be strengthened by having: • A postgraduate qualification in the subject to be taught. • A postgraduate qualification in the teaching of the subject • A coaching qualification.

Experience:

Essential - Applicants should have experience of: • Teaching the subject in a secondary school across the 11-16 age range. • Assessing students for a variety of purposes using appropriate strategies. • Working with whole-school behaviour systems. • Supporting students in the subject with a SEND or EAL • Evidence of achieving exceptional outcomes at KS4

Desirable - Applications may be strengthened by experience of: • Teaching the subject in a Sixth Form or other Further Education setting. • Being a form tutor and supporting the wider personal development of pupils. • Examining the subject for an appropriate exam board. • Mentoring trainees and early-career teachers.

Skills, Knowledge

Essential - Applicants should have knowledge and understanding of: • The subject taught to undergraduate degree level or an equivalent standard • Different approaches to teaching the subject and the strengths and weaknesses of these • The wider role of a teacher in the personal development of pupils, including the main responsibilities of a form tutor • The statutory requirements concerning Equal Opportunities, Health & Safety, SEND and Child Protection

Desirable - Applicants may be strengthened by knowledge and understanding of: • Different curriculum models in the subject(s) and the strengths and weaknesses of these • Forms of assessment commonly used in the subject(s), including in public examinations • Opportunities for teacher development in the subject(s)

Personal Attributes

Essential - Applicants should have the ability to: • Express themselves clearly in written and spoken English • Manage pupil behaviour in line with a school policy • Build and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, pupils, parents and the wider community • Organise working time effectively to ensure that all requirements of the post are met punctually and to a high standard

Desirable - Applications may be strengthened by the ability to: • Offer extra-curricular and other enrichment activities for pupils • Use appropriate software and digital platforms to create and share curriculum, teaching and assessment resources

What the school offers its staff

The Inspiration Trust offers all staff a range of benefits via our ‘my lifestyle' portal. All eligible staff will have access to a range of benefits from salary sacrifice schemes and employee discounts.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Salary: Leadership Scale, Point 11 (£66,368 per annum) + Relocation Allowance + Performance Related Bonus

Permanent, Full time

Start Date: September 2026

This is a centrally based role with responsibilities allocated across the Trust in both Norfolk and Suffolk.

The role

This is an exciting opportunity for exceptional English Teachers to make an impact and demonstrate outstanding practice in delivery of the KS4 curriculum, supporting our pupils to achieve aspirational outcomes. You will be part of a raising achievement team, directly responsible to the Director of Secondary English, with the sole purpose of increasing outcomes in English at KS4 in areas of East Anglia that need exceptional practitioners.

This role will be stimulating and wide-ranging. You will be based in one of the Inspiration Trust secondary schools and responsible for improving outcomes in English in your designated school. You will be assigned year 10 and year 11 classes, with the expectation to drive outcomes at an exceptional level. We are looking for English Teacher who is passionate and knowledgeable about the English curriculum, with the experience and interpersonal skills to work with colleagues within your designated school. You will also contribute to the development of training and teaching materials, and the mentoring of trainee and ECT teachers. Successful applicants will have clear evidence of achieving excellent outcomes for students on a sustained basis.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Role model professional conduct as set out in the Teachers’ Standards.
• Lead and participate in professional development activities as directed by the Director of Secondary English and the Secondary Director.
• Teach the curriculum as set out by the Trust and Curriculum Leader, including preparing pupils for examination in appropriate qualifications.
• Adapt the curriculum, teaching methods and resources for pupils who have a SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) or EAL (English as an Additional Language), as guided by the appropriate Curriculum Leader and the SEND department.
• Assess pupil progress using a range of appropriate strategies and use this information to evaluate curriculum planning, teaching approaches and resources.
• Provide intervention where necessary. This may include running afterschool sessions, and/or weekends and holidays.
• Participate in and contribute to meetings, both internal and external.
• Follow procedures and strategies that promote excellent pupil attendance, punctuality and behaviour within and beyond the classroom, as set out in Academy procedures and Trust policy.

About You

You will be an exceptional classroom practitioner who demonstrates the drive and commitment to go above and beyond for our pupils to ensure the succeed. You should come with an existing track record of effectiveness and a clear impact at a subject level.

Essential:

• An appropriate degree and other qualifications required for the award of QTS.
• Qualified Teacher Status (trainees should be on track to achieve QTS before taking up the post).
• Knowledge of the statutory requirements concerning Equal Opportunities, Health & Safety, SEND and Child Protection.
• Ability to communicate effectively and build positive relationships with students, parents, colleagues, and the wider community.
• Knowledge and understanding of the subject to at least undergraduate degree level and different teaching approaches.
• Experience of teaching the subject in a secondary school across the 11-16 age range.
• Experience of assessing students for a variety of purposes using appropriate strategies.
• Evidence of achieving exceptional outcomes at KS4.
• Experience of the wider role of a teacher in the personal development of pupils, including the main responsibilities of a form tutor.

