RESPONSIBLE TO: THE HEADMASTER
HOURS: FULL TIME
START: SEPTEMBER 2025
The Elms is a wonderful co-educational prep school situated on the Herefordshire/Worcestershire border. We are nestled in the foothills of the Malvern Hills in 45 acres of rural tranquillity, in the village of Colwall, which is 10 minutes from Ledbury or Malvern. We have our own working farm, with cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, poultry, and horses, all of which are part of the teaching and learning curriculum. The Elms was founded in 1614, making us the oldest prep school in England still situated on its original site. We are an IAPS boarding and day school and pride ourselves on achieving excellent results to many Public Schools, both locally and across the UK. Despite being non-selective the school achieves consistently high standards academically.
Job Purpose
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the teaching team at The Elms as Head of English. The Head of English will be responsible for the overall delivery of English throughout the school, from Nursery to Year 8. They will work with teachers in the different year groups to ensure the relevant curriculums are delivered to the highest standards. They will be expected to provide quality teaching themselves, as well as developing the curriculum, providing staff training (as required) and monitoring departmental resources. As head of department, they will be academically sound with a clear teaching pedagogy and track record of excellence in the classroom. They will be confident in the use of academic data as a supportive tool, to track and encourage pupil progress. They should also be prepared to contribute to the wider life of this busy rural prep school, which continues to be committed to Saturday school.
The Elms is committed to achieving the very best for our children, to develop them into curious and inquisitive individuals; where the values of endeavour, perseverance and compassion are at the heart of what underpins our school. It is expected that all candidates will support the aims of the school to ensure the children have an inspirational start in their education. We are looking for a candidate who has confidence, integrity, humility, fun and humour and is happy to immerse themselves in the life of a busy rural prep school. The ability and willingness to become involved in the sporting, extra-curricular and pastoral life of the school will be expected, including being a form teacher and/or Tutor.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Subject teaching to assigned classes, potentially including Scholarship and Common Entrance. Detailed knowledge of the relevant curricula.
2. Planning, preparation, marking and evaluation of classwork, and any prep which has been set. The setting of tests and exams as required by the school.
3. Lead, support and motivate staff working within the department and oversee the department’s organisation and management.
4. Monitor all forms of assessment within the department, including the writing of reports and comments, as required by the school.
5. To co-ordinate and oversee subject specific trips within the department, ensuring risk assessments and health and safety policies are completed and adhered to.
6. Participation in extra-curricular activities, both on a regular basis, and when additionally required for specific reasons. These may include evening clubs for the boarders or the participation in evening and weekend duties, on a rota basis.
7. Attendance at parents’ evenings, staff meetings during the term time and pre- and post-terms, Governors’ committees (when required), pastoral meetings with pupils, exeat and mid-term drinks evenings for parents, termly church services, for example.
8. To carry out the duties as requested, and as laid out in the current staff handbook.
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