SECOND IN CHARGE OF ENGLISH DEPARTMENT - ST JOHN FISHER
St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School, Rochester, Kent, ME1 2FA2 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2025
Closing date
29 May 2025 at 9am
Date listed
25 May 2025
Job details
Job role
- Teacher
Visa sponsorship
- Skilled Worker visas can be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
Subjects
- English, Media studies
Working pattern
- Full time: Monday to Friday
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- MPS/UPS
Additional allowances
(plus TLR 2a £8279)
What skills and experience we're looking for
The Governing Board is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and well-qualified teacher of English to join the Communications Faculty as Second in Charge from September 2025.
The second in charge of faculty will have the ability to support the Head of Faculty in putting their vision for English teaching and learning into practice, supported by an able team of staff. They will work closely with their Head of Faculty to create an engaging and challenging curriculum for students of all abilities, taking leadership responsibility for one of the key stages.
The successful candidate will model at least good teaching practice and will be able to engage and inspire students of all abilities both in and out of lessons. They will also be keen to contribute to the school’s extra-curricular life to enhance the opportunities available to our students. A bespoke CPD programme will be tailored to meeting their needs.
What the school offers its staff
The school is in Medway, a 30-minute distance from London by road or high-speed rail link. Medway benefits from a multimillion-pound regeneration programme bringing new housing developments and facilities for its inhabitants; it also has the lowest council tax rates in Kent. St. John Fisher also offers subsidised accommodation for employees and this will be offered to the successful candidate, should they be interested. We are happy to offer visits and informal discussions of the role: please contact Deputy Headteacher v.walker@stjohnfisher.school for further information.
Commitment to Staff Wellbeing and Workload
At SJF, we are committed to excellence in a sustainable way. This means we value our staff, devise policies with workload in mind and believe that everyone working in education should have the opportunity to enjoy the highest possible standard of wellbeing and mental health. We recognise that working in a deprived area is never going to be easy, but we are committed to ensuring it’s not any harder than it needs to be. Our approach to staff wellbeing and workload is underpinned by research and best practice.
Ensuring efficient working practices regarding data, marking and feedback, behaviour management and curriculum planning (as outlined in the DFE school workload reduction toolkit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-workload-reduction-toolkit#wellbeing)
a. Clear behaviour policy and support including centralised interventions and rapid response on call
b. Marking policy devised by teachers on a full timetable whereby staff read books every 4-6 lessons and then teach a feedback lesson, rather than time consuming deep marking on all work
c. Strategic placement of inset days including one at the end of the year to finish early for summer
d. Progress reports limited to twice a year for each year group
e. Wellbeing events held at the end of each half-term, not a work meeting
f. Break duties consolidated to two per week, taking place near the teacher’s room where possible
g. Lunchtime supervisors employed so teachers do not have to supervise at this time
h. Teaching timetables below the national upper limit of 90%.
Ensuring communication is streamlined and effective
a. One weekly briefing email to keep you informed of school-wide developments
b. No expectation to answer work related email at evenings and weekends
c. All deadlines are staggered, agreed with middle leadership annually, and published well in advance
Ensuring staff are supported throughout the day
a. Your own dedicated teaching room (for all full-time teaching staff except SLT)
b. Free parking at the front of the school site, less than a minute’s walk from Reception
c. Free breakfast for staff teaching exam classes during exam seasons
d. Staff room onsite for rest and relaxation
e. Workrooms in each departmental area with tea, coffee, water, fridges, and microwaves
f. Food during all day events
g. Fully staffed admin team, reprographics service and pastoral care leaders to support your work with students
h. Staff treats provided in the last week of term at Christmas, Easter and Summer
Investing in staff development
a. At least fortnightly line management meetings with the first question focusing on wellbeing
b. Investment in development of staff through a programme of personalised CPD and learning walks
c. Opportunities to work across local Catholic schools to share good practice and strategy
d. Non-punitive appraisal process that focuses on supporting staff to do everything they can to meet their targets, rather than penalising them if they are not reached despite this
Bringing joy into the workplace and giving back
a. Investment in the staff room and staff reflection space
b. Staff clubs/socials (social secretary)
c. Staff Christmas and summer parties
d. Christmas and Birthday card for each staff member from the Headteacher
e. Gifts for staff on weddings and new births
f. Staff wellbeing coordinator
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
Please download the application form using the link below, and once completed send to v.walker@stjohnfisher.school
CVs are not accepted.
Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School
- School type
- Local authority maintained school, Roman Catholic, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- 1094 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School website
- Email address
- v.walker@stjohnfisher.school
- Phone number
- 01634543123
St. John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School is a non-selective coeducational secondary school for students age 11-18. A single site school with free parking, we moved to world-class brand-new buildings in the spring of 2023. Our mission statement is that ‘St. John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School inspires students, spiritually and educationally forming them through Faith so that they can achieve their aspirations and contribute to their community’. As a Catholic school, we are passionate about the formation of the whole student, making sure that we develop students into good people as well as ensure they get good results.
Arranging a visit to St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email v.walker@stjohnfisher.school.
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