Lead Practitioner - English

The Birley Academy, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S12 3BP

6 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 January 2027

• Closing date

  20 October 2026 at 8am

• Date listed

  14 October 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Head of department or curriculum
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 3, Key stage 4
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: 56,577.00 - 62,559.00 (LP3-LP7)

Lead Practitioner - English job summary

About the Role

We are seeking an exceptional Lead Practitioner of English to play a key role in driving excellence in teaching, learning and literacy across The Birley Academy. This is an exciting opportunity for an outstanding classroom practitioner who is passionate about English education and committed to improving outcomes for all students. Working alongside academy leaders and the English department, you will model exemplary practice, champion evidence-informed teaching and support colleagues through coaching, mentoring and professional development. Your influence will extend beyond your own classroom, helping to shape a culture of high expectations, continuous improvement and a love of reading, writing and communication across the academy.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for an inspirational and highly effective English specialist with a proven track record of delivering excellent outcomes. The successful candidate will be an outstanding classroom practitioner with exceptional subject knowledge, a passion for raising standards and experience of supporting the development of others. You will be committed to inclusion, literacy and evidence-informed practice, with the ability to inspire both students and colleagues through your expertise, leadership and ambition for excellence.

Why Join Us

At The Birley Academy, you'll join an ambitious and supportive school where your leadership and expertise can make a genuine impact on students' life chances. As part of the L.E.A.D. Academy Trust, you'll benefit from high-quality professional development, leadership opportunities, collaboration across a wider network of schools and a culture that values innovation, staff wellbeing and continuous improvement. Situated in Sheffield, one of the UK's greenest and most vibrant cities, The Birley Academy offers the opportunity to develop your career while helping to transform the lives of young people through outstanding English education.

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.

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.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About The Birley Academy

• Organisation type: Academy, ages 11 to 16
• Education phase: Secondary school
• Size: 1061 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: The Birley Academy website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/the-birley-academy

The Birley Academy is a popular secondary academy in the southeast of Sheffield. We have a modern building set on a pleasant campus with excellent facilities.

We believe that our students are entitled to nothing but the best and are fully committed to transforming the school into an exceptional place to learn.

We can offer you students who are keen to become their best selves; student who will make you remember why working in a school is so special; staff who are hardworking and who want the best for our school; a
leadership team who are passionate and dedicated to making The Birley Academy brilliant and a supportive and aspirational Trust.

Our vision is simple: to ensure that we constantly challenge ourselves and our students to aspire to our very best, enjoying learning and being active members of the learning community. As part of the L.E.A.D. Academy Trust, we work with all stakeholders including parents, local businesses, community leaders and our partner primaries to represent and best meet the needs of our students.

School location

Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed

Find more school jobs in Sheffield