Desirable:

• Postgraduate qualification in the subject or in the teaching of the subject.
• Experience teaching the subject in a Sixth Form or Further Education setting.
• Experience as a form tutor, supporting the wider personal development of pupils.
• Experience examining the subject for an appropriate exam board.
• Experience mentoring trainees and early-career teachers.
• Ability to offer extra-curricular or enrichment activities and use digital platforms to create and share teaching and assessment resources.

Why Join Inspiration Trust

At Inspiration Trust, we believe in the power of education to transform lives. You’ll be joining a supportive, forward-thinking organisation that values professional development, collaboration, and innovation. We provide opportunities for growth and empower you to make a real impact in schools across Norfolk and north Suffolk. As part of our thriving network of talented teachers, leaders, and support staff, you’ll receive a varied professional development programme designed to help you be the best you can be.

We offer:

• Generous annual leave, and access to the Teachers' Pension Schemes (TPS) with excellent employer contributions
• Health Plan and Employee Assistance Programme, including 24/7 virtual GP access, mental health support and claim-back options for healthcare costs *
• Cycle-to-work scheme, retail and theatre discounts (including discounted shopping vouchers, dentist and gym memberships), and salary sacrifice options (including home technology). *
• Free parking at most sites
• Personalised CPD and development programmes
• A structured and specific induction programme.

* Terms and conditions apply. Some benefits are only available following successfully passing probation.

About Us

Inspiration Trust is a thriving family of schools across Norfolk and North Suffolk, recognised nationally for pupil progress and excellence in teaching and leadership. We believe every young person deserves the best education, regardless of background.

The Trust offers extensive networks and opportunities to collaborate with a diverse range of schools and partners. We are committed to delivering outstanding professional and learning opportunities for all staff, supported by a rich programme of continuing professional development led by some of the country’s leading educational thinkers and practitioners.

We believe it is important to support every school by centralising key support services. This approach reduces workload for senior leaders, provides value for money across a range of integrated services, and ensures that our academies benefit from a strong local support structure that promotes the sharing of best practice. As a Trust, we continually review our services to ensure they remain responsive to the needs of individual academies.

Our Central Services team, currently based in Norwich, provides expert support across HR, Payroll, Recruitment, Finance, Governance, Operations, ICT, Marketing, and Estates - enabling our schools to focus on what they do best: teaching and learning.

Next Steps

Before applying, please read the attached Recruitment Pack and Job Description, for more details about the role. We ask that you read this pack carefully, especially the “Planning your application” section from page 11. This will support your application ensuring you have the opportunity to tell us about your relevant skills, experience and qualifications that relate to the job description and person specification in addition to details of your references covering the last 5 years.

If you are interested in being part of our growing Trust and would like to know more about this exciting opportunity, then please contact our Secondary Director, Louise Jackson (louisejackson@inspirationtrust.org).

To apply for this role please click the Apply button to complete the online application form.

When you start your application, you will receive several emails from our application provider, Vacancy Filler. Please be aware that some email providers may mistakenly mark these messages as spam. To avoid missing important updates, we recommend checking your spam or junk folders regularly throughout the application process and marking these emails as safe.

Closing date for applications: 12pm on Tuesday 5th May 2026

Interview date: Wednesday 13th May 2026

Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities

Inspiration Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All staff appointments are subject to satisfactory references and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks. We are an equal opportunities employer.

Commitment to safeguarding

Inspiration Trust is committed to safeguarding and all staff appointments are subject to satisfactory references and enhanced DBS checks. You will be required to provide references and undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check.

This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We are an equal opportunities employer.

Applying for the job

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

Staff Recruitment Pack.pdf - 1.94 MB (opens in new tab)

Job-Description.pdf - 380 KB (opens in new tab)

About Inspiration Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• Website: Inspiration Trust website
• Email address: recruitment@inspirationtrust.org
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/inspiration-trust

We are part of the Inspiration Trust, twice ranked as the country’s top family of comprehensive schools for pupil progress, and strongly believe in the importance of giving the widest educational opportunities to all young people, regardless of their background. We have strong networks across the Trust, with opportunities to work with a diverse range of schools and partners. We are committed to offering excellent professional and learning opportunities for our staff, with a busy programme of continuing professional development courses delivered by some of the country’s best educational thinkers and practitioners.

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