Literacy Lead
Harris Academy Orpington, Kent, BR5 4LG6 days remaining to apply
Start date details
January
Closing date
19 October 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
13 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, Key stage 5
Subject
- English
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full time equivalent salary
- £42,897 - £59,681
Pay scale
- MPS/UPS (Outer London) + TLR (£3,527.00) + £1,500 Harris Allowance
Additional allowances
Annual Loyalty Bonus + Pension Scheme (TPS) + Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan + Additional Harris Benefits
What skills and experience we're looking for
We are looking for a qualified teacher with subject leadership experience to join Harris Academy Orpington as Literacy Lead.
You will join an open and supportive team in establishing outstanding provision within English. This will include all programmes, systems and structures taking account of the academy's vision and values leading to outstanding teaching and learning.
The successful candidate will:
- Hold QTS (or equivalent) and a relevant undergraduate degree, and, ideally, further qualifications and evidence of continuous self-development and updated knowledge in relevant areas
- Have a minimum of three years' teaching experience, ideally including KS5 and in multi-ethnic urban schools
- Understand the theory and practice of effective teaching and learning
- Have knowledge of National Curriculum requirements at KS3, KS4, and KS5
- Have experience of delivering high quality INSET to teaching staff within subject area, and of using coaching as a model for ensuring ongoing professional development
- Ideally, be able to show evidence of leading, supporting and managing others, both individuals and teams, ensuring high quality performance
- Be able to prove their success in raising achievement as a subject leader or classroom practitioner
- Have successful experience of processes of monitoring, evaluation and review that provide performance data that can be used to improve the quality of teaching and learning
- Have a good level of ICT skills and experience of how new technologies can be used to raise achievement
- Have recent experience of involvement in innovative curriculum development
- Have ideas of how Language, Literacy and Numeracy can be used across the curriculum to raise standards
- Have experience of embedding innovative strategies for improving teaching and learning and of managing and implementing change successfully
What the school offers its staff
Harris Academy Orpington opened in September 2016, joining the highly successful Federation of Harris academies in London. We are on our journey to outstanding and are ambitious and looking forward to an exciting future as we highlight our work as aHealth Science Specialistschool, with students being given access to recognised professional qualifications and careers.
At HarrisAcademy Orpington, we have the most incredible facilities, staff and students and we are very proud of the work that our students do here. We have developed a curriculum that is ambitious and broad. We believe people need to nurture an appreciation of human creativity and achievement and have designed a curriculum that does just that.
We aim to ensure that every student is inspired and supported to achieve his/her personal best and learning comes first. Our motto is “Together We Can” and if you are interested in joining us, we would be very pleased to meet you.
Teacher Development
At Harris, we have curated professional development pathways that will guide you towards achieving your career ambitions. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. With a strong network of passionate educators, expert development initiatives and a multitude of opportunities for career progression, your journey with Harris could be the most rewarding one yet.
We offer a wide range of high quality teacher professional development programmes via the Harris Institute of Teaching and Leadership.
Benefits
In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance (usually £2,000 for Inner London and £1,500 for Outer London), an Annual Loyalty Bonus, Teachers Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan, Employee Assistance Programme, and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.
Flexible working opportunities
We are committed to fostering a positive and supportive working environment for our staff, recognising that achieving a balance between professional and personal responsibilities is essential. We understand that each individual's circumstances are unique, which is why we offer flexible working options that can be adapted to meet the needs of both the academy and our employees.
Further information about the job
The main responsibilities of your role will be:
- Ensure that a high profile for literacy is maintained across the Academy
- Oversee the strategic development of literacy and the implementation of literacy approaches at whole school, departmental and year group levels
- Ensure that literacy is publicised and celebrated across the Academy
- To be accountable for student progress and development in the faculty across KS3, KS4 and post 16, including meeting student achievement targets for subject areas which are agreed by the Principal and the Governing Body
- To ensure high standards of teaching and learning across the faculty area, through continuously developing and enhancing the quality of teaching and learning
- To ensure the provision of an appropriately broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum for students in the faculty area, in accordance with the Academy aims and policies, as determined by the Principal and Governing Body
- To ensure that all Academy policies and procedures are implemented and applied consistently by all staff in the faculty area
- To ensure agreed tutor programme is implemented and that tutors are effective in their role
- To effectively and efficiently manage and deploy teaching/support staff, financial and physical resources across the faculty area
- To support the development for literacy, through the WORD strategy, within subject areas, to raise standards of literacy across the Academy
- To ensure that all students are provided with accurate and effective advice and guidance regarding career and educational pathways
- To organise and run a range of enrichment opportunities within the subject area
- To ensure that every child has the opportunity to experience a range of experiences within the subject area
- To ensure that the profile of the subject area is further developed
- To ensure that the subject area leads on high quality displays and exhibitions through the Academy environment
Commitment to safeguarding
The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.
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 Harris Academy Orpington
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- Size
- 499 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Email address
- careers@harrisfederation.org.uk
- Phone number
- 01689 819219
Harris Academy Orpington opened in September 2016, joining the highly successful Federation of Harris academies in London. We are on our journey to outstanding, we are ambitious and looking forward to an exciting future. We believe that every student can and should achieve their full potential and our commitment is one of ensuring our students develop a love of learning, a passion for enquiry and a dedication to being the best that they can be.We aim to ensure that every student is inspired and supported to achieve his/her personal best and learning comes first. Our motto is “Together We Can” and if you are interested in joining us, we would be very pleased to meet you.
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