Second in Charge - English & Whole School Literacy Lead
Oakwood Park Grammar School, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8AH40 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
20 April 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
11 March 2026
Job details
Job role
- Teacher
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
Pay scale
- MPS/UPS
Additional allowances
TLR 2 (Currently £8,611 per year)
What skills and experience we're looking for
Qualifications
- Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
- Degree in English or a related subject
Experience
- Successful teaching experience in secondary English.
- Evidence of raising student achievement.
- Experience supporting curriculum development or departmental initiatives.
- Experience of promoting literacy across the curriculum (desirable).
Skills and Knowledge
- Excellent subject knowledge in English.
- Strong understanding of literacy development and reading strategies.
- Ability to lead and inspire colleagues.
- Strong organisational and communication skills.
- Ability to analyse data to inform teaching and learning.
Personal Qualities
- Passion for English and literacy education.
- Commitment to raising standards and improving outcomes for all students.
- Collaborative and supportive leadership style.
- High expectations of students and staff.
What the school offers its staff
- Highly motivated, academically able students
- A supportive, collaborative English department
- A strong culture of professional development and evidence-informed practice
- Opportunities for leadership development
- A school culture that actively promotes staff wellbeing and work–life balance
- Excellent facilities
and resources
Further information about the job
We are seeking to appoint an ambitious, enthusiastic and highly skilled teacher to the role of Second in Department for English and Whole School Literacy Lead at our successful boys’ grammar school.
This is an exciting opportunity for a talented practitioner to play a key role in both the strategic leadership of the English department and the development of literacy across the whole school. Working closely with the Head of English and senior leaders, the successful candidate will support the continued academic success of the department while leading initiatives that strengthen reading, writing and vocabulary development across the curriculum.
Our English department is a collaborative and high-performing team committed to delivering a rich and challenging curriculum. Students are highly motivated and demonstrate a strong enthusiasm for literature, discussion and academic study.
We are particularly keen to hear from colleagues who are passionate about literacy development and evidence-informed teaching, and who are keen to work with departments across the school to ensure all students develop the sophisticated literacy skills required for academic success.
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 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.
Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Oakwood Park Grammar School
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1088 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Oakwood Park Grammar School website
- Email address
- jnichol@opgs.org
Oakwood Park Grammar School is a five-form entry (usually 160 in each year) Boys’ Grammar School of approximately 1100 students, including the Sixth Form. We have a co-educational Sixth Form with a pan of 180 in each year group. Entry at 11 to the school is through the Kent Test (11+) where students sit three papers in Mathematics, English and Reasoning.
We have been on the site since 1959 and we share an attractive campus with two schools (St Augustine Academy and St Simon Stock) and a college of Further Education (Mid-Kent College). We remain committed to improving school facilities and providing high quality learning environments for our students. Our teaching and support staff are dedicated and hardworking and very loyal to the school.
Oakwood Park Grammar School has a wealth of extra-curricular activities for its students. Sport is very strong with national success in football, alongside rugby, cricket, basketball and athletics. We also cater for rowing, fencing, table tennis and climbing. Music and Drama are also popular with an annual production and brand new facilities which opened in October 2023. Other extra-curricular opportunities include robotics, debating and chess.
Academic standards are high at both GCSE and A Level. In the Sixth Form, on average, well over half of our students who apply to universities will secure offers from prestigious Russell Group universities and we regularly send students to Oxbridge colleges.
In 2024, an ungraded inspection made clear the school continues to be ‘Good’ overall by Ofsted. However, our grading of Outstanding for our Behaviour and our Sixth Form provision remains.
We are a welcoming, open school with a clear focus on developing staff, with teaching and learning at the heart of our professional development.
Arranging a visit to Oakwood Park Grammar School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email jnichol@opgs.org.
School location
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