HOD English – 1 Year Temporary Contract (leading to permanent Lead Practitioner role to support English and Literacy)
SALARY: UPS/LPR
LOCATION: The Ravensbourne School, Hayes Lane, Bromley BR2 9EH
REPORTING TO: SLT
Summary of Role
Head of English is responsible for leading the English department, ensuring high-quality teaching and learning, and driving progress in English and literacy across the school. This temporary middle leadership role involves managing the curriculum, supporting staff development, and raising student achievement through effective interventions and strategies. Following the 1 year temporary contract, the role transitions to a permanent Lead Practitioner position, focusing on delivering excellent classroom practice, mentoring staff, and promoting whole-school literacy initiatives to improve outcomes for all learners. The role requires a dynamic leader committed to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and success in English and literacy. This year saw English achieve above national outcomes and a positive progress 8 score. We are looking for a talented and motivated individual to support the schools upward trajectory and continue in its school improvement journey.
Orion Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants. Orion Education is fully committed to equality and to valuing diversity as an employer and a provider of education.
All teachers at The Ravensbourne School are viewed as both leaders and managers of the academic and pastoral curriculum. Definition of the role is: “To provide excellent teaching that facilitates high quality learning for all students. Encourage all students to be the best they can be through setting the highest of expectations.
Main duties and responsibilities:
* Lead the Department Improvement Plan process, paying due regard to the overall School improvement Plan.
* Fulfil a teaching commitment as required regarding the quality of teaching and progress of students.
* Ensure that all syllabuses and specifications used by staff meet legal requirements and the National Curriculum is taught in full.
* Develop Department Schemes of Learning that are written with reference to school guidelines and are regularly reviewed and evaluated. To ensure that all department staff have the schemes of work and teach in accordance with them.
* Line manage post holders in their curriculum areas to ultimately ensure positive student outcomes.
* Lead and manage all department staff (including associate staff).
* Develop a well sequenced knowledge-rich curriculum.
* Hold regular meetings with all department staff (agendas and minutes to be produced for participants and Line Manager). Attend other meetings, as necessary.
* Communicate and liaise on a weekly basis with the Line Manager
* Be actively involved in leading and managing the monitoring and evaluation of the quality of teaching, progress of students and levels of attainment within the department and faculty.
* To ensure all members of staff in the department receive external INSET twice per year.
* To conduct student progress meetings with each member of the department.
* Be accountable for the work of all members of the department – especially those who are non-specialists.
* To have a clear vision of intent and implementation for the department. To be able to communicate this effectively with others as required.
* Establish, in line with school policy, an appropriate system of assessment recording and reporting ensuring that all documentation is up to date, readily available and informative.
* Construct and ensure the implementation of department development plans and individual staff action plans. To evaluate the progress of these plans.
* Be fully involved in and lead the development of strategies to promote year by year targets to improve public examination work.
* Be responsible for the submission of exam entries to the Examinations Officer and discuss non-entries with Leadership Team line manager.
* Analyse all examination results and produce reports on this for the Leadership Team and Governors.
* Liaise with Curriculum Support to ensure that the needs of students with identified special needs are known, recorded and understood by department staff to ensure that appropriate programmes of work are available and taught.
* Ensure that appropriate work is available for cover staff.
* Be responsible for the induction of new members of staff, supply teachers and student teachers.
* Advise the Leadership Team with regard to:
* a. department staff appointment
* b, Department INSET needs.
* c. Department environmental needs
* d, Department resourcing needs.
* Be responsible for ensuring that the physical environment of the Department is maintained to a high standard and display work is current, relevant, and inspiring.
* Ensure that department stock is accounted for, all financial matters are dealt with appropriately and up to date records of stock and finances are readily available.
* Produce and regularly update a Department Handbook ensuring that all department staff have a copy and are aware of the contents.
* Have in place a department procedure to effectively manage student behaviour and/or lack of work/progress. This procedure should concentrate on department intervention before referral to others and pay due regard to parental involvement.
* Positively support all school policies.
* Submit detailed bids for extra funding as and when required. • Regularly consult with your line manager with reference to these responsibilities.
* Take a full part in the school’s appraisal systems.
* To be actively involved in leading and managing the monitoring and evaluation of the quality of teaching and progress of students in order to develop staff performance and to assist in the ongoing completion of their Professional Development Portfolios.
* To liaise with the Business Manager to ensure the good order and safety of the premises and equipment used by the Department. • Develop a process to centralise ‘Student Voice’ in helping to develop the work of the department.